Garden Bed Design

Where does one start? How do I decide what shape, what size, which plants? These are all things Diane can help you with at Earthworks.
Some basics:
Size: needs to be at least large enough to make an impact, usually a minimum of 4' wide. Step back from the house & size it up. Usually folks tend to make the garden too tiny.
Shape: Think mow lines! You don't want to have to get the weed whip out for the 'one spot.' Typically a very formal house that is very symmetrical, looks best with cornered gardens and straight lines, contemporary homes do best with free flowing lines.
Which plants? Some considerations are, sun & wind exposure, soil type, height. Plants that are too short, have little impact, save them for your containers.
What colors? Too many colors look messy. As you can see in the photo, I have used the 'principle of repetition. Less types and colors, repeated throughout the bed, easily moves your eyes throughout the garden. It offers continuity vs. a hodge podge garden of the gardener that just couldn't decide!  In this garden I have iris in about 6 areas, phlox in 3 areas, baby's breath in 5 areas, and about 200 tulips and bulbs. The year after this photo was taken,  I edged the bed next to the patio block with daylilies. The year after that, the 06 tornado hit my house. We had to dig up what we could and the rest got run over by equipment tearing down the house. The patio block was covered with plywood which really helped to preserve it from being ruined by equipment tires. The pathway thru this garden was made of  slices of a tree!
They only last 3-5 years before they start to rot. It's difficult to cover all your need to know here, but hopefully some of these tidbits of info will get you started thinking....one day closer to spring!

Hostas

Hosta's, Americas favorite shade loving plant. These plants are very carefree and once established they will rarely need you. You may think they all 'look alike,' until you see them together. The leaves in the above photo would be considered 'puckered.'  There have been some recent introductions that are more sun tolerant.

 The hosta above is Krossa Regal. A very blue hosta with what is called a 'vase' or upright shape. This plant can up to 40" tall, very large. These leaves are great in bouquets for fillers. The leaves will last a week or more in a vase. Blue hostas that are located in too much sun, can appear scorched and more green in color.

Hostas have a range of sizes from tiny plants called "Mouse Ears" to large plants that are 4' tall. Their leaves can be striped, multi-colored, yellowish or blue. 

The stems of hosta flowers are called 'scapes.' Often, plants will list the foliage height & the scape height. It is not unusual for the scapes to be 1-2 feet or more taller then the foliage base. Many flowers are very fragrant, including 'Fragrant Bouquet' which is one of the hosta Earthworks grows. Flowers are great in bouquets, but try to pick when they just starting to open. Once the flowers are 'spent,' (wore out & dead!) you can safely cut the stem back anytime of year. The flowers are white or some shade of lavendar. Even though  they can have broad leaves, they are not a 'broad leaved plant,' but actually are a grass plant - related to the lily. Several years ago, I did a 2 day internship at Shady Oaks Hosta Nursery in Waseca. I got to spend 2 lab days learning about tissue culture and cutting up tiny plants. At the time, in order to introduce a new hosta, the differences had to be noticeable with the naked eye from 9 feet away. Interesting standard!
Care of hostas: they love cool shady and moist soil. Keep in mind if planting under trees, the tree hogs most of the water, so watering 1-2" a week would be helpful. Slugs are the biggest insect issue. If you have long rippy holes - that is the work of slugs. The BEST remedy: slugs are out and about 30 mintues after dark. Take a flashlight and a salt shaker into the hosta bed, and when you see the slugs, sprinkle with salt and they almost disappear before your eyes. Gotcha.