Getting the most out of your online or hardcopy garden catalog experience is best done by following rules. Well, they’re not so much rules as “guidelines”; Bill Murray knows what this is all about. For the Midwestern gardener, rules 5-7 focus mostly on the size of the plants and where they are planted in the landscape.

Five. Size and Shape. How big will the plant grow? How wide? The eventual size and shape of a plant makes a big difference and will determine if it is sustainable in a landscape. Stuffing a medium to large plant into a small space usually means frustration and repeated pruning efforts.

Six. Location, Location, Location. Sun and shade, wind and soil – these are the important considerations. Hostas, bergenia and pachysandra belong in the shade; putting them in the full sun is only going to lead to disappointment.
Seven. Consider Views. Especially in winter, a landscape is viewed from inside the house. Be sure to look from the inside out when making plant selections.