Aged Patina: How to Make Your Garden Look Older

Old gardens have a sense of history developed through centuries of loving care. Capture that ageless elan much faster with these tips and tricks.

With a few well-timed strategies, you can give your garden an enchanting sense of history. BCFC/Shutterstock

Have you ever walked through a new garden that is structurally beautiful, blooming, and robust, yet felt that something was missing?

It lacks the atmosphere created by generations of gardeners gone before—the worn steps from running children’s feet, a statue chipped decades ago, a large tree now growing into a fence, the softened edges of an older hedge, the moss and lichen that have established themselves in shady areas. This gentle softening by time creates a welcoming sort of magic.

Home gardening, from the largest estate to the smallest backyard, has always been about shaping nature. In other words, it’s possible to create these genteel effects of time in even the newest and barest yard.

One simple trick to start? Ditch the plastic. Nothing screams modern more than the cheap plastic planters most pots come in. And don’t forget to remove barcodes and stickers!

Terrific Terra Cotta

Terra cotta pots that have weathered outside naturally add a sense of stately romance to a garden design. The easiest and cheapest way to replicate this look is to find old pots at yard sales, rummage sales, and flea markets, and even scour the neighborhood on trash days. Don’t bypass pots that have a chip or crack—that’s instant history.

The easiest and cheapest way to give your garden an old soul is by using old pots with a lot of character. suehling/Shutterstock

For those who live in an area of new construction, bright new terra cotta pots can be wiped down with yogurt or buttermilk to promote what looks like years of moss growth. Soak the pot in a bucket of water for 30 minutes, then apply the yogurt or buttermilk with a sponge or sponge brush. Ideally, keep the application uneven, as it would be in nature. Store the pots in a cool, moist location outdoors for four weeks or so, as they will smell, then fill them with plants.

When building patios or plant stands or installing other hardscape, use salvaged old bricks and other finds. If not, the buttermilk and yogurt trick also works on clay bricks, pavers, and statues, particularly those that will be positioned in the shade.

The Concrete Challenge

Few people like the glare of bright white concrete. Three tubes of acrylic paint—moss green, black, and burnt sienna—a kitchen sponge, and some water can add decades of chic. Mix the green paint with water, diluting even more than directed. Additional green can be added, but removing too much color is virtually impossible.

Squeeze the sponge over a statue’s “head” and “shoulders” (or appropriately similar areas depending on the statue’s subject) and allow the color to run down naturally, with the contours of the statue guiding it. Follow this with a one-third green, two-thirds black mixture in just a few areas, going even more slowly. To add the rusty look that naturally occurs in nooks and crannies, dribble the burnt sienna color very sparingly in those spots. Allow to dry. This also works with concrete planters.

Expeditious Choices

The biggest plants that will fit the budget will look the most established. Unfortunately, large plants can quickly add up. One way around that is to use several 3-gallon plants, and then place a 5-gallon (or larger size) here and there to break things up. Older garden plants are not growing at the same pace, so take advantage of that fact.

Another option is to splurge on a large tree. Pricey? Yes, but consider the value of faster shade and years saved waiting for it to grow. A frugal alternative is to go with a smaller specimen of a fast-growth tree. Some maples can grow as much as three to five feet per year, while weeping willows can grow as much as four to eight feet per year. For those in the far south, there’s rainbow eucalyptus, which grows three to five feet per year, or even moringa, which can grow up to 10 feet per year and is often referred to as the Tree of Life because its leaves are an edible superfood.

Swift Satisfaction

Stones look like they’ve been there longer if plants are growing over them. Shelagh Duffett/Shutterstock

Plant in the cracks. Stones look as if they’ve been there longer if plants are growing over them. Two top choices are mosses or low-lying groundcovers, such as creeping thyme. Use moss or groundcovers in every nook possible.

Ferns, particularly in shady spots, add a romantic ambiance. And let’s not forget vines. Roses allowed to run a bit wild can add a sense of history in just a year or two. Or opt for even faster-growing vines. Loofah (yes, the wash sponge is actually from a plant, not the ocean) will look as if it has been there forever in just a few weeks; it grows that fast (8 feet to 12 feet in a month or two under the right conditions). Be sure to plant some native vines that attract birds and butterflies to make it look as if they’ve been visiting for decades.

The final ingredient for a time-honored garden is to give it a memorable name. Feeling a bit stuck?  Check out a garden name generator for inspiration.

Aesthetic Considerations

Gardening is both a link to the past and a belief in the future, with the best designs featuring some plants with special meaning to their owners.

Bounteous Beds

When plants are spaced to grow to their full size, those spaces in between shout “new.” In the meantime, one can tighten up the plantings, knowing that this will require additional trimmings in the future, or infill planting beds with short-lived perennials to fill gaps.

Classic Colors

When painting the fence, shed, or other outdoor structure, use muted historic paint colors or a whitewash. This is not the time to be “on trend.” Go for historical accuracy for the area or choose from Georgian, Federal, Victorian, or other classic palettes that suit one’s personal taste.

Shop, Shop, Shop

There’s nothing wrong with buying some timelessness. When possible, choose items with meaning, such as those purchased on antique hunt vacations (or staycations). Accessories make the garden.