I actually have a massive space – 26 – along the front of my house. I suspect Im going to make the bed about 3 or 4 in width. Whats tips to lay out my garden? Should or not it’s symmetrical or just bunched and more free (like a cottage garden)? Im contemplating using Delphinium, Echinacea, Daylilies, Oriental Lilies, small shrub roses (2×3) and then some small ornamental grasses and a couple of-4″ border flowers inside the front. I feel Im also going to place a weeping redbud on the left side. Do you might have any ideas for a way I should try this… Im at a loss!!!
Whether you design a formal garden (symmetrical) or informal garden (cottage style) is up to you. However, here are a few thing to consider. Mass together perennials of the same type in groups of three or five. Try to have more than one group of each species through the bed. This will help avoid the "one of everything" look. As a general rule, taller perennials (as well as the ornamental grasses) work well towards the back. When they're not in bloom they'll serve as a backdrop for the small plants. Try to plan the perennial bed so that there is something in bloom in a few different areas of the garden from spring to fall.
Good luck and have fun.
Here's an article I wrote for my site http://www.gardenlistings.com
http://www.gardenlistings.com/Perennials.htm