24 tips for planning the perfect garden

You’ll fill a lot of space without spending big bucks if you include large, quick-growing plants, such as Russian sage, fountain grasses, Autumn Joy sedum, hydrangea and shrub roses.

Peruse garden books, plant catalogues and search online for garden images that showcase appealing plant combinations that you can duplicate in your design.

Group those with similar light, water and soil requirements together – if you plant water-thirsty cultivars with drought-tolerant plants, you’re sure to lose one or both to either too-dry conditions or root rot. Check out our guide to companion planting here.

Add one or two plant groupings or shrubs that are sure to stop passersby in their tracks.

Incorporate plants with ferny fronds, grassy spires, coarse spikes, fuzzy foliage, waxy surfaces and broad leaves in varying mounded, cascading and upright forms.

Sign up here to get Handyman’s favourite stories straight to your inbox!