How to plan planting
Q I’ve always chosen plants piecemeal and placed them wherever there’s a gap in a flowerbed. I’d like to plan the garden better, to include different colours, heights and textures, but where do I start? A First, buy plants in threes, fives or more – odd numbers work best. Keep the plants you like best and add more of the same, then clear or donate the rest. Think about the look you want (minimalist, prairie-style, cottage-garden) and whether it fits with what you already have. Herbaceous perennials such as echinacea, achillea and salvia can work wonderfully with swathes of grasses, while traditional cottage-garden flowers like delphiniums and geraniums complement structural shrubs like ceanothus and hydrangeas.
Research the final height of the plants you have and like, and aim to create a graduation in height from front to back.