Description

Many factors come into play whenchoosingplants for a garden. Planting may be the answer to aspecificlandscaping need, such as screening an unsightly view,filling ashady corner, or preventing erosion on a slope, or you mayplantsimply for the sensory pleasures a garden provides. The choiceofgarden plants will depend on the garden's size, climate,andspecific characteristics. Each plant must be suitable forthegarden's conditions, whether sunny or shady and damp or dry,andsoil type. Plants also must satisfy personal taste. Here aresometips for choosing the right plants to enhance any garden space.

1. Start with a plan.

The first step in planning a garden is to put pencil topaper.Draw an outline of the area to be planted, drawing it toscale. Addany landscape features, such as walls or fences, and anyexistingplantings or trees.

Mark the position of the existing plants and use a circle toshowthe amount of spread, allowing for future spread. Designatingthespread of an existing tree's canopy tells you how much sunthegarden will receive. This is important because plants varygreatlyin the amount of sun or shade they can tolerate. Also noteanyvariations in soil conditions, like a boggy area, which youwillneed to know in selecting plants based on moisturetolerance.

As you identify the plants you would like to add, mark themonthe outline, again showing planting position and spread. Startwiththe largest plantings first, and work down in scale from treestoshrubs to ground cover and perennials to annuals and bulbs. Useagarden catalog for information about height, spread, andplantingdistances as well as sun and moisture tolerance. This planwillhelp you decide how many plants can be added to the spacewithoutovercrowding, and will become a guide when shopping for yourgardenplants.

2. Consider the plant's function.

Plants can serve many functions in a garden. They can act asacanopy to provide shade, a screen for privacy, or a divider tomarka space. Plants also can function as carpets, accents, orfillers.Determine the functions to be served within your gardenplan andselect plant varieties that will achieve thosepurposes.

3. Vary plants for visual interest.

A plant's shape, texture, and color play a critical role inanygarden design. While the color of a plant's flower may be itsmostobvious feature, remember that a flower often is a fleetingthingin a garden. Thus, consider the color and texture of theleaves aswell as the blooms. By using plants with differentshapes,textures, and colors, you will add visual interest anddefinitionto the landscape.

4. Choose plants for year-round interest.

For year-round interest in the garden, choose plants thatbloomin different seasons. For winter interest, include someevergreenplants, deciduous trees with strong silhouettes or peelingbark, orornamental grasses that give structure to the garden.