35 Times People Went Out Of Their Way To Make Their Gardens And Yards Unique But Ended Up With These

You can learn a lot about a person from their room, apartment, or home, as it reveals a great deal about their character, preferences, and whether they keep tidy and clean or prefer organized chaos instead. Luckily, not everyone is exposed to such information, and that lets us keep it on a more personal level. But when it comes to an outdoor area, we are not as closed off, which provides an opportunity for a wide range of possibilities of self-expression. Some like to keep it simple, some enjoy a Pinterest-worthy look, and some go out of their way to make it as weird as possible.

So if you are known as a funny/creative neighbor on the block, we might have some interesting ideas for you. This Instagram page is dedicated to sharing some of the weirdest finds on the internet consisting of garden decor. The designs range from clever to lazy to mostly borderline ugly. Now, we leave it up to you to decide whether these decisions give you the creeps or inspire you to introduce a new addition to your garden.

To learn more about garden design, Bored Panda reached out to a multi-award-winning garden designer and horticultural expert, Lee Burkhill, also known as Garden Ninja, who kindly answered all of our questions. You will find the full interview below.

35 PHOTOS

#1 Chickens Are The Best

#2 The Planting is Pretty Impressive Though

#3 Don’t F**k With Plants Or This Thing Will Come to Get You

We just can’t get enough of these creative, unique designs that people have decided to exhibit in their outdoor areas. As someone who deals with a garden design exclusively, Lee has come across many unusual ideas. He shared the one that stood out to him the most.

“Probably the funniest garden design I've seen was where the owner had used an evergreen privet hedge to trim into the shape of a giant wavy caterpillar that acted as a boundary to the front garden. They had even put massive Google eyes on the front of it, and although questionable in terms of taste, it really did make me laugh. The best decorative objects in any garden design, though, are those that mirror the surrounding materials and colors within the garden. This always helps connect a sculpture or object to the garden cohesively.”

#4 Cookieeeees

#5 Don’t Forget, It’s Bin Night

#6 Skull

Lee’s Garden Ninja is based in the North West of England where he provides spectacular garden design services. He is a garden blogger, vlogger, TV presenter, and famous YouTuber who consistently shares valuable tips on garden design. Over his career, Lee has encountered various trends and styles. We were wondering what his opinion is about unique and unconventional garden decor choices, and how can they contribute to a person's self-expression and add character to their outdoor space.

“I'm a great believer in allowing people to show their passions and personalities through their gardens. So even if the taste level isn’t everyone's cup of tea, at least it's showcasing the person's personality. Ultimately this means they will engage with their garden more than someone who keeps it low-key or just follows the latest boring trends!” shared Lee.

#7 Aerial Photo Reveals Ancient Message

#8 Beware The Subconscious

#9 Adapt To Your Environment

Many people find inspiration from Pinterest-worthy gardens and strive to create a visually pleasing outdoor space. However, there is also a charm in embracing a more eccentric or unconventional style. Lee shared tips on how individuals can strike a balance between creating a unique and interesting garden while still maintaining aesthetic appeal.

“I think the key is to do one or two things well when it comes to applying your style to a garden. The biggest garden design failure is when a gardener or designer tries to force too many quirky ideas into a garden. If, for example, you want a metal elephant sculpture in your exotic-style garden, go big. Don't waste your time with lots of smaller sculptures. Buy one huge one to bring impact!”

#10 A Message Which Transcends Translations

#11 At Least We Get A Warning

#12 When Life Gives You Cactus

When thinking of a garden design, cultural and regional differences can have a great impact on someone's choice of garden decor. We asked Lee to share his opinion on that.

“I love it when a client or gardener decides to represent where they are from in the garden. In Manchester, for example, I've designed 'canal side' garden spaces that mirror the towpaths for clients who live near the canals. It brings a real sense of home and connection with the wider area to the garden. The same goes for world gardens such as Indian spice gardens, it's great to see people reflect on their heritage in such a way by using hot colors and growing hardy exotics outside to bring a taste of where their family heritage comes from.”

#13 Tactical Urbanism

#14 Love Thy Neighbour

#15 Easter Island Homage

And lastly, Lee shared advice that he would give to individuals who want to experiment with unique garden decor ideas. “My best advice would be to make sure that you run the theme, whether that's colors, shapes, or patterns throughout the entire garden. In smaller spaces, going big with one or two things is far better than lots of smaller flower beds, sculptures, or plants. The key to any good design is consistency and making an impact. So make sure you create a mood board of all the things you like and then refine it until you have a consistent look and feel for the garden that all components will reflect.”

#16 Simpson’s Did It

#17 On The Ground In Székesfehérvár, Hungary

#18 Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid

#19 Fallen From Grace

#20 I’m Not Sure Why These Shrubs Are So Unsettling

#21 Tell Me You’re A Dentist Without Telling Me You’re A Dentist

#22 I Thought This Was A Family Site

#23 At The Intersection Of Infrastructure And Intimacy

#24 Rory, 26, Always Owes You Twenty Bucks, Chucks A Shukka at Any Opportunity, and Wears Footy Shorts All Through Winter

#25 Modern Love

#26 Emblematic

#27 Know How This Feels

#28 Topiary

Topiary is the horticultural practice of training plants by clipping the foliage to develop clearly defined shapes. The reason for doing this is unknown. The word derives from the Latin word for a creator of topia or "places". Topiary shapes tend to be based on animals, abstract shapes, and human body parts.
Topiary seeding is a commonly observed phenomenon. Whereby entire neighborhoods become infested with topiaries, which seem to jump over the fence

#29 Wait Till You See The Eggs

#30 Get In Barbie, We’re Going Weeding

#31

#32 Noel Fielding’s House?

#33 Neigh-Bor

#34 Room With A View

#35 Catch Our Secret Show At Berlin Fashion Week