Is your garden ready for an update? There are some things you need to think about when choosing a garden design; whether you plan to plant and care for it yourself or hire a professional landscaper and maintenance team.

The first thing to look at is what styles of plants grow well in your region. Local nurseries, the garden department of your favorite home improvement store and online searches for “best plants for ‘your area’” are all good places to start your plant search.

The next thing is to select a garden that fits your personality, lifestyle and size and layout of your yard. Here are a few examples of common garden types.

English gardens feel less structured than most gardens and contain a variety of plant life. Common plants you will find include roses, climbing ivy, perennials and herbs. These plants are intermixed rather than being grouped together by type. Gazebos, trellises and dirt or stone pathways work well in English gardens.

Japanese gardens are about harmony with nature. They include such features as ponds, stone pathways, and statuary. Japanese gardens do not use a large variety of plants. Plant types commonly found in these gardens are evergreen trees, shrubs, bamboo, and Japanese maples.

A butterfly garden is just what it sounds like; a garden designed to attract butterflies. By growing plants that caterpillars and adult butterflies like to munch on, you can increase the butterflies in your yard. Popular butterfly nectar plants include butterfly weed and purple coneflowers. Butterfly gardens work well as borders between fence lines and grassy areas.

Don’t worry if the plants that normally go with the garden you like best are not ideal for your region. Determine what it is you like about those particular plants (their color, shape of their leaves, height, the sizes of the blooms, etc.) and look for plants that grow in your region that have similar qualities. This is when hiring a professional landscaper or consulting with your local nursery is definitely to your advantage.

Now it’s time to take a few minutes and go look at your garden space and picture your dream garden. Remember that it’s your garden, so make it your own, even if that is mixing multiple styles together.