How to Layout Artificial Plants for Your Flower Bed

One of the most challenging parts of any landscape can be the layout. When you are faced with a blank slate, it can seem daunting to decide what to fill it with. Today, I hope to help take some of the guess work out of the layout process by giving you some tips  and tricks for finding the perfect arrangement for you.

Layout for Artificial Outdoor Plants

Consider the Architecture of Your House

Before you can even start deciding how to layout plants, it is important to take a close look at the architecture of your house. Look at your flower bed. How many walls is it up against? Are there windows to consider? How many windows? What is the color scheme of your house? What are the dimensions of your flower bed? I personally like to draw out my flower bed on a piece of paper, complete with window placement and exact measurements.

Search the Site for Your Favorite Artificial Plants

Shopping can be the most exciting part of the layout process. Browse through the site for the artificial outdoor plants that appeal to you. You can choose items that are native to your region or go wild and order plants that you have always wanted to grow but have never had the opportunity to try. When you find a plant you like, look at the height and width of the plant. Use these measurements along with your space plan to determine whether they fit in your space and how many you need.

Think About Height and Color

When you are mixing and matching different plants, take into consideration the heights and the colors of the different plants. You want everything to work together so make sure that you have a combination of tall plants, medium height plants, and short plants.

Draw Out Your Plan

Before making your final purchases, draw out your layout on your piece of paper.  Draw out the size and shape of each plant on your paper. When you do this, keep in mind the height of your plants and make sure that tall plants are not blocking your view of lower plants. Keep in mind that artificial plants can always be combined together to create larger and more interesting arrangements. In my yard I combined a fern with three sprays of barberry branches and grasses.

Lay it Out in Person

Once your plants come in, take a minute to lay them out in your space before planting any of them. By doing this you will have one last opportunity to see if you are missing something of if something needs rearranged. Step back and look at what you have from all angles. Once your layout is finalized it is time to plant them…but that is for another day. Check back with us tomorrow for the next phase of this week of using artificial outdoor plants in your landscape.