Charlie Albone

Choosing plants for your garden can seem like a daunting process especially if you are not a “green thumb”. This green element of the garden design is the one that is going to give your garden its real impact and flavor. Don’t despair if your not one of the green thumbs because luckily gardeners are usually the sharing type so help really isn’t too far away.

When I design a garden I like to have an idea of what plants I may use whilst I design but these are never set in stone. The placement and general characteristics (height, shape, impact) of the plant will stay true to the design but the actual plant will be chosen at the nursery. I like to do things this way because I will always see I plant I have never seen before at the nursery and this may be the winner I’m after. Whilst developing the built sections of the garden you will notice micro climates that previously had gone unnoticed or had been created by construction, these will affect the final plants you choose.

The major restraint to planting comes down to climate and sun exposure. Next time you have a day at home keep an eye on the garden and note down where and when the sun hits the garden. This is the info you will need to share with your green thumb friend or the professional at your local nursery. By using a local nursery the staff should know your general climatic requirements but let them know if you have anything out of the ordinary, e.g. if you’re on the top of a windy exposed hill.

The style of the planting must complement the bones or structured elements of the garden. For example tropical plants are going to look out of place in a formal garden. Don’t let this stop you from experimenting as there are lots of plants that cross the boundaries and shine out of their usual element. There are of course some plants that typify a certain style, for example bamboo and Asian gardens go hand in hand. Using these stereotypical plants in your garden will conjure the feel or genius loci you are after. The bespoke green feel will come in the other plants you use around these and the way in which they are set out.

With my next installment I will delve into how to set out your garden beds and where and when certain types of plants should be used. I will also give examples of my favorite types of plants.