Having trouble making my new garden "cohesive"

To preface: all these plants are new except the large spruce. We purchased last November and planted throughout spring and summer. The back half of the bed is dirt/mulch and then concrete. The only things that might possibly grow there are iris and sedums (we bought the boxwoods and realized this afterwards).

I know it's a new garden so it doesn't look like many amazing established things I see here. But I feel sort of lost in how to go about making it look cohesive and inviting (feels very "spotty" right now). I tried to fill in the holes with a few annuals, and I have 2 iris coming in the mail soonish. Does anyone have suggestions on plant placement? Or does it look okay? I'd like to keep what I have... except maybe the coneflower in the front, I haven't really been impressed with it. I was considering a raised bed in the back -- I don't mind covering the windows.

Thanks!

I dont know what zone your in or the soil in the bed, acid, sandy, humus rich, poor clay etc, knowing the answers to that will help dictate the type of plants you can grow WITH SUCCESS.

I think looking at your picture, you have done really well IF this is your first go at gardening / planting,

when I'm looking for ideas about for colour co-ordination, I sometimes find it in pictures, fabrics, even walking around the veg display's in the grocery stores can bring an idea into your head.

the other things that could help you out is a walk around any garden planting within parks or gardens in your neighbourhood, take a camera so you dont forget the things you liked either the different textures growing side by side, the shape, colours of flowers, then you can go to garden store and try find those plants.

Another good idea is the local Library where there will be books on gardening, beds, borders, pictures and even the list of names plants in the pictures, book stores are another great place to look through the garden books.
IF you look for gardening books, make sure they are easy to follow as too much gobblety goop will put you off, some beautiful illustrated books are really wonderful IF you understand double Dutch, they are really more useful as picture gazing and ideas.too much fancy stuff put's new gardeners off, we all learn the technical stuff as we gain our own experiences, and put that into practice.

My only advice NOT knowing your zone , soil PH ect, is whatever flowering Perennials you like to plant, make sure you buy 'sew in odd numbers, 3-5-7, a single plant looks like it never belongs.

You can stick you shrubs too, like flowering shrubs take up more space BUT give years of pleasure, under-plant the shrubs with spring bulbs, give early colour. After spring, use bedding plants for colour after the bulbs have gone over. thats more colour and different textures.
As the seasons pass, you will see other plants you like, when buying them, lift them out the display at garden store, set them next to something you have already growing and step back, see what it looks like, move it further apart and place another plant in front of them, doing this will help you remember their names AND help you understand the different foliage textures,colours, heights and don't forget to read the label, this will let you place the plant first time round as the label tells the spread of the plant or how far apart to plant it. too close and 2-3 years later you have to dig it up again.
Hope this helps you get started and take your time, there's no rush, a garden should evolve with you and NOT over run you. Just enjoy. take your time and as they say, learn to stop and smell the Roses.

Kindest Regards.
WeeNel.

Thanks so much for the advice. I'm in zone 7a and have clay soil, although that specific bed isn't too bad until you dig down very deep. I've done so much research online for every plant in that bed and tried to find things that I thought would be a. easy and b. work with the area I have (and yes, this is my first garden). Sometimes I over-think things though and have felt a bit overwhelmed at times.

I've definitely learned a lot over the past few months.

This message was edited Jul 28, 2014 9:58 PM

To make it look more cohesive repeat plants. Does not have to be symmetrical, but sort of. I do see the hose on the right and the stairway on the left. That is already going to make it asymmetrical. However, if you can do a sort of mirror image it can help.

You have 3 low tufts on the right, so put 3-5 of the same on the left. Similarly with other things. If you plant one over here, then plant 1-3 over there. Do not just get one of everything.

The next thing I would do is to plant a solid band of something across the front. Probably annuals, and try something different each year until you decide what you like. I am not sure if selecting all one variety is necessary, but perhaps 2 colors that blend. You could work with the bricks and stick to the warm shades, or complimentary colors toward the blue-purple tones. White and one color is another possibility. Keep it simple, this is a very small area, and it can look really busy very fast.

Window: Do not hide it with a raised planter in front. It will become a trap for leaves, snow and animals. Keep it open.

Remove that tasteless scalloped edging. If you cannot get rid of it at least install it upside down and flush with the soil.
Better: Make a mow band out of brick that matches the house.
Either one will become a path to run the lawn mower wheels on so it will not compact the soil at the edge of the lawn. It will be out of site from most people unless they are standing right over it.

Okay, I have got to ask. Diana_K, why do you call the scalloped edging "tasteless"? I, for one, like it! In fact, I am seriously considering using it on some areas in my yard I am working on.

Ked1985, I also like your coneflower. I've tried a couple of times to raise them here, with no success. I think if you added a couple more around it, to make a 'grouping' , it would be beauritul!

This message was edited Jul 30, 2014 5:35 AM

Just wanted to comment that I agree with the repetition suggestion. If the same plant/color is repeated in multiple places, it looks more cohesive.

I'm not a fan of one line of annuals across the front, since nature doesn't tend to work that way. That always looks very institutional landscape to me. Instead I would do larger clumps of the same flower in a couple of places. But I tend toward more of a cottage garden style, and you may be looking for more neat and tidy. I don't care for that edging either, but once again, it's definitely neat and tidy.

Out of curiosity, is there another identical bed on the other side of the walkway, or is this standalone?

@Wifeygirl: there is a small bed and "strip" of lawn down to the sidewalk. I have a VERY leggy knock out rose planted over there as my neighbor's tree shades the area in the summer. I'm actually turning that side into a flower bed. I've had some people tell me it might be too overwhelming for the small yard, but I really hate mowing over there and would rather have a low evergreen hedge (azaleas)! Call me crazy plant lady.

