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How can trees and shrubs provide the framework for a flower garden?
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Keukenhof Gardens, near Lisse, Netherlands.
Trees and shrubs serve as the essential, permanent framework of a well-designed flower garden. Because they provide structure and longevity, these plants are typically selected and positioned first, with herbaceous plants, annuals, and bulbs arranged in the spaces around them.1
When incorporating these elements into your garden design, consider the following principles:
- Scale and Proportion: It is vital to select trees and shrubs that are appropriate for the space they will occupy at maturity. For example, a large forest tree is unsuitable for a small garden, whereas a narrow flowering cherry or redbud provides a better fit.1
- Design Organization: Plants can be organized by various properties, including size, form, texture, color, and seasonal effect. These characteristics dictate how they are arranged to create visual interest and balance.2
- Maintenance and Aesthetics: Combining flowering shrubs with herbaceous plants creates a "mixed border," which often requires less maintenance than a purely herbaceous border.1
By establishing this woody foundation, you create a stable backdrop that allows for the flexible, seasonal layering of smaller plants.1