How to Use Sculptures in Your Garden

Michael Smith

Sculptures, when placed correctly, can transform your garden and create an almost magical focal point. When you find the perfect sculpture for your property, it will turn your pools, ponds, hedges and borders into a magical wonderland. Let’s take a look at how you can use sculptures in your garden to create the garden that you have always dreamt of. Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about how to use sculptures in your garden.

Choose Your Site

The first thing that you must determine is the location of where you will be placing your sculpture. The style of artwork is often determined by your garden itself. If you have a contemporary design, you should choose abstract modern sculptures. If, on the other hand, you have a traditional garden, you should opt for classical or quirky sculptures. However, there are no rules when it comes to choosing your sculptures for your garden.

Look around your landscape and see the areas that could benefit from a piece of art.  Here are some locations in the garden where a sculpture can go:

* Beside a water feature like a pond or a pool

* At the end of a path

* Beneath a tree

* In a corner of the garden

* At a viewpoint

* In front of a shrub

* Along a wall or hedge in the garden

* In an alcove

* Amongst plantings

Finding the Best Place for a Sculpture

Oftentimes, the size, color, subject and style of your sculpture will help you determine the best place for your sculpture. For example, a sculpture like a kingfisher on a reed or a bronze nymph that is washing her hair would look perfect in an informal pond. A steel water lily sculpture amongst living water lilies or a metal fish coming out of the water would also look great and create an interesting focal point.

Formal water features can be enhanced using abstract sculptures. The reflections created by the water can add further interest to the water, especially in still water locales. Another option is to place a glass sculpture close to the water to create a dappled light effect that sparkles against the water.

Creating Harmony in the Garden

One way to create harmony in your landscape is to use a coordinating colored sculpture beside a particular plant. For example, a bronze or copper sculpture would work beautifully against teal plants like cornflowers, irises, hydrangeas or lobelias. You can also use similar colored plants like apricot foxgloves, roses, Verbascum or Japanese maples with bronze or copper.

The blue green patina of copper and the silver of stainless steel looks amazing with plants with silver leaves like the feathery leaf Artemisia or Festuca glauca grass. You can also pair these metals with purple allium or white flowers to create harmony in the garden.

You can compliment the form and movement of the plants in your garden using swaying or linear sculptures in your landscape.

Contrasting colors, textures and forms can also create interest in your garden. For example, using grass in the landscape creates movement. Placing a bold sculpture among dainty and frilly grasses will create interest.

Pale marble, stainless steel and marble will pop when placed among darkly colored plants like Tom Thumb and Black Elder. Adding a sculpture to this area can lighten it up and create interest in an otherwise dark corner of your landscape.

Take a Hint from Nature

You can create amazing results by using sculptures that represent plant life. Placing these items among your plantings, around your water features, under trees and shrubs and along borders can add interest to the area.

If you garden is located in a rural setting, take a look at your surroundings. A sculpture that nods to the hills, hedges and landscape of the area is a great way to pull the great outdoors into your garden. If you have a long line of hedges, a wall or a fence, a sculpture can break up the area and add a focal point. Finally, if you have a break in the trees surrounding your property, adding a sculpture can help draw your visitors’ eyes to the amazing view past your line of trees.

Humor in the Landscape

There may be places in your garden where you can add whimsical and humorous sculptures. These will help to brighten up an otherwise dull area in the landscape. Humour is personal and should showcase your unique sense of humor. Luckily, there are many different sculptures available that will allow you to create a personal artistic sculpture to your garden. You could also use outdoor canvas art.

Finding Garden Art and Sculptures for Your Landscape

Visiting a sculpture garden will teach you how you can add art to your landscape for interest and design. In addition to visiting a sculpture garden, you can search online for unique garden art. Thanks to the internet, you can find artwork and sculptures based on specific artist or styles. If you have not decided the type of sculpture you want, visit local art galleries, garden centers and public gardens to help you gather ideas.