Once again, I find myself looking over my gardens and thinking about the next plants that will make a home there. I recently added a large island to my backyard, and I have a few other beds around the house that I am filling up with container plants that I’m ready to commit to a permanent home.

When thinking about planting these areas, I want to make sure what I’m doing adds to the aesthetic appeal of my home. I also want to make sure the design is functional and easy on the budget. Hiring a professional designer would take the guesswork out of plant selection and placement, and it would reduce the risk of plant failure due to incorrect selections and improper installation. However, that option could be costly and, as a gardener, would take all the fun out of it.

With proper research and a discussion with a reputable nursery, you can learn which plants will work well in your area and in the area’s environment, and the correct way to plant them so they flourish. All effective landscape designs rely on the basic principles of unity, simplicity, variety, balance, sequence and proportion.

Unity

Unity is the idea of tying the landscape together into an orderly design. Different parts of the landscape should have a visual connection from one area to another. Repetition of a plant is good, but it shouldn’t be overdone to the point of monotony. Unity can be achieved through a theme.

The use of like colors, forms or textures can be used without using the same plant. For example, using yellow as a theme, choose plants not only with yellow flowers but also other plants that have yellow foliage. Another theme would be using different cultivars of the same variety plant that exhibit different textures, height or leaf color.

Simplicity

Keep it simple. Too many different colors, textures and forms can look confusing and cause the design unity to be lost. One way to achieve simplicity is to limit the range of plant species.

Variety

Some variety needs to be added to create interest and keep the design from becoming boring. In other words, don’t use the same plant everywhere.

Balance

Balance is the fourth principle of design. Always think in terms of visual balance, which can be symmetrical or asymmetrical. Symmetrical balance is when one side mirrors the other. It gives the area a sense of stability and an overall formal effect.

Asymmetrical balance is the idea of balancing the visual weight of plants. For example, if you have a large tree on one side, three larger shrubs on the other would create visual balance. This is especially helpful when creating gardens where pre-existing trees or shrubs need to be balanced. Asymmetrical balance is lively and tends to suggest movement, giving it an informal vibe.

Sequence

A sequence of plantings achieves a gradual change in form, color, texture or size through the landscape. It is meant to direct the eye smoothly to a desired focal point or specimen shrub. Sudden changes make the landscape look choppy and break the visual flow.

Proportion

Finally, the proportion or scale refers to the way in which objects, such as plants or structures, relate to each other in size. For example, a 15-foot, three-tier fountain would be out of proportion in a small, 5-by-8-foot plot. Likewise, a small fountain in a large open area would get lost. The same holds true for the plants that fill your space. Knowing the mature size of plants before adding them to beds will not only help with balance, but it will also keep everything to scale.

A little time and research — and formulating a plan before you dig — will give you a beautiful landscape.

Until next week, happy gardening.