This blue and pink garden plan highlights annuals and perennials with contrasting leaf and flower shapes.

Informal perennial border emphasizing a variety of flower shapes and plant textures.

A well-defined color palette of pinks and purples gives this perennial border a unified look in the garden. Upon closer inspection, however, the details reveal a series of rich contrasts. Spiky false indigo and meadow rue play against the rounded forms of plantain and allium, to cite a couple of examples.

Size: 29 x 8 feet.
Sun: full sun.

Plants list:

Before You Begin
Preparation is the key to successfully creating a garden that will offer a lifetime of pleasure. Before you head to the nursery or lift a spade, take the time to review all garden plan materials. Ask yourself the following questions:

Do you have a suitable location for this plan? The layout diagram shows the dimensions for the plan as designed. In general, you can enlarge or reduce the size of the garden by adding or eliminating plants, although the character of the garden may change if you alter the size dramatically.

Does your yard offer the right conditions? Check the plant list carefully to see whether the plan will do best in full sun, partial shade, or full shade. Also make sure that the plants are suited to your zone. (In many cases, the alternative plants list includes varieties that will grow in other zones.)

Does the soil need improvement? Most plants will survive in a variety of soil conditions, but well-drained, moist (but not soaked) soil is generally best. To test your soil, wet it thoroughly with a hose, wait 24 hours, then squeeze a clump in your hand. If the soil forms a ball that holds together, but breaks up easily when you poke it with your finger, your soil is ideal. If the soil won't hold its shape when squeezed, it is probably too sandy. If the clump doesn't break up easily, the soil may be too clay. In either case, you can improve your soil by mixing in organic matter like compost or peat moss.

Is the soil's pH and fertility okay? Check at your local garden store for a soil test kit, or inquire about testing at a local county extension service office. Follow the recommendations that come with your test results if you need to correct the soil's pH (how acid or alkaline the soil is) or fertility.

Creating the Bed
To lay out your bed, use a garden hose to mark the edges. When you are satisfied with the layout, use striping paint (available at many home centers) to mark the outline. (Or, sprinkle flour along the hose for a more temporary mark.). Using a sharp spade, dig along the marked line to set the edge of your bed.

If the garden location is currently covered with lawn, you have a couple of options. For smaller areas, you can strip the sod using a straight-edged shovel. To make this easier, wet the area thoroughly, then use the shovel to cut the lawn into strips that are the width of the shovel and about three feet long. (Expert tip: Sharpen the edge of the shovel frequently with a file.) Use the shovel to pry up and roll back the strips of sod. Once the sod is removed, you can loosen the underlying soil with a shovel or a power tiller.

For larger areas covered by lawn, consider using a heavy-duty garden tiller to grind the sod into the underlying soil. This has the twin benefits of adding organic matter to the soil and eliminating the need to discard or compost sod.

Regardless of how you are preparing your bed, be sure to use this opportunity to mix in organic matter (such as compost, peat moss, or rotted manure) and loosen the soil at least 6 inches deep, or even 8 to 12 inches if you can. Don't mix in fertilizer unless your soil test shows a need; in general, excessive amounts of fertilizer will do more harm than good.

After your bed is prepared, water it thoroughly and wait a week. This will allow some weed seeds to germinate. Remove these seedlings or dig them back into the soil. If you choose to use chemicals to kill the weeds, follow the instructions to the letter, including the time to wait after application before planting.

Edging
Most beds are easier to maintain if they have an edging that keeps surrounding grass or vegetation from invading. Choose plastic, metal, stone, or brick-whatever you prefer. If you have lawn around your bed, consider also including a mowing strip, a 6 to 12 inch-wide swath of masonry or stone set even with the surrounding soil.

Planting.
If you have all of your plants on hand, keep them in their pots and set them out on the planting bed. This will give you a preview of how the bed will look, and allow you to make adjustments. Use the tags that come with the plants to ensure that the spacing is correct. Don't worry that the bed looks sparse; the young plants need room to grow.

When you' are satisfied with the arrangement, plant your garden from largest to smallest container (usually trees first, then shrubs, perennials, and finally annuals). Each plant type does best with a specific planting method:

Shrubs.
Plant shrubs in a hole that's about twice the diameter of the root ball. The top of the root ball should be slightly above the surrounding
soil level. Backfill with garden soil, taping firmly to ensure a contact between soil and roots. Water immediately by slowly running a hose at the shrub's base for about 20 minutes.

Perennials and Annuals.
Set these plants in soil at the same level they were growing in the pot. Firm the soil around each plant with your hands, then water thoroughly.

Mulching
As you place each plant, it's a good idea to add mulch to conserve moisture, cool the roots of plants, and to protect the soil from washing away in the rain. Organic mulches like shredded bark will require periodic additions as the mulch decays. Mulches like crushed stone are more permanent, but may not offer the character you prefer.

Aftercare
The first season of growth is the most critical for your garden. A good guideline is to water thoroughly every other day for the first two weeks, then twice weekly for the remainder of the first season. The following year, you can let nature take its course, supplementing dry periods with deep watering.

You should also be diligent about weeding your bed during the first year. As the plants mature and fill in, there will be fewer opportunities for weeds to gain a foothold. A thick layer of mulch will also help keep weeds in check.

Ongoing Maintenance
Most plants will thrive with only minimal care. Apply a general fertilizer according to package directions in the spring after growth has started. If you need to prune trees or shrubs to maintain their shape or size, do it in late winter before growth has started. The exception to this general rule is spring-flowering shrubs like lilacs that should be pruned immediately after flowering.