Planning out a garden bed seems like an intuitive sort of process, you choose what you like, you plant it, and it grows. But unfortunately unlike the spontaneous beauty of plants in nature, your average suburban flower bed requires careful thought if it’s to look anywhere near as aesthetically pleasing as you imagine. This week, we take a look at the essential elements required to design a perfect garden bed.
Balance size and colour
Even the most abstract looking wildflower gardens have had some degree of plant curation, and you need to think carefully about the cumulative effect of what you’re putting in the ground. Create a balanced colour ratio by keeping most of the colours in your garden simple but choosing a highlight colour and repeating it throughout. Mixing together plants in the same colour palette but with contrasting shapes and textures is a subtler way to draw in the eye and create depth in the garden bed.
Choose a mixture of perennial and annual plants
To ensure your garden bed has at least a few points of interest throughout the year, it’s important to mix in perennials, annuals, bulbs, and hardy ground covers or shrubs with distinctive foliage.
Plan for growth
Whilst this might seem obvious to seasoned green thumbs, a lot of novice gardeners making the mistake of planting without considering what the bed will look like as the flowers grow. The result is generally a messy bed that lacks definition, with small flowering plants obscured by larger perennials or fast growing foliage. It’s important to research the mature height of your plants not only to ensure the finished product is visually appealing, but to provide your plants with the best possible chance to thrive and fully mature, by giving them the space they need to spread and grow.
Be spatially aware
Take the time to consider the experience of the onlooker walking down the garden path. Placing tall plants at the front of the bed will not only obscure their view, but will also make the walking space feel cramped. Try instead to plant your bed in descending layers, with the tallest shrubs at the back, and the daintiest ground coverings lapping the edge of the path. Thorny plants like roses, and strong scented plants should also be kept away from the edge of the path, as they can cause injury and attract bees.
Don’t forget edging
Proper edging is crucial for giving your garden bed a finished, defined look. Use edging that contrasts with the colour of your path to create visual interest and ‘frame’ the garden bed like you would a painting.
Custom Asphalt offer a wide range of residential and commercial asphalting services including asphalt paving with contrast edging in brick or timber. To learn more about Asphalt Contractors capabilities, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by calling 0418 137 943.