I love the look of full gardens. How do I resist the urge to fill them up with new plants? Is it ok to do that, then thin them later? How do you guys get your gardens to look so beautiful? Mine are all new from last April so they are not old gardens. I'm have Hostas in the shade. I want to add some Heucheras with them but I don't know how close I should plant them. The hostas were dug from my old house and were established, but the drought in Kansas really kicked them back. It seems like I was watering every other day in the summer!

I also love the look of full gardens, then when I see a garden with a lot of bare well kept space I like that tidy look also. I think it is a great idea to fill a bed with plants and thin later. I think one of the better ideas for keeping a beautiful garden is to be able to move plants in and out as needed. I have always liked the idea of an alternate garden, or the garden out behind the shed idea, one that is not for display, but one that gets raided when you need to fill in a space and plant the not quite ready for prime time plants.

Full gardens are great to look at. I would recommend to fill in with annuals for the time being until the perennials get established. The best solution for a full garden is time. It is said about perennials: the first year they sleep, the second year they creep, and the third year they LEAP!

Another solution is to buy mature perennials. But, be sure to follow the recommended spacing suggestions, especially if you plant shrubs...unless you want to do a lot of pruning. Crowded plants encourage disease. Air flow is essential.

You can also consider adding some boulders or garden art to fill in the gaps. For garden art, be sure to stick to a theme. If you add boulders, bury them a bit so they look natural.

I hope this helps. Let us know what you decide to do, and update us with photos please!

I also think the best plan is too fill in with annuals. First of all, it will give you lots of color almost immediately while giving the perennials time to grow and fill in. Annuals are so easy.

Wind protection will help your garden plants reach their full potential, too. Most of the garden plants we love to see growing lush and full can do so almost entirely on their own after they're given a bit of protection from the hot, drying winds of summer. A few examples from the gardens here ...


Windward edge of the planting area:

This row of super wind-resistant Lilac, Bridal Wreath and Rugosa Rose aren't all that intriguing in and of themselves, but they offer wonderful protection for another garden area situated downwind.


Downwind of barrier:
(Click on the image to see the markings)
Yellow arrow denotes the flow pattern of prevailing summer winds. Red circle is where a fence section with shrubs is situated to cause a partial block. This helps to create a softer eddy and flow of hot, drying winds.


Plants downwind of the shrub/fence barrier.



If it helps, think small to start with and then begin a section at a time.

Small area examples:

These pansies wouldn't be nearly as full and lush if the variegated grass wasn't providing shelter.


Delicate blooms aren't tattered by wind and storms if they're sheltered, and the plants grow straight and true.



You don't have to tackle it all at once either, just pick a spot and start with a grouping of items: a fence section, a pile of rocks or wood, the side of a building, or whatever you have to work with, then add some wind-resistant shrubs at the edges, and go on from there.

By the way, there is a garden art forum if you need some ideas.

If you have open space and plastic chairs but little budget for art, a nice spot to sit down looks like a well-planned foresight-full use of garden space.

If legs sink into soil, consider laying down some concrete paving stones, or setting each chair-leg into a soup can inside a coffee can, with some spare lids added for strength.

If you have a LOT of empty space, two chairs plus a small table ...

My SO got my a small statue of an angelic figure for the garden, but now I don't want to put her out in the rain, on a sappy old stump!

I agree with filling the spaces with annuals while your perennials mature. Looks like lots of sun near the trampoline. You may want to consider dinner-plate dahlias - big plants with big flowers and very easy to grow from tubers. Annual and/or perennial vines would look gorgeous along the wall of your house. Sometimes I put a big container of annuals in my flowerbed if I have a spot that needs a color boost. Adding some shrubs or roses will add focal points, texture and color.
When we moved to our house 15 years ago, there was one daylily plant. We had several years with a 8x10 trampoline and a 21' swing set. I'm sure your garden will "leap" in year three