A stroll through any garden center can be dizzying. There are hundreds of plants. How do you know which to select? Then once you choose, how do you put them together to create a cohesive design?
Two gardening guys with those answers are Scott Endres and Dean Engleman of Tangletown Garden Center in Richfield, Minn. They're pros at planning outdoor design. Scott and Dean are "exterior" decorators with a twist—they design on the spot without blueprints, graph paper or a planned design. Scott and Dean haul in plants for the homeowner to choose from; bringing many varieties of trees, shrubs and perennials based on photos they've seen of the house and the surrounding environment. Next, they place the plants, offering the consumer professional landscape service without the hefty price tag.
If this service isn't available from your local lawn and garden center, don't despair. Scott and Dean offer the following tips for putting together your landscaped beds.
Rules to Landscape By
Rule 1: Bigger beds are better! Dean says the No.1 mistake homeowners make is thinking too small. Larger beds create a dramatic scenario and measure up to the scale of the home.
Rule 2: "When it comes to picking and planting," says Scott, "we are designing a garden, not an arboretum, so we need three, five or seven of everything rather than one of everything. Think drifts."
It's good advice. This tactic helps keep the design focused, giving your garden more continuity and a cohesive look.
Rule 3: Place plants in groupings like furniture. Start with the biggest pieces.
"Begin with the structural pieces," Dean says. "Place the bigger pieces and accent pieces first, then plant perennials and things that complement those pieces. The area will fill in quickly over time if you start with a design structure."
Rule 4: "An easy design analogy to look at is the concept of 'thrillers,' 'spillers' and 'fillers,'" says Scott. "The thrillers are big pieces, like a sofa in room. They set the stage, and that's where you spend your money first. The spillers help transition from the big piece, like a lamp next to the couch. In this case, spillers are ornamental grasses and shrubs. They add wonderful texture."
Dean adds that while the spillers provide texture, the fillers complete the landscaping. Fill by adding low-growing plants to anchor and tie everything together, like a rug in interior decor.
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