Whats the biggest mistake people make when creating gardens?
PAS: One mistake that can easily be fixed is the approach [people take] to planting. Often, I see people plant in a meagre, spotty way. They go for a botanical zoo, with one of everything, instead of painting with a wide brush. What we need is abundance, grouping similar plants together to create impact. When I go into someone’s garden, I’ll often just rearrange the plants—and what a difference that can make! That theory is especially true in small gardens such as balconies or rooftop patios. I’d cluster containers together instead of dotting them around the space. Often, I’ll plant three different pots with the same plant or group of plants to achieve a bold, cohesive look. S@H: In your new book you talk about the importance of enclosure…. PAS: There’s a reason “Enclosure” is the first chapter. It’s the most important part of a garden: it creates that sense of separate rooms, but it also helps build mystery, and that’s so important. We’re often given to showing everything we have at f
