5 golden rules to make an impact in your garden

When it comes to planting borders there are a few golden rules I follow as a Garden Designer.

These rules are simple but highly effective to ensure that your garden borders pack a punch for years to come.

So let’s get straight to it….

Size matters

Avoid narrow borders, they might be tempting in a smaller space but they often make your garden look smaller, they are harder to maintain and there won’t give you any real impact or seasonal interest. Try and aim for at least 75cm in depth at the very least. In this case bigger is better!

Less is more

It is so tempting to go crazy in the garden centre at this time of year. But when it comes to buying varieties of plants less is definitely more. Opting for fewer varieties but buying at least 3 or 5 of the same plant will give you a much better result.

Complimenting colours

Thinking about your colour combination up front can really help focus you when it comes to buying plants. Choosing around 3-5 colours will help give you variation and interest, purple, blue, pink and white is often a huge hit with my clients.

Right plant, right place

This might be boring to hear but if you want to make your money go further, you need to check the plants you are buying will suit the place you are planting. If you have a spot in full sun, make sure you have got plants that can tolerate hot and dry conditions.

Aftercare

The biggest reason that garden planting fails is due to aftercare. All new planting needs to be cared for with regular watering in the first 1-2 years whilst establishing. Avoid planting up your borders during the height of summer, not only is it harder work for you, but the plants will find this much more stressful and have a higher risk of dying.