How to map out a bed

How to Map Out a Bed

Now I'm going to show you how to map out an existing border that already contains some plants as the basis to begin planning a redesign, using another border in the Top Courtyard.

This is a supporting border for the Purple Border – it doesn't need to be as showy, but still needs to work hard.

• The border has become tired over the years, so we've taken out all the plants that weren't performing and have left those that still have some merit.
• We want to be able to plot the scale of the bed and where the plants are. From there we can start to lay down a new planting plan.
• We're plotting this out in mid-May ready to make changes in autumn. If there are a lot of plants in the bed, it's easier to plot earlier in the spring, before they get too big.
• A bed being redesigned doesn't have to be empty – in the interim, we're growing annual sweet peas up wigwams to give summer interest.

How to Draw a Planting Plan for an Existing Border

1. Run a tape measure along the edges of the bed to establish its dimensions. Leave the tape running along the longest length.

1. To plot where plants are, create a grid of metre squares marked with bamboo canes:

• We use a long stick marked with 1m intervals. At each metre along the tape, we put the stick across the border and drive in canes at the metre marks.
• You can put coloured tape on the tops of the canes to see them more easily.

1. Draw a rough plan – it doesn't need to be to scale – of the bed with the canes marked.

1. Plot the plants by looking at their position relative to the canes. You just need to capture their size and positions.

1. You can later use this rough plan to draw up a scale planting plan at 1:25.

Assignment

Try out the process above on one of your beds. It can be the same one you're observing from the previous assignment or a different one that you know you want to rework. Draw up a rough plan – it doesn't need to be to scale.

1. Measure the dimensions and draw a rough outline on paper.

1. Use Troy's technique to create a metre grid of canes and draw on this grid.

1. Roughly plot the plants on the grid by looking at their position relative to the canes.

Plant Directory

Colchicum species and cultivars

Autumn crocus, meadow saffron

Hardy herbaceous perennials from corms

Colchicaceae

Lathyrus odoratus cultivars

Sweet peas

Hardy annuals

Fabaceae

Lathyrus odoratus 'Cupani'

Sweet pea 'Cupani'

Hardy annual

Fabaceae

Tradescantia hardy species and cultivars

Spider lilies, spiderworts

Hardy semi-evergreen or herbaceous perennials

Commelinaceae