No-Brainer Garden Planner

Designing Your Own Garden

Article Writen By: Monrovia - Horticultural Craftsmen.

All About Planting Design

You can put a house on any lot that's big enough to hold it, but creating a garden is very different. Landscaping are site specific, which means both layout and plant choice must respond to the unique conditions around your home. Another difference is that because your trees and shrubs are planted small, you must work with their size at maturity, unlike building which will always remain the same size. Though it seems complex, if you follow the right step-by-step process you are assured a beautiful and functional landscape that suits you every need.

Homesite Expose

Each side of your house receives sunlight differently. The east side enjoys morning sun, the west, afternoon. The south side has sun through most of the day, but on the north there is mostly shade. Sometimes large preexisting trees or neighboring houses interfere with this to cause shade where there would otherwise be a sunny condition. The first step in design is to decide what kind of exposure each area of your garden will receive. Later on you must match plants to exposure to ensure success.

A Palette of Your Favorite Plants

Landscape are composed of all sorts of plants which include trees of various size, shrubs, both evergreen and deciduous, vines that cling or not, and flowering perennials that offer seasonal beauty and interest. Pick a palette of plants you find appealing, or those that help you solve problems. You must know this about each candidate:

• The exposure preference such as sun, part sun, or shade.
• Water and soil preferences.
• Winter hardiness in your climate zone or any zone of a lower number.
• Height and diameter of each plant at or near maturity.

Draw Softly and Carry A Big Easer

Accurate design with plants requires you draw a plan. Use 1/4" or 1/8" grid paper and make each square equal a foot. Measure and then draw in house, fences, paving and other immobile objects, plus existing lawn and plants. You will need a circle template to draw the new plants in later on. Choose a circle for the plant at maturity. For example, a dwarf shrub that is 3' wide will need a circle 3/4" in diameter if you're working with 1/4" grid paper.

Five Step Planting on Paper

Your goal is to choose the best plant for each position in the garden. Take your time and choose well–you'll be living with that tree or shrub for a very long time. Keep it simple but strive for diversity that makes the garden interesting in every season. Draw a circle on the plan for each and every plant you put into the paper landscape, and add a number inside it to correspond with your plant list. For example, a Japanese Maple may have a number or letter J abbreviation to remind you what plant the circle indicates.

Step 1

Plant your trees. Trees are vital foe shade and screening tall neighboring buildings. They offer you an opportunity to enjoy spring and summer flowers, autumn color, and beautiful evergreen forms under snow . Divid your trees into two groups: large spreaders for shade and smaller ones for colorful accent.

Step 2

Plant your backyard shrubs. Large shrubs help disguise ugly parts of the garden such as discolored fences, a neighbor's yard, utility spaces or privacy hedges. These are usually evergreen, either broadleaf or needled conifers contrast background so showier flawing plants stand out.

Step 3

Plant showy foreground shrubs. Choose shrubs with unique qualities such as vivid flower color or bronze foliage to stand out. These dwarf and medium sized shrubs should include spring and summer flowering plants. For an ever-changing effect use a few bearing fall color and bright fall color and bright winter berries.

Step 4

Plant your vines. Not all gardens have vines, but they are excellent plant against a wall or want foliage for a shade arbor, be sure to fit them into planting areas at the exact point they will grow. Show vines with a small triangle since they have no canopy.

Step 5

Fill in with perennials. This step also includes ornamental grasses, ferns and ground covers because they are designed the same way. There will be gabs between shrubs and places are needed as edging. Insert perennials in groups of 3, 5 or more to intensify the color effect. Make sure you match exposures because these plants fail to perform under too much or too little sun.

When you have completed the planting on paper, list and tally up all your plants to use as a convenient shopping and estimate guide.

Green Tip

If you're not familiar with very many plants, it is worthwhile to hire someone to help you. They can guide you to the right plant for the right place.

High Performance Plants

Monrovia strives to provide you with an array of high performance plants for your garden. We offer many species and new cultivars such as valuable dwarf shrubs that expand your color choice. Our commitment to quality guarantees your choice. Out commitment to quality guarantees your choice are well sized, and get off to a healthy and vigorous start. Choose an entire palette of Monrovia plants for a creative and satisfying landscape design experience.