Hello Lisa.

Welcome back to another edition of THE PENCIL CASE! As always, each issue focuses on a theme to encourage a fresh look at garden design and graphics. This week, let's learn how to Narrow Down Your Plant Choices to create a planting design that's just right for you. ♥︎

WHERE DO YOU BEGIN?

You've decided where to place your new planting bed, what size it should be and now you face the ominous task of choosing the plants that go inside it. There are thousands of plants. Whittling down all these options can be a looming task, but luckily, it's as easy as creating a PLANT LIST. Once you create this potential list, you can then use it to place the right plants in the right place on a plan. 

To create my list I use a series of filters to help funnel down plant choices. Before you start, surround yourself with some fabulous plant books, nursery catalogs or pop up an online plant database on your laptop.   

A FEW FILTERS TO NARROW DOWN YOUR LIST

Try narrowing down your plant choices by considering the following topics. 

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PLANTING ZONE 

Choosing the correct planting zone for your area will whittle down your plant choices right away. If you're in the US check out this map to see what zone you're in. 

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CULTURAL NEEDS

Do you need to focus on plants that like shade, sun, dry or wet conditions? Do you have special soils? Is your spot exposed to intense winter winds or salty air?

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PLANT COMMUNITIES

Consider choosing plants that naturally grow together or at least thrive in similar conditions to a local plant community. For instance, my backyard is inspired by a white oak plant community...so I'm in the process of researching native plants that grow in that environment. 

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TYPES OF PLANTS

Do you prefer annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees or a mix?

MORE TO CONSIDER

COLOR

Though color is the most fleeting, it is a quick way to narrow down your plant choices. Be careful to not exclude plants like evergreens though! They may not have the specific color you're looking for, but add wonderful structure in a neutral way.

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FORM + TEXTURE

These are more consistent than color, but not as easy to sort through. Once your list gets smaller, make sure you have a good variety of forms and texture.  

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THEME

Do you have a theme for your planting bed?  Is it a lemonade garden that will only include yellows and icy whites, plus plants that have a lemony-citrus name? Maybe a polka-dot garden that requires plants with round flowers?

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SIZE

Do your plants need to be shorter than 24" or perhaps you want taller plants to hide a secret area?

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Once you've created your list of possible plants, keep it handy as you start drawing and exploring the layout of your new garden space. 

The photo above was taken at Walter's Gardens in Michigan. 

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Let's do this!

Online plant databases are a great place to type in the filters above to help you create a possible plant list. One of my favorites is Monrovia's PLANT FINDER. I get giddy when I start to see all the possibilities!

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This May we'll be offering a PLANTING DESIGN 101 MASTERCLASS. It will cover the elements of planting design in a 90-minute session. If you're new to this topic, this is a great way to start your planting design journey. You're welcome to join our waiting list and we'll send you updates later.

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Did you know our monthly design membership, THE GARDEN DESIGN COLLECTIVE, opens for enrollment once again next month (late March)? We discuss everything from planting design to spatial design to hardscapes and so much more. Oh, and members have free access to the PLANTING DESIGN 101 MASTERCLASS mentioned above. Perks are plenty here. 

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Need design inspiration now? You're welcome to join our 10x10 GARDEN DESIGN TIPS email journey for only $10.

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If you know someone that needs design inspiration, please feel free to share this newsletter. Anyone can subscribe right here. I also keep a VAULT of past issues in this secret location.

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Are you as excited about spring as I am?!

All my best to you,

Lisa 

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PAPER GARDEN WORKSHOP

Thank you to Mandy Orgler for designing the lovely graphics in all these newsletters.