How to create a garden full of surprises ... Stand-alone small trees, such as Acer japonicum or a piece of topiary can also be eye-catching, he says. Find a new seating spot.

Here, one expert gardener from the South Coast Botanic Garden, California, offers practical advice on how best to care for these stunning trees. How to fertilize Japanese maples ...

If you’re fed up with rectangular lawns, straight flower borders and predictable planting, maybe it’s time to add an element of surprise to your garden.