damaclese

hey thanks for asking such a good question the basics of design are simple first think hight then place you plants according to there mature hight not what they are when you get them then thing texture try to place things with varied texture next to each other like a big leaf plant next to one that has furn like leafs allow think color for example i have a red and green tropical bed i try to get all different colors of green foliaged plants and red foliage plants and mix them together is a pleasing arrangement also don't just plant one of a thing try groupings of three plant odd numbers work better then even unless you want a formal garden also and this is just my taste i like to use plants at the front that act as a boarder like i use allot of dwarf box leafed uwonamases they only get 12" high and are ever green sorta helps redefine the edges of your beds now as for the beds them self don't get them to deep you have to think about how you are going to get in there to cultivate weed or do what ever you need to do to them and if there deep you are going to have a hard time reaching in to do all that as far as shaping you beds thats up to you i try to look at the totality of the area that i want to use and brake it up how ever you like theirs no wrong or right and remember as the years go by you will change things gardening and design are a process not a one time task every one makes mistakes but what fun you will have making them and then fixing and changing it over the years some thing will work and some not its your garden theres not really wrong or right thing to do if nun of that helps go get books look at other peoples gardens botanical gardens help my one reference book i go to over and over again is titled "Visions of Paradise Themes and variations on the garden" by Marina Schins total picture over load for the eye theres nothing wrong with coping as long as you tell people who your inspiration was mimicry is the sincerest form of flattery

and lastly all leave you with my mothers semi famous words to me as a little boy when i told her i dint know were to plant some thing she told me to plant it where ever i liked!LOL hope that helps
Paulo

o and i almost forgot the most important rool you must never brake plant things next to each other with similar growing habits for example don't put a Cati next to a water plant one if going to die

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