I find it odd that you are starting with the beds. To me that is like going to the grocery store, picking out your cart, and deciding that you will use six shopping bags before you break out your grocery list.

When I design a planting, certainly a foundation planting, I select plants based on how they will affect what I am trying to do and to promote some aesthetic values along the way. When I am done with that, I draw a bed around them.

By starting with a bed shape you not only have to be concerned with affecting the house and all the other conditions of the site, but now you have to consider the self imposed condition of that bed shape and size. That can be very limiting for no practical reason.

You certainly can have it in the back of your mind that you would like straight beds or curvy beds (see sexual stereotype thread) and/or that you may like depth to your planting. But part of the beauty of planning is that you can draw the planting before you actually do anything on the site. You can actually draw it all out exactly as it will be (with the right experience and attention to plant size and spacing). The point is that if you design it well (big "if" unless you have accumulated experience with sizing and spacing) and then draft out the edge of the bed, you can cut the right size bed in the field prior to the arrival of plants.

It is important to remember that you do not have to design a landscape in the same order that you have to build it.

Good point...but as much as I like to think of myself as a gardener, I guess I'm just that, not a designer. I'd love to learn more about plants and have enough knowledge of the world of plants to make a complete design, but I'm not there yet. I guess it started with me trying to avoid seeding an area that I'd be digging up later (beds & walkways) and then I got into more ideas (but clearly ran short...). I know a few things, like I would like some larger evergreens (4?) at sort of the corner posts of the house, and some climbing vines on the two short walls on either end, but I honestly don't know enough to plan my entire garden out. (Now is when you probably suggest I go to a local landscape designer, eh?) I guess I'm open to suggestions on basic planting (like sizes and/or placement) if that would help me get a start. Or maybe I'm in the wrong spot...can you suggest other websites or books I could reference to help me plan better?

Thanks

Do some searches of this forum and real all of the threads you can find about foundation plantings, which is what you are planning.

Why do you want evergreens on the corners? Will they serve a purpose, like accentuating the architectural lines of the house or screening a bad view from a window? Or are you including them because you've seen them at someone else's house, where they may be serving a specific function? If they enhance another house, which they may or may not, does it follow that they will do the same for yours?

If you are a gardener, you know that plant selection is dictated by the site conditions: sun, soil, moisture. From the list of shrubs and perennials that will thrive there, research mature height and width, and plot them on your plan so that they will not need constant pruning to keep them off the house and walkways or block the windows.

Selecting for a nice variety of textures, colors, and forms can take time. Some trips to a good nursery will allow you to see the plants in person, and if they have display gardens, even better to see mature sizes. Plant in groupings, rather than one of each, and include something for every season. A lot of people limit the front plantings to evergreens because they look good all year, but there are deciduous plants that have interesting bark or branch patterns or berries.

Having a plan before you start can save a lot of money, time, and effort. It eliminates impulse purchases at the nursery, minimizes mistakes, and gives you a map to follow as you implement the plan.

I respect laag and I have about a drop of experience compared to his gallons, but I don't think it is too crazy to start with bed lines first. There is obviously some give and take, but if you create generous sized beds that are in scale with the property and house facade, then when it comes time to design the plantings you should not have too much trouble picking plants to fit the bed and meet your needs.

In your particular case, it probably makes sense to layout your walkways first. Do you plant on installing walkways soon? It was not until recently that I realized exactly how much influence a front walk had on the rest of a front yard design.

If you post some pictures of your house then maybe others at this forum can give you some ideas. There have been a number of threads about houses with side entry garages, so it would not hurt to look through older posts.

- Brent

It seems to me that starting with laying out the bed sizes for a remotely typical foundation planting runs almost instantly into the Conifer Dilemma. How do you plan for the 'mature size' of something that in theory can be infinitely large? If you start with the bed sizes, then either the beds will look sparse for several years, or get overcrowded after several years.

Thanks, I've put up some pics at:

http://adil.hoxha.googlepages.com/home

I have been looking through posts (for this topic, and seeding the lawn, and burying downspouts, etc...so much info :) but thought it wouldn't hurt to ask my specific one as well. Just looking for any helpful advice.

Thanks!

I've just been lurking here so far, but couldn't resist this thread as it looks like you've got a great lot and house to work with! Beware: I'm no pro, just have some ideas for you :^)

I agree with Brent that you should start with having your walkway layed out first and let the traffic dictate the layout. I also think that with 'beds vs. plants first', it would depend on what you have a better idea of. Sounds like you definately know you want deep beds around the house, but plantings you're not so sure of? So why not start with your beds and let the placement and soil dictate your plantings? Seems logical (and so much easier when you're telling someone else how to do it!)

I love conifers myself for all season interest, but you can have too many and definately plan for mature size! Why not stick with something dwarf in your beds but place a few larger varieties out in your big beautiful yard to create a park like setting interspersed or grouped with something deciduous? They can be useful to create some much needed shade and privacy areas in your yard. You mentioned placeing 4, one at ea. corner of the house? I'm thinking 3 or 5 with it being a corner lot (triangular) your 'anchors' would look more appealing and fit nicely into the overall layout. The same when designing your beds...I think curvy would go nicely with a corner lot. I don't think you can go wrong with curvy beds. Deal with the basics now and the details will follow!

Hope this helps! Are you putting in a vegetable garden? Looks like you've got lots of space to work with. Make sure the conifers don't shade any veggie areas too much.

Thanks for you ideas...much appreciated (and a good discussion starters for my wife & I :) The veggie garden will find a home around the back of the house in the spring - should be able to do a nice little patch. Not as many design issues there...