Capsule gardening is where less is more

From Bulb and Blossom
Garden Club
A capsule garden, just like a curated wardrobe, is all about a few essential high-end choices. It is about downsizing and getting back to basics; choosing a few essential and timeless items to create a beautiful yet flexible garden. This method can be applied to a small section or the entire garden.
Editing by downsizing is always a good place to start. Often gardeners will hang onto a plant in hopes it will turn around and get better. These are the first plants to discard. Next, find other plants that are doing well but won’t be part of the new capsule garden. These can be potted up and given away.
Sometimes having a central theme helps with choosing plants to buy or plants to keep. It doesn’t have to be very specific. It can be as simple as choosing a vibe or a mood that you want to create. Rehome any plant, furniture, or pots that don’t fit this mood.
The next step is to focus on favorite plants in the garden. Are there key colors here? Plan a capsule garden color palette much like you would with a wardrobe. Include plants, outdoor furniture, containers, and garden art in this color scheme. A color wheel is an inexpensive but very helpful tool in helping create a coordinated color palette for a capsule garden.
Neutral colors and soft pastels are good additions to a color scheme. For vibrancy add a pop or two of color. Accent colors are good accessories that add personality.
For staples in a capsule garden use a foliage plant. Fill any gaps in the garden with lots and lots of lush foliage plants. This will pull the whole theme together. Plants like Hosta, caladium, and coleus do well in containers. Both the plants and their containers add variety in color and texture to a garden. Containers can also vary in size and height adding to an overall look.
Downsizing can also apply to gardening tools. Some tools seem handy to have but seldom get used. These are tools that can be rehomed. The size of your garden will determine what tools to keep. For all gardens, the tool kit to keep includes just the basics needed to plant or maintain a garden. This will save space and make storing or locating tools easier.
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