How to Plan a New Garden

My Master Gardener friends call me a nursery junkie. I have trouble passing by a nursery without stopping to see what they have. I love to search for new and exciting plants or for better versions of those I already have.

If you are planning a new garden, you have some decisions to make before you head for the nursery. 

Are you planting a perennial garden for the long term, or do you want a colorful, showy garden for the current growing season? How much sun or shade does your garden receive? The amount of sun can be different in summer and winter due to the changing angle of the sun’s rays, an important consideration when siting perennials. If your garden has no buildings or trees near it, it will have exposure to sun year around.

Make sure you have good soil for your plants, whether you are planting in the ground or in pots. Soil is your foundation. It consists not only of solid materials, including a mixture of clay and sand, but also loose organic matter that allows space for the water and air that plant roots need.

Once you’ve fulfilled those requirements, it’s time to decide what to plant. Do you want a more formal garden in the English style, with plants organized in groupings and arranged by colors within distinct borders? Or would you rather have a more natural garden, with a lot of different plants blending in more of a rambling fashion?

Once you have a plan, you’re ready to head off to the nursery (or nurseries). You don’t have to have specific plants in mind at this point. You just need an understanding of your planting site and an idea of what effect you want your garden to have when it develops.

Walk up and down the aisles of the nursery, looking at what’s available. Check the tags on the plants you like to see whether they need sun or shade, whether they are short at maturity or 10 feet tall. Width at maturity is also important in determining how far apart you should space plants if you’re putting in more than one of the same kind.

Do seek the advice of nursery sales staff. Tell them the details of your garden location and the effect you’re seeking. But resist the impulse to purchase at this point. You’re just getting ideas. Visit several nurseries, making notes on the plants you like.

Lastly, once you have your plan, return to the nurseries to see which ones have the best examples of the plants you seek. Stock can vary considerably from week to week. One nursery might have a variety of healthy azaleas this week but minimal inventory next week. Remember that most nurseries don’t grow their own stock. They get new deliveries from suppliers regularly.

If you take the time to do this type of planning and shopping, you will be greatly rewarded as your plants grow and produce the kind of garden you had hoped for. Designing a garden is a lot like painting a picture. You start with a plan, choose your palette, and then begin to paint, watching your creation evolve as you work.

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