Hi

I'd like some gardening information, but I don't know exactly what search
terms I should be looking for!

What I want is a guide that will give me an overview of how to lay out a
fixed space. Starting from what you've got, say a long thin border, or a
circular bed, or a crescent moon rockery, or a group of containers. Then
giving some general principles like how to balance shrubs vs bedding
plant vs ground cover, and what to do with colour and height and front/
back of the area. Also what to do at different times of the year, e.g.
have some evergreen shrubs for all-year life, some areas could be spring
bulbs/summer bedding/winter bare soil, etc. Then finally drill down into
specific plants to consider.

Most books I've looked at either give a lot of detail about individual
plant choices, with not much on how to assemble them into a whole border/
whatever, or else have something like a month-by-month what to do in the
garden list, again without much of an overview. I want general but
practical advice on laying out the "ensemble".

Can anyone tell me the name of what I'm looking for? and recommend a
book/website/etc. that will provide it?

Thanks!!

Kate xx