			Contact me \| Site map \| Help
		Search

Annual maintenance plans

Buying and planting service

Garden improvments and planting Solutions

Garden Consultancy

Garden Renovation

Planting Plans

A planting plan can work in conjunction with a garden design, or can be a reworking of an existing garden layout. Many factors are taken into consideration when deciding on the plants to use in any garden. Gardens, particularly front gardens and those seen from the house, need to be interesting throughout the year. Interest in winter can be achieved through the use of:-

Evergreen trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants
Berrying plants
Interesting bark on a deciduous plant eg Hydrangea petolaris, or the red and green stems of Cornus and Willow.
Scent in winter is guaranteed to lift the spirits on a dull day, Lonicera frangrantissima can do this.
Architectural forms possessed by some plants are a great asset eg Fatsia japonica.
Seed heads look fantastic when picked out by the frost eg the tall but delicate Stipa gigantea.

Add spring, summer and autumn to this process and you have the beginning of a planting plan!

Other areas of consideration are:-

The relative heights and mature size of the plants.
The flowering time of the plants.
Their suitability for the particular growing conditions.
The habit of the plant. Is it invasive or well behaved?
More than one season of interest. Does the plant really pay its way in your garden?
Variegated leaves. Vibrant or unusual coloured flower or foliage.
Plants for different situations - dry shade or hot patio.

Once the above and more have been taken into consideration the final planting plan is worked out. The plan gives the full name of all plants, their position within the garden and how many of each type to purchase.

Pick your plants with care