Some tips for creating a flower bed

An eye-catching flowerbed is one that elegantly combines shrubs, perennials and annuals. We tend to forget how shrubs can be an interesting feature in a composition. They provide both structure and height and this is particularly noticeable when the perennials will be dormant in winter or just out of the ground in spring. Grasses are a nice winter attraction too.

For a balanced design, choose either warm colours (red, yellow, orange) or cool colours (blue, purple, pink). Including a few white flowers in the design will reduce the effect of being too hot or too cold and can give your design a bit of contrast. For a harmonious flowerbed, it is best to limit the colours and stay within the same palette. Avoid the "pizza effect".

It is important to think about the flowering period of your perennials when choosing them. Some bloom in April-May, others in June-July, and others from August to October. A good idea is to save some space in your landscape to add long-blooming annuals, which bloom from June to October, for example.

For a successful flower bed, it is good to vary the shapes and heights. Some plants look round, some are tall and narrow, others are splayed, creeping, conical, etc. Think about creating movement in your composition. 

Also play with the textures of your plants. Some plants have coarser textures and others finer. 

Include a few plants with colourful foliage to provide colour throughout the season.

Add structures to the beds. A statue, a birdbath, a bench, some rocks or a tree stump can embellish the beds. 

Let your imagination run wild.