Have you ever looked at a beautiful, well put together border in a garden and wondered how it came to look so considered and intentional? The answer is that a planting plan has probably been used! A planting plan is one of the most valuable documents a garden designer produces. But it remains one of the least understood designs by clients. Many people assume it is only relevant to large, formal gardens with sweeping borders. But in reality, a planting plan is far more than that and is relevant to any garden size.
So what exactly is a planting plan, what does it contain, and how can having one transform the way your garden looks, feels, and performs across the seasons?
What is a Planting Plan?
A planting plan is a scaled drawing of your garden, or a specific border within it, that shows precisely which plants will be placed where, in what quantities, and at what spacing. A garden designer produces it after they have visited your garden and have a thorough understanding of your garden’s soil conditions and aspect, your personal taste, and the style and atmosphere you want to create in your outdoor space.
It is the ultimate guide to matching the “right plant to the right place,” in your garden enabling you to have beautiful borders with all year round colour and interest tailored to your specific requirements. Ultimately a planting plan takes the guesswork out of what to buy, where to put it, and how many plants you need to fill your borders.
What Does a Planting Plan Include?
> Scale Drawing: The plan itself is drawn to scale, showing the layout of your garden borders with each plant’s position clearly marked. This shows exactly where each individual plant or drift of planting should go in each border with different borders given a code. Normally this is a ‘helicopter view’ plan with a series of coloured circles drawn to scale showing the mature spread of a particular plant.. Perennials are likely to reach mature size in 5 years whereas trees and shrubs can take up to 5-20 years to become mature.
> Plant Names and Varieties: Each circle will be clearly labelled with the quantity, plant name and variety.
> Colour: The colour of the circle would be determined by the predominant flower or leaf colour of the plant so that you can easily see how the colour scheme works.
> Spacing: The plan will show the spacing between each plant at their maturity so that a border will fill out over time rather than plants being too tightly packed together. This means that this will save you money in the long run.
Plant Schedule: This is a list which details each plant’s Latin name, common name, required quantity, pot size and detailed description of each plant. It will also show you which plant goes in which border to make setting out plants easier on site. The plant schedule gives notes on sun exposure, shade, soil type, and drainage that were used to determine the plant choices as well as season of interest for all plants (flowering period), mature sizes (height and spread), and plant care notes needed to ensure year-round colour and interest.
Why Is a Planting Plan Worth Having?
> It Saves You Money: Without a plan, most gardeners buy on impulse from their local garden centre. A plant can catch your eye at the nursery, you bring it home and you plant it in the wrong place, in the wrong soil, or competing with everything around it. A planting plan means you buy exactly what you need to make a beautiful garden border.
> It Saves You Time: Establishing plants in the wrong place in your garden and then nurturing them is time-consuming and stressful. By having a planting design you know that you are more likely to have a successful beautiful border.
> It Ensures Cohesion: A planting plan is designed as a whole composition, not as a collection of individual plants, taking colour, texture, scale, and timing into account. Using a plan ensures that your garden’s taller structures (i.e. trees and large shrubs) are supported by mid-level perennials and ground cover plants and bulbs, creating a cohesive aesthetic for your garden borders.
> Tailored For Your Specific Conditions: Designed specifically for your garden’s soil type, aspect, exposure, and microclimate. In Aberdeenshire, where conditions can vary significantly, this is a necessity. So have a think about your borders – Is the area sunny, partially shaded, or fully shaded? Is your soil dry, damp, clay, or sandy?
> It Fits Your Style and Taste: A planting plan can be tailored to your likes including planting style and colour palette. So are you going for a naturalistic meadow, traditional cottage, or sleek modern look?
> It Gives You Confidence: Perhaps most importantly, a planting plan gives you the confidence to plant with purpose knowing that the plants are going to survive and you are going to have a beautiful border!
Do You Always Need a Full Planting Plan?
Not every garden project requires a full planting plan from the outset – but it is required if you are thinking of changing your existing borders or need new borders as part of your garden renovation project. A planting plan is particularly valuable when:
- You are starting a new garden from scratch including hard landscaping (paths/patio/walls) and soft landscaping (planting.
- You are redesigning an existing border.
- You are working with a landscaper or gardener to change or maintain your existing garden.
- You have a challenging site – for example, a coastal garden or a site in a frost pocket.
- You want a garden that performs across all four seasons
A Planting Plan for Aberdeenshire: Why Local Knowledge Matters
Designing a planting plan for a garden in Aberdeenshire is different from designing one for a garden ‘down South’ say in Surrey, Cornwall or even Edinburgh!
The climate in Aberdeenshire is cooler and drier. The growing season is much shorter, the winters are harsher, and the wind exposure in many parts of the region is a genuine factor in plant survival and performance.
At Gerbera Designs, our planting plans are rooted in direct experience of gardening and designing in Aberdeenshire. We take your personal taste and your garden’s specific requirements to make a planting plan that suits you all year round. We can then source the plants for you from a local trade nursery which helps to guarantee good quality plants which will survive in your garden. After a year we will also review the new plantings in your garden to understand what’s been successful and what has not worked and suggest replacements. As plants are living things you are not guaranteed a 100% success rate!
Ready to Bring the Inspiration to Life in Your Own Garden?
A beautiful, considered garden starts with a plan. Book a planting design consultation with Gerbera Designs to find out how a bespoke planting plan can transform your Aberdeenshire garden, from just a sketch to a finished border.
