It is a common mistake to buy plants for your garden on impulse, because they look beautiful at the Garden Centre or market and then find that we do not have a suitable place for them.  If you are serious about gardening you should be aware of how much sun and shade your garden gets during the seasons.  This will tell you what type of plants for your garden to buy for your beds and borders. 

You should test your soil first, to determine the pH level and what kind of nutrients you need to add, if any. You need to establish the pH level of the soil. Most plants prefer soil that is slightly acidic, but there are some that must have alkaline soil to grow.  While it is possible to alter the pH of your soil this is quite labour intensive and it would be much simpler to select plants that will grow in your soil.

Once you are ready to plant you will want to decide how many of each plant you need.  Most plants look much better in groups, usually of three or five.  Shrubs can be planted singly, especially the large feature shrubs such a shrub roses or tall lilacs.  The smaller the plant the more of them you will need to make a good show.  This applies especially to the smaller spring bulbs, like snowdrops and crocus.

 Before planting out, place your chosen plants around the garden bed in their pots to see how they will look. Re-arrange them until you are satisfied.  Be sure that you have an interesting combination of colors and textures of plants. Tall plants should go to the back, or the centre if your garden will be viewed equally from all sides. Try to keep your plants away from trees. The roots of trees are fiercely competitive and will steal all the nutrients and moisture meant for your flowers.

The right colour scheme is one way to maintain the harmony in your garden. Imagine the color of the flowers when they are in bloom. Some colours may clash with others, but can still be planted side-by-side if they bloom at different times. Foliage colour is also important. Many flower plants have silver, grey or purplish foliage that is just as attractive as the flower. This means that they are still attractive well past the blooming season and so have added value.