Live life like you’ll die tomorrow, plant a garden like you’ll live forever – I can’t remember who quoted that to me once but it has stuck with me. In reality we just don’t do this, however.

Many people plant their gardens without thinking of the final size their plants will get to and as a result position plants too close together. The result is overcrowding and plants which cannot achieve their full and natural shape. For many people this is understandable as they have small gardens and love their plants and find it difficult to say no to a new addition. Let us look at some of the ways in which you can approach your choice of plants.

You may choose some plants to perform a practical task for you. They may, for example screen something from view. Perhaps you look out on the back of the neighbour’s shed and would rather not see it. Here the height of the plant is important and it will give you a screen throughout the year if it is evergreen, like Photinia Red Robin or Pyracantha or, if you have acidic soil you could try Camellias. If you have limited space remember that some plants are more upright in their habit and some are naturally wider and will spill out more.

Try and maintain a good selection of textures and leaf forms to create interest. If you want to draw the eye in a particular direction you can use the same type of plant at regular intervals to draw the eye along a path. This works particularly well if the chosen plant has a distinctive shape or texture which makes it stand out from its surrounding plants.

You’ve heard of location, location, location with regard to house purchases. Plants are similar. Whatever plants are chosen it is vital that you ensure their suitability for the location.

There is little you can do to change the natural environment they will live in so try to select the plants that thrive in the conditions they will have to endure, whether this is full sun, shade, wet or dry soil, acidic, clay or sandy soil.

Wind can also be a problem for some plants. One of my favourite groups of trees is the Acers, known to some as Japanese Maples.

They are truly beautiful but they tend not to thrive in windy sites as their leaves become scorched.

In our climate, I think it is wise to have a good proportion of evergreen to deciduous plants; otherwise the garden can seem very barren for six months of the year.

Having said this it is also lovely to have sections of the garden that have seasonal interest. Perhaps, if you look out of your window now, you can look at your garden and identify the areas that look a little bare at present and could benefit from spring bulbs next year.

Find some way of marking these areas on a plan of your garden and make a note on your calendar to order your bulbs for the autumn.

Finally it is traditional in the world of garden design to plant in ones, threes, fives etc...unless of course you are trying to create a symmetrical design in which you may plant in pairs with the same variety either side of a pathway, doorway or set of steps.

This month we have only touched the surface of how to select plants for your garden. Next month we will look in more detail at the use of colour in your garden and perhaps look at some edible crops you may like to consider introducing too.

Enjoy the coming season and if you require professional help for the garden contact me at bernadette@unique-gardens.co.uk