Garden Design - More is More

Published: Wed, 30 Mar 2011 19:15:28

By: CL Fornari

Green Thumbs DOWN For Polka Dot Garden Design.

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When I was a new gardener and wanted a big flower garden, the biggest design mistake I made was not planting enough of any single plant. I'd go to a nursery and buy one of these and one of those on each trip. I was unfamiliar with the plants, after all, and didn't know what the plants would do in the garden.

Also, my budget was very limited. If I did have enough money to buy three of a particular plant, I'd bring them home and plant one on the right side of the garden, one in the center, and the third all the way on the left. The garden had a variety of plants and flowers, but it never looked really impressive.

Then I went to a department store and realized where I was going wrong. In the home goods section I was overcome with the desire to purchase a purple vase. It was a nice enough vase but it wasn't something I needed. It occurred to me that the appeal came from the mass of color in front of me. The store did not display just one purple vase. No, there was a rack of these containers and this is what made me want to take one home.

In the garden as well, larger groups have more power. My first flower garden wasn't remarkable because it was polka dotted. Over time, some of the perennials I planted spread, of course, and grew into larger clumps that were more striking. But other selections stayed small and unimpressive. In general, the larger the plant, the fewer you need in the garden.

A single shrub or tree can be very exciting, and some larger perennials are fine when used as a singular specimen. One Hosta Sum and Substance, for example, grows into an imposing plant, as do most hardy Hibiscus. But smaller plants are often best when planted in puddles instead of polka dots.

Flower power is enhanced when plants are clustered, so a plant with smaller blossoms usually make a better show when planted in larger numbers. That hardy Hibiscus, on the other hand, with dinner plate sized flowers, does not need to be used in a group of five to make a statement. Except for the largest, boldest plants, when it comes to garden design, more is more.



These photos show gardens that were planted with large groups of plants, not just one or two. Very nice!