24 tips for planning the perfect garden

When planning your design, include pathways, arbours, ponds, large containers, fountains, statuary and garden benches that draw both foot traffic and attention through the garden. Head here to find out how to create a tropical garden retreat.

Designate a sunny corner for growing perennials from seed. Sow the seeds in early spring, and by mid- to late summer, you’ll have loads of plants to fill out your borders.

Growing your own produce and easy-care annual flowers for summer arrangements saves money. Plus, raised beds take less time to weed. Head here to find out how to build a raised vegetable garden bed.

Determine how much you want to spend for this year’s plantings, mulch and soil amendments. Plan on putting in paths and buying the larger, structural plants first. When budgets are tight, think about filling in your design over the course of several years. Check out our essential guide to mulchers here.

Plan on replicating plant forms, colours and textures to easily fashion flow, a sense of movement and a harmonious whole garden.

Opt to include native plants or ones that are hardy and reliable in your planting zone – you won’t have to replace them down the road.

Incorporate plants – such as kangaroo paws, lomandras, bearded iris and clivia – that you can divide in a few years for more (free!) plants. Check out how to divide clivias and propagate them from seed.

Sketch in plants with silver, grey, chartreuse, variegated and bright-coloured foliage for gardens that remain colourful as flowers fade.

Slot in plants with different bloom times to ensure a succession of blossoms throughout the year. Check out our guide on planting winter blooming flowers.

Pencil in trellises, hedges and plant groupings to camouflage unattractive views, define garden rooms and buffer traffic noise. Find out how to plant a vertical garden here.