| For most folks, the primary considerations for | | | | Shady Or Sunny |
| choosing plants and planting ideas are simply color, | | | | Moisture tolerance |
| size, and type(tree, bush, flower). However, for true | | | | Drought Resistance |
| diversity, creativity, and increased survival rate, you | | | | Soil Types |
| should add a few more considerations to the list. | | | | Other Considerations. As you discover more, you can |
| Creating a thriving and functional planting scheme for | | | | add to this section yourself. |
| your landscaping or garden isn't without effort. You'll | | | | Landscaping plants are a common choice to screen or |
| need to base your plant choices on thought out and | | | | hide unsightly areas of your yard such as air |
| planned guidelines and considerations. Color, size, and | | | | conditioners and trash cans. However, in most |
| type can be placed in a plan for visual without | | | | applications, you don't want to attract attention to |
| actually knowing exact plants. However, to match | | | | these areas using bright colorful plants as the cover. |
| these spaces with the right plants will take a little | | | | Generally, being the norm, green tends to attract less |
| study, effort, and additional planning. | | | | attention to the area. |
| To make it easier, you can break this down into | | | | - Large leaf plants - |
| primary, secondary, and other considerations. | | | | Generally, large leaf plants work well in the shade. |
| Primary Considerations For Choosing The Right | | | | More leaf surface allows the plant to gather and use |
| Garden And Landscaping Plants | | | | more light. However, for obvious reasons, large leaf |
| Plant Width and Height should be figured by the | | | | plants are not the best choice for windy areas. Not |
| mature size a plant will get to be in both up and | | | | only are they more susceptible to tearing in the wind, |
| spread outward directions. Generally not the size the | | | | the more leaf surface releases more moisture to |
| plant is when you buy it. | | | | drying winds. |
| Form is the shape of a plant and how it occupies and | | | | - Colors and space - |
| accents an area. Common form and shapes are oval, | | | | To make a large area garden seem more intimate |
| round, creeping, columnar, vase, weeping. | | | | and cozy, use bright colorful plants. To make small |
| Texture can be considered in terms of leaf thickness, | | | | gardens seem larger, use lighter colored plants. You |
| fineness or roughness, and shade(light or dark) of | | | | can also transition shades of one color from lighter to |
| plants. As a rule, use more finer textured plants than | | | | darker or darker to lighter to give a sense of depth, |
| coarse textures. | | | | more space, or less space. |
| Seasonal interest and color are figured by the special | | | | - Contrast and visibility - |
| features a plant has at different times of the year. | | | | Consider the colors of surrounding areas and base |
| Foliage, Winter color, changing colors, fruit, flowers, | | | | plant color choices on whether you want plants to |
| etc. | | | | contrast or blend with an area. For instance, white |
| Secondary Conditions | | | | flowers against a red brick home will be highly visible |
| Disease And Insect Resistance | | | | while red Roses will blend in. |