Planning is the key to a successful landscaping project. Last week, I talked about developing a base plan as the first step. The planning process continues by selecting a location and design for the perennial bed.

Explore all possible bed locations by evaluating your yard. Take along a copy of your base plan so you can take notes. Start by drawing boxes or bubbles on your base plan to illustrate areas receiving full, partial, or no sun. Do the same for areas that may not be suitable for a perennial bed. Draw in areas that need to remain open such as walk ways and recreational areas. Drawing bubbles or boxes helps to visualize the different areas that make up your yard.

Once this is complete you will have a general idea of all the locations that will be suitable for a perennial bed. Locations can be narrowed by deciding how the bed is to be viewed. Would you like your bed visible from the yard only or also the house? Having the ability to see the perennial bed from your house can provide just as much pleasure as viewing it outside. Location will also be dictated by light requirements of desired plant species.

After an approximate size is determined it is time to start working on a bed design. There are three general line patterns used in bed design; straight lines and angles, curves, and arc and tangent. Straight lines and angles match lines in architecture. Curved lines can be free flowing or originate from a central point. They match lines found in nature. The arc and tangent pattern incorporates curved lines found in nature with the straight lines of architecture. Each line pattern has several variations with each having its own place; choose one that best fits your landscape.

Next week I will talk about plant selection and cost estimation. If you have landscaping or plant questions please call me at the University of Minnesota Extension office, Clay County at 218-299-5020, 1-800-299-5020 or email me at nels1657@umn.edu. Check out our website at www.extension.umn.edu/county/clay/