The biggest pitfall of the novice gardener is to design a garden that peaks in the spring and then looks pretty sad for the rest of the year. This is because new gardeners often buy plants that have good flowers, forgetting that flowers only last a few months and structure is present year round. Foliage, branches, textures, and negative space all play a roll in… How to Design a Garden That Looks Good in Every Season

Learn to draw to plan your garden. I often hear from beginning gardeners that they need to know how to draw to plan their garden. No, you don’t! A rough sketch is a tool for thinking. You can draw lines, circles, and text. You need to see where you will move, look, and sit. Remember that this sketch is for your eyes only, so don’t… How to Sketch Garden Ideas Without Knowing How to Draw

A lot of failed new gardens aren’t due to lack of work or dedication, but because the wrong plants were selected for the site. Pretty leaves in a garden centre can trick you into planting in full sun, when the garden itself is in shade, or that your soil isn’t as free-draining as you hoped. If your yard is in shade, it will never be… Why Beginner Plant Choices Often Fail — and How to Fix Them

Sometimes it’s difficult to know how to landscape an open piece of land because there’s no context. Even though the land may appear blank to you, it’s not blank to the sun, the wind, and the plants. Instead of visualizing shapes and selecting plants, walk the property throughout the day. Observe the sun, shade, wind, and eddies around and through buildings. You’ll gain much more… How to Read a Garden Site Before Drawing Your First Plan