Plants for Creating the Tough-as-Nails Garden Plan
4 Lavender cotton (Santolina chamaecyparissus): Zones 5-10 4 English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’): Zones 5-8 1 Yarrow (Achillea ‘Moonshine’): Zones 3-9 6 Garden phlox (Phlox paniculata): Zones 4-8 3 Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia): Zones 5-9 3 Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): Zones 3-9 5 Firecracker penstemon (Penstemon eatonii): Zones 4-9 5 Pineleaf penstemon (Penstemon pinifolius): Zones 4-10 5 Catmint (Nepeta × faassenii): Zones 3-8
If you aren’t able to find the exact cultivars listed above, substitute with others that have similar colors, shapes, and sizes. And because some plants can become overly aggressive and spread out of control in certain climates, always check which species are considered invasive in your area before planting. For example, yarrow can reseed itself around to the point of weediness, but ‘Moonshine’ is a variety that doesn’t have this problem. If you need to substitute a different variety for it, make sure it isn’t one you’ll regret planting later.
Get the Free Tough-as-Nails Garden Plan
Our free Garden Plan for this design includes an illustrated version of the planted garden, a detailed layout diagram, a list of plants for the garden as shown, and complete instructions for installing the garden. Free, one-time registration allows unlimited access to all garden plans, available as printable PDFs.
Tips for Planting Your New Garden
Preparation is the key to creating a garden that will offer a lifetime of pleasure. Before you start plant shopping, review all garden plan materials. Then, ask yourself the following questions:
Do I have a suitable spot for this plan?
The layout diagram shows the rough dimensions for the plan. In general, you can enlarge or reduce the size of the garden by adding or eliminating plants, although the character of the garden may change if you alter the size dramatically.
Do I have the right growing conditions?
Check the plant list to see if the plan will do best in sun, part shade, or full shade. Be sure that the plants are suited to your USDA Hardiness Zone.
Do I need to amend my soil?
Most plants thrive in moist, but well-drained soil. If you have soil with lots of sand or clay, amend it liberally with lots of organic matter, such as compost. You may also want to do a soil test to see if you need to adjust the soil pH or add fertilizer before planting.
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