Planning Your Garden Planting: Trees, Shrubs, Perennials & More

"Planting" means the living layer—trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, bulbs. A reference book (with sun/soil/water needs) is your best first tool.

Category Quick-Start

• Trees: Small gardens = small, slow trees. Avoid drain-clogging roots. Lilacs need deadheading.
• Shrubs: Mix evergreen/deciduous, early/late bloom, fall color, winter berries. Prune yearly.
• Roses: Color payoff but need deadheading/spraying. Choose disease-resistant.
• Perennials: Year 1 = establishment (buy plants, not seeds). 3–4 year lifespan. Divide to multiply. Deadhead extends bloom.
• Annuals: All-season color. Pots/hanging baskets. Deadhead = more blooms. Labor-intensive.
• Bulbs/Corms: Some stay in ground; others (dahlias) need lifting. Check storage space.

Layout Strategy

1. Draw plan. Mark sun/shade, soil moisture per bed.
2. Decide: formal schemes? mixed borders? themed areas (rose garden, shrubbery)?
3. Mark climbers on pergolas/trellises.
4. Back-to-front by height (fence beds); center-out (island beds).
5. Leave access paths/stepping stones for maintenance.
6. Record each plant’s spacing, depth, feed/water/prune needs.

Organization now = ease later. Next: bed prep and planting.