| Good garden design starts with thinking before | | | | indication of the zones in which that particular plant |
| digging. | | | | (or tree, etc.) will thrive. You can also contact your |
| Garden design takes time. It's too late to plan your | | | | local garden clubs or your county's Agriculture |
| garden when you are standing in the nursery eyeing | | | | Extension Bureau with your questions regarding the |
| every new plant that tempts you. Spend some time | | | | suitability and care of plants for your particular area. |
| looking at your garden site, either during the off | | | | This knowledge is of critical importance, particularly if |
| season, when you can really view it objectively or | | | | you have moved from one zone to another. Not only |
| during the growing season, when your successes and | | | | will you save money, but you will avoid countless |
| failures make themselves known. | | | | hours of frustrating work in your garden. |
| Once you have an idea of how you are going to use | | | | Keep in mind what your garden will be used for and |
| your garden, come back to reality and take an | | | | when. This is important in your plant consideration. If |
| objective look at the site before you come up with | | | | you plan to entertain a lot and don't want to spend |
| your garden design. This is of utmost importance in | | | | all summer on chores, look for lower maintenance |
| determining which plants and trees you use to | | | | plants that don't require constant deadheading and |
| achieve the desired effect. | | | | staking to look good and, if you are planting for small |
| Monitor it during different times of the day and year: | | | | children, choose plants that will bloom at their eye |
| 1. How many hours of sun does the site receive? | | | | level, with interesting textures and scents and |
| 2. What times of day is it sunny? | | | | non-poisonous flowers and seeds. |
| 3. Does sun exposure change with the seasons? Do | | | | Make a list of the plants you like and group them by |
| trees allow sun in the spring and shade during | | | | color, texture and form - the garden design |
| summer? | | | | triumvirate. Also chart them by season of bloom and |
| 4. How is the soil, as far as pH and texture? | | | | or interest. Consider both flowers and foliage. There |
| 5. Are there structures or large trees that will affect | | | | are more and more plants being bred with colorful |
| plant growth and selection? | | | | foliage that will provide interest in the garden all |
| 6. Are there structures nearby that you would like to | | | | season. |
| camouflage? | | | | Be sure to include some large anchor plants that will |
| 7. What plants are already growing there? | | | | look good all year. These are usually shrubs and often |
| You know what you want to use your garden for, | | | | evergreens. Most small to average gardens can only |
| what you are working with and what resources you | | | | accommodate 1 or 2 trees or shrubs, but they are |
| can devote to it. Now, what do you want it to look | | | | important for providing the good bones of the |
| like? | | | | garden and you want to choose wisely at the |
| Formal or informal? Wild? | | | | beginning. Trees and shrubs can be very difficult and |
| Should it complement your house? | | | | heavy to move around. |
| Do you want it to flow with the natural landscape? | | | | Planting bulbs for added beauty |
| Do you favor soft pastels or bold tropicals? | | | | A wonderful way to use bulbs effectively is to |
| All these things might seem overwhelming, but you'll | | | | naturalize daffodils in a wooded area or group them |
| be saving yourself a lot of time and a considerable | | | | for colorful accent around evergreen shrubs. High |
| amount of money if you take this advice and you'll | | | | quality Dutch flower bulbs can be ordered online from |
| find that each step gets easier and more fun. Plant | | | | reputable catalogers and merchants who will advise |
| selection should be one of the last things you | | | | you as to what's appropriate for your zone. |
| consider, or you may be overwhelmed trying to | | | | Plan ahead when planting bulbs; i.e., for spring |
| create a garden design to accommodate the dozens | | | | flowering you plant in the Fall. Follow directions |
| (or hundreds or even thousands) of plants you crave. | | | | accompanying your bulbs regarding depth (usually six |
| Know your planting zone | | | | inches) and fertilizer (there are special bulb fertilizers |
| Before you buy that first plant, you have to know | | | | that should be put in the planting holes). An important |
| what your planting zone is. Without that knowledge, | | | | reminder - again: Know your planting zone before |
| you can end up ordering all sorts of wonderful looking | | | | ordering any bulbs. They all look so beautiful in the |
| plants and shrubs only to find that they are not | | | | catalogs,but what grows well in the midwest, in most |
| suitable for your planting zone and they will die. You | | | | instances, will not grow in South Florida! Special tools |
| will have spent time and money needlessly. If you're | | | | for planting bulbs are also available online. They make |
| buying by catalog or online, every plant and seed | | | | digging holdes so much easier than using a simple |
| catalog or online merchant should show a planting | | | | trowel. Check them out. |
| zone map and each plant depicted should have an | | | | Happy planting! |