The Rustic Garden Garden Design Series
Ah, the rustic garden! It just feels so relaxed and down to earth. Kind of “homey”, yet charming in its own unassuming way. It’s actually one of the most budget friendly yard and garden designs and quite easy to accomplish with materials you probably already have laying around house or garage. In this article, I’ll show you how you can get the look for your garden, even if you don’t live out in the country.
The rustic garden is associated with nature and its rugged, un-refined surfaces. There are distinct weather-worn features such as peeling paint, faded colors or rust. Nothing particularly attractive and yet the rustic garden is one of the most enduring and endearing of designs.
Why go with a rustic garden?
Rustic gardens are low key. I didn’t say low maintenance! (I don’t know of a single garden that’s low maintenance) But this design does capture the essence of a casual, laid back setting. It’s a garden and gardener that’s not rushed, not terribly fussy, and content with simple pleasures.
With its rural, old-fashioned ‘look’, this design has some overlap with other garden themes such as vintage, farmhouse and salvage. It’s familiar territory full of fond memories.
The rustic look is also one of the cheapest to reproduce. It comes naturally to anyone out in the countryside, in a forest or on the farm where materials are mostly free and readily available.
When I moved to my five acres in the mountains, I decided to preserve as much of the surrounding vegetation as possible. After clearing a spot for a little house, there was no shortage of logs and tree limbs to create fences and line pathways. I guess you could say my garden came “rustic” by default. If I want something else, it’s gonna require a lot of work!
You can still create a rustic garden even if you live in the suburbs. It’s fairly cost-effective to do, without too much effort.
TIP: Don’t try to do it all in one summer. Creating a theme in the yard or garden evolves over time, and you’ll get a better sense of how its developing and what is needed as you go along.
How to get the look
Use wood in any capacity. Even if you’re not out in the woods, logs and tree limbs may be available free on Craig’s List. People who are clearing land often advertise that they have remnants free for the taking. You could also inquire at a local tree removal service. Sometimes they let people come collect mulch for free.
Smaller diameter branches and sticks can be picked up while on a hike or walk on a woodland path. Railroad ties also fit the rustic garden style nicely.
Take advantage of any scrap lumber you have laying around the garage. Here, it could really come in handy and you can use it to make anything you wish!
Use other ‘natural’ materials Gravel for pathways and a few rocks (grouping of rocks) or a boulder or two give dimension and interest to an otherwise level yard. It helps to create a more natural looking woodland setting.
You can buy rocks from landscaping companies but try not to. First, check Craigs’s List. Homeowners who are redoing their yards may be disposing of rocks previously used to line a pathway or garden bed. Also, if you don’t need a lot, there are plenty of rocks to collect along river beds or a rural roadway. I once lived on a gravel road and took my little wagon along for picking bowling-ball sized rocks out of the ditch to use in my rock garden.
Other features of a Rustic Garden
Plant rustic trees. If you don’t already have trees in the backyard (and you have room for some) consider planting a pine tree, a birch tree or some rustic shrubs.
Dwarf and fastigiate options: dwarf varieties of many species are available from your local greenhouse or specialty nursery. That’s good news if you love the look of trees, but don’t have the space. In addition, trees with more of a verticle growth habit (fastigiate) are perfect choices when you don’t have space for broad, sprawling branches.
Paint the storage shed. If you have a storage shed or garden shed in the yard, work it into the rustic landscape by painting it. Good color choices would be a rich brown tone, forest green, barn red or even gray to give it an aged, weathered appearance. You’ll be amazed by what a difference it makes and how it compliments the rustic garden scene you’re creating.
Rustic Garden Decor
Once you have the basics going in the landscape, top it off by adding some smaller accent pieces, furniture and art to give it some personality:
- whiskey barrel planters
- Figurines/lawn ornaments: woodland birds and animals (owl, coyote, wolf, bunnies, deer)
- wooden bird houses
- old wheelbarrows (they make wonderful planters)
- vintage metal buckets and watering cans, rusty vintage tools
- Scarecrow or Garden Scarecrow dressed as a cowboy or other figure
Cast iron trivet from thrift store 
Vintage watering can 
votive candle decor 
As already mentioned, the rustic garden overlaps and involves other themes. So if you like vintage or farmhouse, go ahead and incorporate some scrap metal pieces, salvage, rusty farm or garden tools and machinery. Before you get into that “junkin’ frenzy” carefully consider what your yard or garden really needs to complete the look. Pick wisely. Again, your decorative accent pieces should complement the garden yard or garden, not overwhelm it.
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Conclusion
Many of us can relate to the rustic garden and perhaps that’s part of its charm. It’s rough and rugged appearance is at the same time a soothing and comfortable setting for relaxing in the backyard. It may call to mind a by-gone era sorely lacking in today’s high speed, technical world.
It’s also surprisingly easy and cost effective to do, even if you don’t live out in the country. You may even have many of the materials on hand if you scrounge around a bit. Do you have a rustic garden in your future?
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More articles from the Garden Design Series:
The Art of the Flea Market Garden
How to Get the Look You Love for Your Garden
The Best Way to Display Vintage Tools in the Garden
