It's amazing what you can place in a garden with a depth of only 3 to 4 feet. I'll post a picture for you to see.

In regards to placement, this is they way I would look at it. Those which don't require full sun would go in the 'sun until 2pm' spot, and others would go in the remaining 1/3. Keepin mind that 'sun until 2 pm' is technically full sun anyway, so you can place sun lovers there too.

Higher plants should go at the back of the border and shorter at the front, but don't count on seeing that 'rule' in my gardens. I like things here and there.

For impact, you might like to plant clusters of 3 or 5 of the same plant together. It looks really nice and when they mature they have a WOW! factor. Again, I don't always follow this rule...

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Hope this helps!

Tiffy, your beds are just lovely...oh my...gorgeous!!! Thank you so much for sharing those pictures!

Thank you also for the excellent advice on how to place things. I just wasn't sure where everything should go, and didn't want it looking tacky or lopsided. I also like the advice of "clumps" of plants together for added benefit. If you have more pics, please post them! They're wonderful to look at and give me great ideas.

Tiffy, can you give us an idea of the spacing of individual plants in that bed? I tend to space more closely than recommended, but I do worry about crowding. But your bed looks so full and lush, and mine always seem kind of sparse, even when I plant more closely.

Thanks,
Dee

Dee,

If the plants are the same, I plant a bit closer. Right in the middle of the second photo is a group of Annise Hyssop and they were planted about 6 to 8 inches apart. Then if I'm going to plant something different next to them, I would set it at about 12 inches.

You also have to consider that Mother Nature does a lot of work for me. All of the Gloriosa Daisies (Rudbeckias) are reseeds from one plant which I transferred to this garden in 2001. She certainly does a fine job of filling things in!!

Far,

Here's another photo of a garden up against the house with a depth of no more than 3 feet.
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Lovely! Simply gorgeous. Thanks for sharing your pics and your advice. Im learning a lot.

Betsy

Punt. At some point, I just said screw it, and went on height alone. It worked.

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When we moved into our new house, it was a dirt yard. I had never designed a garden, so I spent hours and hours on the internet, looking at online catalogs, trying to find things that were hardy to zone 5, drought tolerant, deer resistant, and in yellow, orange and red colors. I drew up maps, placed my orders, then planted it all out so carefully that fall. Last year, when everything started blooming, I discovered that the plants didn't pay any attention to the heights and widths listed in the catalogs. Some things took way more than the space I allowed, and there were gaps in other places. Plus, some things didn't bloom the color shown in the catalog and clashed with the plant next to them. So last year, I spent much of the spring and fall, moving things around so that the colors blended better, and the plants were more evenly spaced. This year will be the true test to see if I got it right. I'm just joking! There will always be a plant that doesn't overwinter, or one that is small one year, but gets big the next. I think gardens are constantly evolving. Maybe next year, I'll be sick of the color scheme, and want a change. Anyway, I think the joy is in the process, not the finished product.

The longer you do it though, the more familiar you will get with certain plants growth habits, I think the more you will be able to use your experience to create something pleasing to your own eye ... and that's what counts.

Bonnie

Oh, mmq, that is AMAZING!! If that's what punting does, then I'm lining up for the kick right now. :-)

I always plan to give things plenty of space, like this
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But since wintersowing, I find that they always are crowded to death, like this
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Karen

Karen,

That bouquet of coneflowers in the first photo is maaarvelous!! WOW!

Mary,

You make me want for spring so much with those Sweet Williams! Gotta love 'em!

Garden planning? Whazzat?

Great pictures everyone! I also pretty much use height as a guide and then just see how things turn out. If I don't like something, I can always move it or pull it.

I'm curious how my perennials will do this year. Hopefully they'll fill things in a bit. If not, I should have plenty seedlings this year to do the trick:) Last year was my first year WS'ing, so I hope to see some blooms on them this year.

Karen, I agree with Tiffy, those coneflowers are beautiful! I excitably WS'd some echinacea the other day, but several days later realized I never took the cap off. That was my first time doing that. I hope they'll still make it. I did save a few seeds back just in case.

Sigh.

That's all I have to say.

Sighhhhhh..................

Now Bakemom, you must remember that some of us had no idea this whole WS thing would actually WORK...and now we are drowning in seedlings that want new homes, seedlings that we never expected to have!! HA HA!!! I thought I'd have a handful of pretty flowers for this summer, and now I realize that I'm going to have hundreds, maybe even thousands, of plants.

I heart winter sowing. :-)

This is my 3rd yr. to ws and I have learn to plunk my HOS close.I have never planned a garden,they just happen.This year will be my first year that I have planned to plant my seedlings in a specific bed.I have started beds of certain color combos.Hope it turns out like what I have pictured in my mind.
moonphase
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Everyones pics are sooooo pretty, I am amazed! Are all these new beds or have they been there for a few years? I can't wait to get started seeing colors all over my yard tee-heee ") just like Christmas lights in the summer that stays on all day long, with no electric bill! LOL
Jan ")