How to: Outdoor Landscaping With Perennials

Select perennials that appeal to your eye and fit your landscaping needs.

Well-planned landscaping around your home can create a formal appearance to your yard or a casual, overflowing cottage effect. When you plan your outdoor landscaping with perennials, you get the added benefit of knowing your plants will come back year after year. Because you're working with perennial plants, you'll want to plan as much as you can before you plant so you are sure to get the look you want.

Things You'll Need

• Paper and pencil
• Tape measure
• Graph paper
• Perennial encyclopedia, if needed

Instructions

1. Look over your property and visualize the kind of garden you want to see, considering straight lines or curves, the heights of plants, colors desired, and if you want to include perennial flowers, shrubs, evergreens and/or herbs. Also note whether the landscaping area is in full sun or shade and if the area stays dry or waterlogged.

2. Write down a few of your ideas as well as think about the function of the perennials, from creating a display area or a hidden retreat to shielding an unwanted view such as a building wall or the backside of a fence.

3. Measure your landscaping areas to get a real gauge of how large of an area you're working with. Roughly plot your landscaping workspace onto graph paper using each square on the paper to signify a square foot in your landscaping.

4. Make a list of the types of perennials you want to grow that are suitable for your region and follow your needs from Steps 1 and 2 using a perennial encyclopedia or website such as the USDA's PLANTS database. As you list the plants, note their full size, sun needs, color, blooming times, and if and when any regular pruning or feeding is necessary.

5. Draw in the selected plants from your list onto your graph paper diagram, using the mature size of the plant as a guide. Place taller plants toward the northern end of your design to keep them from shading shorter plants.

6. Change up the quantity or types of plants used as you draw in your landscape design according to the space provided until your design is complete. Use your drawing as a guide when buying and planting your perennials.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to keep in mind the purpose of your landscaping. Whether you want to attract birds, edge a walkway or create a children's garden area will determine which types of plants to include in your list in Step 4.

• With a full plan in place, even if your budget cannot complete your entire landscaping in one weekend, you can buy the plants on your list and add them to the garden as you can afford them.

• Call your local utility companies to check for underground cables or pipes if you are unsure about digging in your yard.

References

• "Landscaping With Perennials"; Elizabeth Navas Finley, John M. Rickard; 2000
• "Landscaping: Principles and Practices"; Jack E. Ingels; 2004

Resources

• USDA.gov: Characteristics