Garden Shape

When planning your garden shape consider what effect you are trying to accomplish and how much time you can devote to it.

A formal garden shape is geometric.
This type of garden needs a lot of attention to keep it looking good.
Formal gardens can also go by the name of knot garden.

It is typically used for historical landmarks or for herb gardening.
Boxwood plants are used for the outline of the shape as they are easy to trim.

A informal curved border garden.
This garden will require less maintenance than a formal garden will. If a plant gets out of hand it won't be as noticable.
This type of garden is sometimes called a cottage garden.

A cottage garden can be all perennials, perennials and annuals or a mixture of shrubs, perennials and annuals.

An island bed garden usually has an oval or kidney shape to it.

Plant Shape

When considering the shape of the plants to use in the garden, look at the mature plant not the starter plant. Trees when young will have an upright narrow shape to them. As trees reach maturity they will branch out and take on their final shape.

Plants may be round, columnar, upright, spreading, flowing or freeformed.

The arborvitae in this picture is rounded. The grass has a flowing shape.
The garden phlox is tall and upright most of the time. It decided to bow over for the picture!

Using a combination of plant shapes will give your garden interest. With the arborvitae being rounded putting smaller rounded shapes with it would have made them blend in too much. By using a different shape and garden texture the plants all stand out on their own.

Flower Shape

Most flowers are in bloom for a short time. Try to have a variety of flower shapes in bloom. Marigolds look great when they are in bloom but if the whole garden had rounded puff ball type flowers in it you wouldn't really notice the marigold. The garden would look like a big colorful blob. Mix rounded flower shapes with tall spiky flower shapes for the best variety.

Walkway Shape

Curved walkways add depth and mystery to a garden. If the walkway is leading into a garden having a slight curve or bend in it will seem more natural. Straight lines will stand out and look artificial.

When you have a straight walkway leading up to the front of the house you can soften the line by allowing a plant or two to flow onto it.

Making your garden shape pleasing to you is what matters most!

When you have your garden shape figured out, you will want to read about color in the garden.

You might also enjoy these other garden design principles:
The purpose of your garden.
Create garden unity through repetition.
create movement with garden color.
Size does matter.
Texture in your garden.