My Plant Selection for Annual Gardens and Perennial Gardens...

Last season, as I stood inside each greenhouse and contemplated my plant selection, my eyes slowly glazed over. It's the same every year. I am overwhelmed at the beautiful, breathtaking mass of plant color and texture. So many plants, so many decisions.

All of the plants call out to me. What to buy? Well, for starters I must keep my garden design in mind and since I had three rather large garden beds to fill and a few smaller ones, I approached the process one flowerbed garden at a time.

As I aimlessly wandered, I touched and sniffed my way through the vast rows of perennials and annuals. I also thought back to my successful plantings from previous gardens.

When reading My Garden Designing Page and My Flowerbed Design Page, I hope I gave the impression that garden design requires at least a little forethought.

So, once the actual garden design layout is completed, the soil preparation done, plantings come next. But before the cash register rings, consider the points below:

• do I want to plant only annuals? (last for one season)
• do I want to plant only perennials? (return each season)
• do I want trees and shrubs?
• or maybe all of the above

What about color schemes in Plant Selection?

What color scheme do I want? For example: If using shades of only one color (and depending on which color chosen), plant selection could be limited.

Monochromatic...shades of only one color,
Analogous...colors that are neighbors on the color wheel
Contrasting...colors that are directly opposite on the color wheel
Polychromatic...all colors.

Here's a great link for a color wheel chart and additional information on Color Wheels.

What about flowerbed schemes in Plant Selection?

Whether annuals, perennials, shrubs or trees are chosen and the color scheme is thought out, also consider the following before the plants are purchased:

will your flowerbed have a formal scheme? Meaning that all plants are symmetrically placed

will your flowerbed have a standard scheme? Meaning that 3 sizes of plants are used; taller in the center (like the Cleome ), medium (like the Salvia ) and shorter for the edging (like the Ageratum). This scheme is usually found in parks or areas where large island flowerbeds are created.

will your flowerbed have an informal scheme? Meaning that the plants are not symmetrically placed, but rather planted in groups and the sizes can be intermixed. This is my favorite scheme

will your flowerbed be a mass planting scheme? Meaning that the planting is made up of only one kind of plant. For example: beside the length of a walkway many gardeners plant narrow strips of Impatiens or Begonias.

Now don't be intimidated by the above. Once the above is considered, deciding on which plants to buy becomes so much easier. Remember: Anyone can grow a little something.

There is no such thing as a black thumb. Only 'green thumbs' on this website! Right?

During the Plant Selection process

Consider the following...

if you have a water feature, why not create a pond landscape that offers a solitude place of reflection, which I did with Hydrangeas, Purple Spreading Veronica, Marigolds, Grasses, Coreopsis, Neila, Russian Sage and Red Potunias. Notice the colors I chose? A contrasting scheme. I chose colors directly across from each other on the color wheel; yellow, red, purple and dark pink.

create a patchwork of colors (using all colors from the color wheel) like I did for my island garden, south garden and middle garden or a polychromatic scheme. Some say there is a danger with this kind of color scheme. Too bright, too busy. This is true. However, with careful consideration on the 'hue of colors', repeat planting and throwing in some silver and white repeatedly, I believe it works and looks great!

turn your containers into an overflow of greenery, texture and color using fillers and spillers. I use container planting within my flowerbeds

give scent to some parts of the garden. Plant close the the flowerbed edge. I planted plenty of Lavender, Lemon Balm, Pavement Roses, Bee Balm, Catmint

add contrast with textures such as Lambs Ear, Ladys Mantle, Ligularia, Sedum, Coral Bells

add a little drama with specimen plants, like the Siberian Larch Tree, Arctic Blue Willow Shrub

And speaking of color...do you lean towards buying certain colors? Does color influence mood in the garden?

I believe so. Maybe that's why I choose such vibrant colors so I can stay stimulated and full of energy.

For example:

Red- Acts as an energizer. The color keeps a person alert. Red Potunia, Salvias, Nicotiana, Roses, Petunias, Celosia, Lantana, Verbena

Oranges - Warms and welcomes people to your garden. Gazania, Calendula, Celosia, Marigold, Ligularia Othello

Yellows - Offers optimism for all plants to grow and flourish. Marigold, Calendula, Gazania, Celosia, Roses, Goldenrod, Lantana, Ligularia Rocket, Loosestrife Yellow

Blues - Leads to a sense of calm. A person become less nervous in the garden and supposedly reduces blood pressure. Spiderwort, Salvia Black and Blue, Salvia Blue Night, Globe Thistle, Felicia Daisy, Forget-Me-Not

Purples - Another color to calm the nerves and brings a feeling of self worth. Liatris, Bellflower, Bee Balm, Catmint, Lavender, Russian Sage, Coneflower, Scabiosa

By the way, all of my plants mentioned above can be found in the links below.

Check out the related links below for my perennials and annuals for 2008 and 2009:

My Annuals from the 2008 Makeover Season

My Perennials from the 2008 Makeover Season

My Annuals for 2009 Makeover Season

My Perennials from the 2009 Makeover Season

My Garden Shrubs

Or just go to my Site Index page for a complete index list of plants.

Check out my Site Index

GREAT GARDENING TIPS... for beginner gardeners and seasoned:

Plants for Sun

Plants for Shade

During any gardening season, I continue checking each flowerbed for 'bare' spots. In most cases I will plant annuals to fill in these spots. After all, perennials do take a few years (at least 3) to get their growth established.

Why not view my Flowerbed Pictures Page and get a view of some of my flowerbeds for the 2009 year. I also listed the plants.

Go back from My Plant Selection Page to my GLM Home Page

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