What Type of Garden Should You Grow?

By: Emily Maggrett

6 Min Quiz

Image: Pixabay by Capri23auto

About This Quiz

Whether you're planning your first garden or your 35th, it's essential to choose a design that complements your lifestyle, climate and tastes.
For instance, if your schedule is jam-packed, a high-maintenance manicured garden is probably not for you. Likewise, if you live in the desert, it's going to be harder for you to turn your yard into a tropical oasis than it would be if you lived in Florida. Environmentalists should learn all they can about native plants, while trendsetters would do well to embrace container gardens since they allow you to rearrange your backyard on a whim.

When it comes to garden design, there's no right or wrong. All you have to worry about is what's right for you. However, if you're looking for some inspiration, this quiz can help! We've come up with a series of questions that will determine what your ideal garden is. From color palettes to garden art, we're covering the gamut of outdoor space options. At the end of the quiz, we'll tally up your scores to reveal whether you are a butterfly garden kind of person or should stick to classic perennials like lavender, stock and Russian sage. Ready to learn more? Let's get quizzing!

Pixabay by ArtTower

In a perfect world, how would seeing your garden make you feel?

Fascinated by the changing seasons

Proud of the living art I've created
Intoxicated by a hundred different sights and scents

Excited to eat its ripening crops

Pixabay by AnnaER

What's your favorite annual flower?

Snapdragons

Ranunculus
Larkspur

Dahlias

Pixabay by manfredrichter

On a scale of 1 to 10, how "natural" do you want your garden to look?

10. I want my garden to look like a mountain meadow.

2. I want my garden to be gorgeously manicured.
5. I want my garden to look both wild and cultivated.

7. Artificial gardens don't please me, but if you don't maintain them, the plants won't grow as well.

Pixabay by blickpixel

What's your garden art aesthetic?

Bird feeders are my jam.

I like massive, modernist pieces of garden art.
I love stepping stones and fountains.

In my opinion, garden art is stupid.

Pixabay by ljlabarthe

How do you want to spend time in your garden?

I'd like it to be a nice place to read.

In my mind, a garden's main purpose is to look nice when I sit on the patio.
I want a garden I can work on year-round.

For my family's sake, I want it to be like another room of our house.

Pixabay by _Alicja_

In the kitchen, you use a lot of ... ?

Basil

Cilantro
Mint

Garlic

Pixabay by Skitterphoto

How would you describe your home's decor?

Secondhand but charming

Boho chic
Elegant and antique

I don't have "decor," I have stuff.😁

Pixabay by MabelAmber

Of the following home tours, which one appeals to you the most?

Going to nearby home's test garden to learn how to attract local pollinators

Visiting a celebrity's Palm Springs xeriscaped compound
Seeing an 18th century English manor's grounds

Visiting a working farm that grows lavender, herbs and mushrooms

Pixabay by Free-Photos

Where do you usually get your seeds?

From my local nursery

Online
From catalogs

I don't buy seeds; I buy starts from a local farm.

Pixabay by lumix2004

If you could study any garden-related topic, what would it be?

Beekeeping

Herbal medicine
The language of flowers

Fruit tree grafting

Pixabay by Oldiefan

What kind of trees do you want in your garden, if any?

I'll take whatever's already growing there.

Palo verde
Lilac and jacaranda trees

Apple or cherry trees

Pixabay by jackmac34

Is your ideal garden shady, sunny or tropical?

I'd like a mix of shady and sunny spots.

My preference is for a sunny outdoor space.
I'd love a shady refuge.

A tropical garden sounds like fun!

Pixabay by Goumbik

On a scale of 1 to 10, how high-maintenance would you prefer your garden to be?

1. I don't want to mess too much with Mother Nature's plan.

3. I'm willing to do a little bit of work, but realistically, I'm not ready for a high-maintenance garden.
9. I love working in the garden, so high-maintenance plants are not a problem for me.

7. I'll do what needs to be done, as long as it's not ridiculous.

Pixabay by Pexels

Do you want your garden to include succulents?

Not unless they already grow in my region

Yes, absolutely
No, thanks

If they're already there, I'll tolerate them, but I wouldn't plant them on purpose.

Pixabay by cocoparisienne

What do you want your garden to smell like?

Green grass

Orchids or jasmine
Honeysuckle and roses

Citrus

Pixabay by Oldiefan

Do you want a garden that attracts wildlife?

Yes. I'm all about supporting bees and pollinators.

It would be nice, but it's not one of my goals.
I'd love to have rabbits or deer visit my garden.

No. Wildlife will eat the plants I've worked so hard to grow.

Pixabay by Free-Photos

Can you complete this sentence? "Movies that are set in _____ always get my attention."

The Northwest

The desert
The countryside

The Midwest

Pixabay by congerdesign

Do you want a garden that provides you with fresh fruits and vegetables?

That would be cool, but it's OK if it doesn't.

No. I wouldn't have time to pick and cook them, which would make me feel guilty.
No. I think vegetable gardens are boring.

Yes, 100%

Pixabay by Vitamin

What's your LEAST favorite plant?

Grass (it's a terrible waste of water)

Sunflowers
Prickly pear

Foxgloves

Pixabay by photochur

Are you an experienced gardener?

No, but I'm willing to learn.

Well, I have a little experience ...
Yes. I've been gardening for many years.

I'm semi-experienced but know I have room to grow.

Pixabay by Pexels

Have you ever fantasized about running your own farmer's market stall?

I think that would be fun, but I would need a yard three times bigger than mine to make it happen.

Ew, no.
I wouldn't mind selling bouquets at the farmer's market.

That's my dream!

Pixabay by Couleur

What's your favorite perennial flower?

Coneflowers

Sedum
Peonies

Rosemary

Pixabay by summa

Are you willing to do a lot of weeding to get the right look?

Nope!

I'd rather pursue an option that makes it unnecessary to weed, like gravel or beauty bark.
Yes. True loveliness takes work.

No, but I'm willing to make my kids do my weeding for me.

Pixabay by annca

Would you like to play any sports in your garden?

No sports for me, thanks!

Badminton
Croquet

Football

Pixabay by FASerra

Of the following garden features, which one would you consider a "must-have"?

A hammock

A rock garden
A gazebo

A fire pit

Pixabay by terimakasih0

How would you describe your ideal garden's color palette?

A mixture of green and white tones

Mild and muted
A wild riot of reds, pinks and purples

A zesty blend of deep, rich colors: red, green, purple, orange, yellow ...

Pixabay by Engin_Akyurt

Let's say a famous director wants to use your garden as a set in a movie. What genre of movie would it be?

A drama about hippies

A thriller about influencers
A period piece

A family comedy

Pixabay by klickblick

When it comes to garden design, what's your top priority?

Environmental responsibility

A neat, clean look
Beauty, beauty, beauty

Edibility

Pixabay by JillWellington

Picture the perfect outdoor party in your new garden. Who's there and what are you doing?

I'm having a potluck with my family and friends. The kids have a scavenger hunt while the adults sit and talk.

It's a cocktail party on the patio. My friends and I are beautifully dressed, and some of us are dancing.
I'm hosting a tea party for my children. We're playing croquet and eating tiny sandwiches.

My family and I are throwing a bonfire party. We drink hot cocoa and roast corn on the fire's coals.

Martha Stewart

Which domestic goddess or god has a decor style that resonates with you?

None of them! I'm more into leaders like Greta Thunberg and Jane Fonda.

Marie Kondo
Martha Stewart

Bobby from "Queer Eye"

5 Minute Quiz 5 Min

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