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Old 01-03-2011, 08:41 AM posted to uk.rec.gardening
harry harry is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,103
Default Laying out an area

On Feb 28, 8:12*pm, Kate wrote:
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


It's called garden landscaping or garden design. Arty crafty stuff.
It is inherited/genetic and can't be learned though it can be copied.
Highly suitable for control freaks.

Don't worry. Just buy some plants suitable for your soil/position and
stick them in. Impulse purchases are especially surprising. After a
while the garden will be full & you can stop.
It's a form of evolution.
Anything you may see on the TV on this topic is usually lies.