Design Your Garden
Step 5: Principles of Planting
Once you've pinned down the final design of your new garden you can start on the fun bit - choosing the plants and deciding where to plant them. Flowers, trees and shrubs create style, depth and character and if you make your selection carefully, you can transform your space into the garden of your dreams.
How plants are combined and arranged is the real artistry in the garden design and is where having experience really shows. As a beginner, you're going to make some mistakes - everybody does, but try not to worry too much about them. Chalk it up to experience and remember to take the advice of the experts at the garden centres and to steal any ideas you see working well in other people's gardens.
Beds and borders
Planting new beds and borders will add interest and colour and it's very rewarding watching new plants grow and develop into your design. When planning a new border, be sure to ask yourself the following questions:
Do I want the border to look formal or informal?
Will the border be in the sun or the shade?
Is the soil is acid or alkaline?
Does the soil drainage need improving?
How much work am I prepared to spend maintaining the border?
How much money do I want to spend?
Answering these questions will help you determine the types of plants you choose and where you plant them. For example, buying trees and shrubs cost more but take little maintenance. Herbaceous perennials are more time-consuming to maintain but create real impact and style.
See Creating a Border and Planting Tips for practical guides and advice and use our Plant Finder to search for plants by type, colour, soil and weather conditions.
Style and colour
The plants you choose with have a big impact on your garden's style. Large leaves and richly textured foliage will bring depth and density to the design while opting for fine, silvery and delicately-leaved plants will create a lighter feel. Formal gardens should include some sharply clipped or shaped plants like box and yew to create hedges and screens; while informal gardens like cottage gardens should always combine flowers vegetables and herbs.
Resist the temptation to select as many different types and colours of plants as possible. Too many different types and colours can weaken the design whereas repetition of a few key plants or colours can bring your whole scheme together brilliantly. Rather, select a colour scheme as if you were decorating a room in your home, or painting a picture. And remember, that colour really is linked to the mood of the garden.
Beds and borders
Planting new beds and borders will add interest and colour and it's very rewarding watching new plants grow and develop into your design. When planning a new border, be sure to ask yourself the following questions:
Answering these questions will help you determine the types of plants you choose and where you plant them. For example, buying trees and shrubs cost more but take little maintenance. Herbaceous perennials are more time-consuming to maintain but create real impact and style.
See Creating a Border and Planting Tips for practical guides and advice and use our Plant Finder to search for plants by type, colour, soil and weather conditions.
Style and colour
The plants you choose with have a big impact on your garden's style. Large leaves and richly textured foliage will bring depth and density to the design while opting for fine, silvery and delicately-leaved plants will create a lighter feel. Formal gardens should include some sharply clipped or shaped plants like box and yew to create hedges and screens; while informal gardens like cottage gardens should always combine flowers vegetables and herbs.
Resist the temptation to select as many different types and colours of plants as possible. Too many different types and colours can weaken the design whereas repetition of a few key plants or colours can bring your whole scheme together brilliantly. Rather, select a colour scheme as if you were decorating a room in your home, or painting a picture. And remember, that colour really is linked to the mood of the garden.
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