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When it comes to architecture, brutalism is a minimalistic design style that favors stark, simple lines over ornamental flourishes. It often incorporates bold geometric shapes and raw, exposed materials such as brick or cement, with touches of glass, wood, or metal. Steering away from bright colors, brutalist designs are typically monochromatic, and practicality is prized above aesthetics. If you’re stuck with a boring concrete or paved yard, you already have the perfect starting point for a brutalist garden. 

The harsh edges of an outdoor brutalist space can be softened by using a careful design of plants and other elements such as lighting and water features. Pick features to match the brutalist vibe such as the AILICIN LED Bollard Outdoor Path Light and the Alpine Corporation Outdoor Floor Modern Sphere and Pedestal Waterfall Fountain. As you’re working with a paved area, get creative with the use of container plants to evoke a rich living texture to offset the strict lines of the building. 

Creating a container garden can be as effective and rewarding as planting directly into the soil. In fact, the benefits of growing a container garden are compelling enough to make lawn owners rethink their yard choices. Not only do you get to decide which plants to incorporate, but you can also add layers to the textures and contrast of the space as a whole through the choice of plant pots, freestanding planters, and wall mounted planter boxes. 

Transforming your outdoor area into a brutalist garden is a delightful process of marrying brutalist elements with complementary plants that play off the harsh edges and stark monochromatic palette. Choose containers made from the same raw materials that are featured in brutalist building design by including cement, wood, or metal. Look for a variety of planters, then think about including a bench or water feature. Incorporate more metal into your design through railings and trellises like the MyGift Black Metal Wall Mounted Garden Trellis for Climbing Plants. 

Once you’ve got a good selection of plant pots that suit the design of your home and fit into the amount of space you have available, you get to the fun part — adding life! Keep the growing conditions in your yard in mind as your select your plants. For a sunny yard, pick stunning plants that will thrive in containers in full sun, or opt for shade-lovers if the area doesn’t get much sunshine. More neutral options with white or dark florals may be the best choices.

Sticking to true brutalism in the garden, aka eco-brutalism, is a sustainable way of creating an eco-friendly garden that doesn’t skimp on the visual appeal. Opt for native plants including grasses, trees, shrubs, and wildflowers, as they’re already adapted to the growing conditions and won’t need special care or growing conditions. Installing a vertical wall of living plants is a striking statement that softens the appearance of the area while adding to the drama. 

Creating a successful brutalist garden is all about getting the balance right. Brutalist designs can lean towards being cold and utilitarian due to the combination of raw, unfinished surfaces and harsh lines. There’s a fine art to creating beauty without losing the brutalist essence. As you put together your container garden, use contrast to inject soul into the space by incorporating touches of warmth to relieve the austerity of the cement. Think of including wooden finishes or using plants with large, glossy leaves or interesting architectural structures such as bamboo to offset the dull cement surfaces.

Another issue that crops up in brutalist gardens with steel elements is rust. It’s no surprise that metal rusts when exposed to the elements, leading to unsightly stains that cheapen the look of your garden. Make it a regular task as part of your garden maintenance to use some common kitchen ingredients to tackle rust stains naturally.

Raw cement is also prone to weathering and can look old and grotty over time. In damp spaces, you’ll likely have moss growth to contend with, too. Invest in a Bosch Home and Garden Universal Aquatak Hydrocleaner, as high pressure cleaning is highly effective for dirt and moss removal and doesn’t require the use of harsh chemicals. A quick once-over with your high-pressure cleaner will keep your brutalist cement yard looking fresh and gorgeous.