What's the best way to design a perennial garden?

I have a large space - 26' - along the front of my house. I think I'm going to make the bed about 3 or 4' in width. What's the best way to lay out my garden? Should it be symmetrical or just bunched and more free (like a cottage garden)? I'm thinking of using Delphinium, Echinacea, Daylilies, Oriental Lilies, small shrub roses (2'x3') and then some small ornamental grasses and 2-4" border flowers in the front. I think I'm also going to put a weeping redbud on the left side. Do you have any ideas for how I should do this... I'm at a loss!!!

What's the best way to design a perennial garden?
Whether you design a formal garden (symmetrical) or informal garden (cottage style) is up to you. However, here are a few thing to consider. Mass together perennials of the same type in groups of three or five. Try to have more than one group of each species through the bed. This will help avoid the "one of everything" look. As a general rule, taller perennials (as well as the ornamental grasses) work well towards the back. When they're not in bloom they'll serve as a backdrop for the small plants. Try to plan the perennial bed so that there is something in bloom in a few different areas of the garden from spring to fall.



Good luck and have fun.



Here's an article I wrote for my site http://www.gardenlistings.com



http://www.gardenlistings.com/Perennials...
Reply:it would depend on the height of the plants and their flowers and when they bloom - do they bloom most of the season, or some at one time and others at another? I would place the taller ones toward the back and the shorter ones forward so that they could all be seen regardless of when they bloom.
Reply:first, do a site analysis, decide what are the growing conditions and choose plants that match those conditions...

design: start with placing your large focal point features, make sure you have enough room for the plant at it's mature height/width... take a garden hose and lay out the border before you start digging..use gradual curves rather than straight edges... spray your line with landscape chalk (found at local hardware store) ... group plants rather than scattering them.. plant in odd numbers (1's, 3's, 5's, etc.), pay attention to color schemes, find out about your ornamental grasses.. some of them grow quite aggressively which leads to weeding nightmares (especially around the roses)...