Creating a plant plan
Place tracing paper over the sketch you made of your garden. Initially focus on simple shapes rather than specific plants and avoid getting bogged down in detail. As you build your layers, think in groups of plants, not in ones or twos. Plants in nature grow in clusters, with a few single plants set a short distance away. Mimic this to get a sense of flow and rhythm with your planting. Once you’re happy with the overall shape of the planting, use the following steps to work on the specifics, but don’t rush it. Try several versions, laying new pieces of tracing paper over your drawing until you’re happy with the result. As you apply plant names to the shapes and forms, revise the details, looking at the contrast between the foliage, sizes and textures. When you’re happy, overlay the final version with new tracing paper, and use a circle template and compass to produce a final plan. 1 Start by placing trees (or working with the ones already in your garden), thinking about how their shape will affect the light and work with the wider landscape and buildings. 2 Position the shrubs. These counterbalance the trees and bring that upper level down into the garden. Add different shapes and forms, some more solid, others relaxed and open. 3 Include perennials. Remember to think in groups, keeping rhythm and repetition in mind. 4 Add annual plants, bulbs and corms, considering where they will provide little highlights.