Great-looking gardens don’t have to be expensive or time- consuming. If you use the right design methods, it’s easy to create a professional look, like those you see and admire in gardening magazines.

Better Homes and Gardens magazine editor Justin Hancock was happy to share a few of his own time-saving and money-saving tricks for backyard beauty.

Add instant impact easily by planting en masse, filling up flowerbeds and bolstering borders with super-sized color-bearing shrubs like azaleas, shrub roses and hydrangeas.

“Planting lots of the same variety of a plant in one area is a fool-proof way to create a big impact, even if you have a little space,” Hancock said. “And it’s less intimidating to work with one color instead of having to mix several different shades,” he added.

The best way to keep that high-impact look, according to Hancock is to opt for repeat blooming shrubs. Planting long season bloomers eliminates the necessity to plant annuals to maintain continuous color.

Water wisely and feed well. “No matter what kinds of plants you grow, your garden will look its best if you keep your plants healthy,” Hancock said.

“Regular maintenance – watering and feeding your plants appropriately will also save you time and money,” he said. Keeping plants healthy and hydrated is the best defense against poor performance.

Hancock also advises gardeners to look for a long-lasting, slow- release plant food like Dynamite All Purpose fertilizer. Dynamite’s slow release formula will do the work for you. It releases just the right amount of nutrients that the plants need for a full nine months.

And because it features a release technology honored by the Environmental Protection Agency, gardeners can rest assured they are fertilizing well without harming Mother Nature.

Today’s style conscious gardeners are also trading in their square-shaped lawns for a more curvaceous, stylized look that ultimately saves time and money.

“Most gardeners I know want to cut down on how much time they spend mowing and how much money they spend watering it,” Hancock said.

To accomplish this, Hancock said is to think outside the planting box, “Get rid of lawn in areas where it’s tough to mow or the grass struggles. Replace it with easy-care perennials and groundcovers,” he suggested.

Or, replace grass with hardscape elements and free-flowing flowerbeds to create an outdoor space that adds dramatic visual interest and unique style.

“One thing that’s great about free-flowing beds is that it isn’t a science – you can create shapes that look great with less upkeep,” Hancock said.

Garden planning is a lot like interior design. Every great indoor room incorporates decorative accessories that add interest and a finishing touch to the overall look. You can apply interior design elements to your outdoor design as well.

Hancock said adding architectural elements in the form of garden art provides a great overall look, as well as visual surprises.

“Decorate your beds and borders with accessories such as an old metal gate you plant sweet peas on or use an old chair or table to put containers on,” he said. “Design elements like these will add a powerful punch and a touch of panache to an otherwise traditional garden setting.”

Hancock said garden art doesn’t have to be high-end or brand new. Look for unique artifacts in your own garage, at a yard sale, or a local flea market.

For more inspiration designing your gardens, go online to www.bhg.com, www.sideplanting.com and www.florikan.com.