NERVOUS.....

Oh Jac, don't worry mate, it's all about trial and error, if you don't like the way something is planted you just dig it up and move it around! lots of more experienced gardenerss may tell you to draw garden plans research plants ect. but i generally do everything by eye, i do some research on the plants i buy colour size aspect ect. if the size of the garden is what is bothering you why not divide it up in to smaller rooms, you don't have to do it all at once or have any idea in what you are putting into them, just make it a smaller scale so that it is easier to see, maybe start off with the area closest to your house. you don't have to physically divide it up with fences or anything. i'll give you an example i notice from you recent pic's that you have been building a little round paved area, that might be a good place to start, maybe look at the area around that ponder on it think where you want hieght and shade around it or do you want it open ect, if it helps to jot a few things down or make some drawings then do it - the biggest thing is have fun! it is best to start with paved areas pathways - taking into consideration what is pracitical and what you need from each space. next look at the lawn - what shape do you want it to be? a common mistake is to cut out flower beds without thinking about the lawn and paved areas when you should look at these areas first - the flower beds are whats left around it. next you need to look at garden structures eg any screening, fencing trellis arches benches ect. followed by trees, and tall shrubs basically the back bone of your planted areas, followed lasty by all the perennials bedding bulbs ect. - hope this helps if you want to post some pics of areas you are stuck on maybe we can all help give you some isparation!

Hi Ang
I have started off ok with garden doing alittle@a time like you say Its just the planting up of the Bottom end of the garden that worrys me:/ i want it 2b just right:) Im thinking of stating with colours&then hights 2match the colours that r already planted in garden so far?

Jacque I,ve been gardening for a great number of years ,and my gardens never just right, but thats the fun of it I lost count of the number of things I,ve lost but hey you just try something else I dont think gardens are every finished you always want to change something but thats what I love about it Happy gardening

i agree Janette has just hit the nail on the head. what you may like now you may change your mind about in a few years, also things may not grow exactly how you expect, it's all part of it! i am always moving stuff around, don't think i have ever had a garden that i can sit back and say perfect - there is always somewhere that is not quite right - keeps me busy and keeps it interesting!

Well i feel much better now LADY`S so if weather PERMITS2 morrow im Going 2 Start Planting : ) Im going to post pic`s of all my lttle beauty's in MO ?x thanx again x

It does help me if I have a blank piece of border to fill, to make a rough drawing of the area, and then list what I'd really like in it. Then I draw rough circles on the paper and note down their heights to make sure that I am planting them in the right place! It's not clever stuff, just common sense, and yes, I do move things around if they don't look right - also don't forget you can fill up the gaps with annuals! Don't get worried about it - just enjoy it! I don't think my garden will ever be 'finished'!

But lets remember to always find time to sit back and enjoy our garden, sometimes we are so busy planting, weeding, mowing,replanting..that we never make time to just sit down and enjoy!

A garden is always a work in progress and Spritz is right. It is never finished. The enjoyment is in the making.

I agree with Spritzhenry, Mikec and Andrea, please don't worry about your project. Enjoy the planning, making and developing of it ..... I don't know if a garden can ever be finished .... and give yourself time to enjoy what you have achieved.
I hope to be able to follow my own advice (never been very good at that ::) ) and I think this forum is going to be a great help in doing so, by providing the opportunity to share the experience with others. Seeing your project progress is giving many of us a lot of pleasure too, so please keep us posted.

Jacque - when you get some spare time (next winter?), you could nip into your local library and see if they have any books on garden design to give you some help/ideas/inspiration. If you find any by John Brookes, they will be very helpful. Also, visiting other gardens is a great help - see how other people have done things. Even if you don't like their garden, what is it you don't like? Or there may be one plant or a combination of colours that may inspire you.
A garden is never finished but neither is learning about plants and gardens.