How to Create a New Garden Bed and Plant List

I met the loveliest lady under sad circumstances this week.

Her Dad just passed away & she needed someone to spruce up his garden for the upcoming memorial.

Thru a friend, whose garden I had planned, she found me.

You know when you just connect with someone - well, we did.

I could have chatted with her all day, but she need to get back up north to her family & I need to start work on the front bed.

There were really badly pruned, therefore pretty much dead, Boxwoods in the spot the day I arrived.  Those had to go.

You know the correct way to prune boxwoods, right?  If not, read my post.

After the boxwoods were removed, this is what was left.  And so I started to garden.  

First I amended the soil.

Then I made a few trips to the nurseries.  I placed the plants in the beds still in the containers and move them around until I got the look I wanted.

And I dug, loosened root balls & tucked those plants in the soil.

After a few hours, I ended up with this:

Obviously this is not a total garden redesign project, but still it makes a big impact.

You can do this too!  

Create a New Garden Bed

Pick an area in your garden that needs a facelift.  Take out what isn't doing well & what you don't like.  Then make a plan.  For a space this small you don't even need to draw a garden plan.  Envision it & make a plant list.

Your plant list needs to take into account the amount of sun & water the plants will get and the amount of sun & water the plants need.  The getting & needing should be the same for a thriving garden.

Here is the plant list I created for this special garden bed:

• Irene Paterson shrub 
• Dodnea purpurea
• Lavender
• Rosemary Upright
• Cordyline Red Sensation
• Cosmos
• Bacopa

All of these are sun loving and tolerate partial shade.  All will need regular waterings until established but going forward are fairly drought tolerant.  Learn to how to help any plant be more drought tolerant.

Texture & color are important to a beautiful garden.  My client wanted greens, whites & a pop of color.  Lavender colored blooms are the perfect choice.  I love this combination.

Texture is always important in the garden & more so when the palette is limited.  The strappy Cordyline sets off the lacy leaves of the cosmos for example.  They make each other look better & more interesting in the contrast.

This is a very new garden, I haven't even mulched it yet, when it grows in the varying textures & colors will overlap and provide year round interest.  In addition all the plants are perennials.  Want a cheat sheet on dividing perennials?

In filling out a garden bed buy in odd numbers 3 or 5 of the same plant.  Resist the temptation to buy one of everything you like.  Gardens look much better when you limit the plants to a few and plant them in odd multiples.  This creates flow.  Flow is good!

This plant, Bacopa, literally flows.  It trails over rocks & bricks to create a soft almost everblooming edge.  I love it!

Gardening does not have to be on a giant scale or cost a lot of money to have an impact on the beauty of your home.  Taken one area at a time you can create a beautiful sanctuary for yourself, the bees & the butterflies in a few hours time.

Pick an area - make a plan and a list.  Heck, use my list an get going to the nursery!

 If you have any questions leave me a comment or send an email.  

Happy to help you create your garden!

** Kelly **