I also included a picture of the front again... I moved one of the creeping phlox over and put my May Night salvia (that was in front of the rose) in the back since it's a little taller. I think once stuff starts to grow and fill in, it will look nice. I love the cottage garden look but taking another look at what I've done, I think I tend to lean more to the symmetrical side, lol.

I actually do agree with @Diana on the scalloping... I hate it. I plan on just doing a simple low brick edging when the weather cools down a bit.

Edit: Hm, I do not see the pictures showing up for some reason. Here is a link in case: http://imgur.com/a/op0lt

This message was edited Jul 30, 2014 11:11 AM

That ugly red concrete has been used and over used for several sorts of garden objects like tree rings, stepping stones and edging for many, many years. It is dated, like Harvest Gold or Avocado appliances.

It is still commonly available, so it still being used, but there are a LOT of better options.

Here is a band of flowers added across the front. Not a perfect straight line, just some repeated varieties of something massed together. I used pink, lavender and white, but you could try any color combination you wanted, but I would avoid getting it too busy with too many colors.

Ah, now I see what you mean Diana! I thought you meant the standard institutional-landscaping line of a single annual across the front. (See the pic. While it's still beautiful, the line doesn't fit and ruins an otherwise natural cottage garden feel.) Clumping them and varying the colors like you've done there would be very pretty.

@Ked, regarding the symmetry, I was thinking the same thing - looks like you might lean toward neat and tidy. =) So maybe a more organized arrangement would work.
Thanks for that other pic. I would recommend that whatever annual flowers you choose, and a few of the others, you include in your garden area on the left as well. Even if they aren't exactly symmetrical, if you repeat them there it will make the whole front of your home look more cohesive.

Could you upload a pic showing both beds, the whole front of the house?

This message was edited Jul 31, 2014 8:18 AM

ked1985, I think over thinking is something we all do when we start out a project we have never done before, whether it's a sewing project , gardening or even trying out a new cake we want to bake.

Try to relax about it, all the tips and ideas you have been given from the others are great and IF you get stuck, get back to these folks, if you make any mistakes, it's normally just a case of digging up a plant or two and replanting them further apart or closer together, there's no panic and you will get the hang of it all as you go into the seasons or while preparing for the next season.

I love searching for plant catalogues from the plant growers over winter, they give out great hints and tip[s for the type of plants they sell and some grate pictures too, I also looking at old books from second hand book stores on old gardens, these are a mindfield of info, they have the type of gardening methods more suitable to my own type of gardening, BUT we all have to move with the times and slowly I had to re-adjust either tools, or methods.
BUT don't worry, we all have to learn the basics then as we have more understanding, we adapt things that are easier or more suitable to our needs and the needs of the plants ofcource.
Just try to enjoy your new journey into gardening, before you know it you will be absolutely hooked and forget all your worries and complicated thoughts about rights and wrongs.

Have a great time re-designing your new bed and let us see the results whenever it is ready.
Best wishes and kind regards.
WeeNel.

So, random update. My husband thinks I'm crazy. I probably am. I really wanted to be able to plant some larger shrubs, so I built and stained a cedar box (I tried to match the mulch color so it wouldn't be so jarring). It is not directly against the windows, don't worry. I was going to go with 2 dwarf abelias ('Little Richard') but my wallet said to try using the boxwoods I had on either side. I feel it looks cleaner than before and not as cluttered. I moved the sedums elsewhere and spread the lower plants out in the front.

*I still need to replace the red scalloping!

This message was edited Sep 18, 2014 11:35 AM

It definitely looks more neat and tidy! Why does your husband think you're crazy? He doesn't like it?

I like the raised garden box if brings the plants up so everything is not on one level I think that makes a nice difference. My husband thinks I'm nuts but I have fun with my gardenand you should do the same I think it's looking good and look forward to your further updates. it's nice to see the different updates as you go along in photo form I'm follow your project

@Wifeygirl haha I don't think he understands the gardening bug. He asks me, "Can't you just plant something and never worry about it again?" Nope! ;)

Haha not a chance, hubby! =) I was thinking it would be really nice if you replaced your scalloped edging with edging made out of the same kind of wood. It already looks nice having the box and the other barrel planter next to each other, that would continue the theme even further.

The other thing you could do would be to make edging out of bricks - that would connect with the brickwork in the house.

By the way, props for being so handy, building that box by yourself! I'm impressed!


This message was edited Sep 19, 2014 11:43 AM

The box takes up too much room, makes it more cluttered. You need fewer different things. Stick to just a few things and repeat them.
If you want some hardscape item, I sure would not block the window like that. Perhaps a small garden statue out of the same material as the stepping stones, or a stout trunk of driftwood at the right angle.

To me, the bed is already too high against the window, and the plants are blocking the view. Perhaps this is the intention. Do you want more privacy through this window?

Perhaps something like this:

I am trying to cover the windows, yes. I'm not even sure why there are windows there because they go into the unfinished utility/laundry room. Most of the other homes have typical foundation shrubs planted in this area that cover the brick bottom area (otto luyken, boxwoods, hollies). And our HOA sent us a note when we bought the house telling us to "plant shrubs." I actually like the look of the box.

Ahhh....

HOA.

No fun at all!

Then go for it with the planter box (if that is what you want) and the boxwood or other shrubs.

No reason a foundation shrub is not allowed to have flowers, though!

Looks like a window is right above the ones you want to cover. How about a windowbox up there with trailing material cascading down over them?

~S~

Your flower bed looks fine the way it is. The plants will get larger and fill in.

The biggest problem I see is that the spruce tree will eventually get to be larger than it is now. It looks like it was planted there with the thought in mind that it would never grow. Assuming you have a dwarf Alberta spruce, the mature height is up to 12 feet tall with a spread of up to 9 feet. You might want to put it in a different place while it is still small.