Planting in patterns such as rows, circles, knots, or symmetrical blocks is a traditional flower garden style. Tips on spacing a mass planting with bedding plants.
Tips on Planting in Patterns
This article is part of the Garden Design series and continues with more tips and ideas on plant spacing and using patterns in the flower garden. You can use plant patterns and spacing to enhance your flower garden design no matter which garden style you prefer, but the straight line and circle are especially important for a mass planting or carpet bedding scheme. They can even be adapted to form a knot garden pattern.
Planting in a Straight Line
With bedding plants, uniform spacing is especially important. For a straight line, use a string stretched between two stakes (or, insert a pair of screwdrivers into the ground and run yarn or twine between them). Use your measuring tool of choice, such as a metal measuring tape or a yard stick, and mark off the needed increments. Place individual plants (still in their containers) where they are to be planted as you go, or mark their locations with a dusting of horticultural lime, with an empty plant pot, or by partially digging the planting hole.
It is a good idea to do a trial placement then stand back and check your work for accuracy before you actually put the plants into the ground.
Planting in a Circle Pattern
To mark a circle, insert a stake securely in the ground at the center of the circle. Attach a string to the stake and measure out the length of the circle's radius (half the diameter) on your string. Move around the stake holding the string taught. Mark your circle outline on the ground with a furrow or a line of agricultural lime or dots of spray paint or with the garden hose.
continues in Planting in Patterns Part Two
All Flower Gardens Articles So Far
Copyright 2006 Barbara Martin
