Place your plants (still in their containers) in the bed and space them as the label indicates using the enclosed tape measure. When measuring the distance between plants, measure from the center of one plant to the center of the next plant.

Step back and take a good look at your arrangement; if you want to change your design, you should do so now. Take advantage of this preview to be sure the bed is laid out as you want it.

Note: As you are previewing your design. Take the time to find the best looking side or “front” of the plant to position toward the viewer. This can ad a nice touch to your garden when it is first installed.

Be very careful to space the plants properly. They must have room to thrive, and while the bed may not seem full now you have to plan for mature plants. We cannot stress this point enough: if you want a successful, well-designed garden, you must heed the spacing requirements of your plants. Your bed should (in most cases) look a bit sparse when you first plant it.

One more thing: as you preview, start thinking about your planting order. You’ll want to start at the back of a bed, for instance, so that you can work your way out without trampling other plants. Also, plant your big trees and shrubs first so you won’t have to worry about the small plants as you are lugging the heavy ones around.