Planning Your Garden

There are several factors to consider when planning your Garden design. If you have limited space, you can focus on establishing structure and color. Consider the use of hedges, fences, arches, gates, and sculpture. You can also add elements such as containers and topiary. In smaller areas, you can stick to three or five good elements. Incorporating these will add interest and cohesion to your garden. You can use orange milkweed to attract monarch butterflies.

Every garden has its own personality, so be sure to consider these factors when planning your design. Large yards can accommodate several different styles, so it’s important to take the time to decide if you prefer a formal or an informal appearance. Think about your home style, the site, and your personal tastes before designing your garden. You don’t want to create a jumble of different elements. You can also use a combination of styles to create a unique garden.

One of the most crucial parts of a garden design is determining how many plants will fit in the borders. This can be tricky because people tend to have different ideas about how full a border should be. Plants from a mail-order nursery are often too small to grow to full size, and many perennials and shrubs take several seasons to mature. Make sure to plan for enough space for the border so you can grow flowers in different areas.

When planning your garden design, visit other people’s gardens. The best way to find inspiration is to take photographs and sketchpads with you. When you visit, pay attention to the design techniques they use, and ask the gardener a few questions about their objectives. Then, you can incorporate these ideas into your own garden design. And while you’re at it, make sure to take some time to consider the final size of the finished garden design.

When designing your garden, think about how you’ll use it. Divide your space into different zones, like terraces or beds. A dividing line might be a wall or a hedge that provides privacy and acts as a windbreak. You can also use shrubs and plants to create a privacy screen or block off unsightly areas of the yard. The key to designing an attractive garden is to balance the aesthetics of your design with its ease of maintenance.

You might have too many or too few plants. The translation of a garden design from a piece of paper to a finished garden is never 100% accurate. You can always order more plants or plug in annuals if you are missing any. Or, you can try to find other planting locations. That’s how I designed my flower garden. Just remember to take your time, be patient, and enjoy the journey! You’ll be glad you did!

A general garden design might include plants that are under a foot high in the front third of the garden, three feet tall in the back, and a mix of heights in the center. It’s important to remember that a garden with rigid guidelines might end up looking like a stairway! Consider varying heights and planting groups to create a varied topography. It’s important to take into account the viewpoint of people walking through the garden.