Choosing plants
Plant long-term flowering perennials and shrubs. Keep in mind that perennials spread quickly. However, it is better to plant closely and then you can thin out if required. When you are planting, keep in mind the garden features that you can't yet afford and leave space for them.

Be flexible
If you find that a plant is not suitable for the spot that you have planted it, wait until winter and shift it to another position.

Cooling blue
Blue, green and a dash of white are cooling on the eye and make a wonderful combination for a summer garden. Plants include jacaranda, hydrangea, the blue butterfly bush, delphiniums, white impatience, salvias, lobelia, blue spiraea, Russian sage, and agapanthus and lavender.

Bring colour to your garden
Aquilegia, candytuft, cosmos, English daisy, godetia, lobelia, marigold, verbena, viola, zinnia are colourful flowers.

Plants for a shady garden
For shadiest areas, select plants that have their peak growing seasons at different times and then become dormant while another plant has its turn.