Garden Planning and Design: The Earth-Kind Way

by Jim Binnings, CCMGA Master Gardener

Master gardeners in Texas are all aware of Earth-Kind landscaping. Simply put, Earth-Kind® landscaping is a method of gardening that uses environmentally friendly practices to produce gardens that are beautiful and sustainable. The program was developed in the 1980s by horticulturist Steve George.

If you stop and think about Earth-Kind landscaping, it is an approach that advocates combining organic-based practices with sound conventional methods to work with nature. This approach just makes sense. It’s a practical, common-sense way to create a landscape.

There are seven principles in Earth-Kind landscaping. Today, we’ll focus on the first: planning and design. Planning and designing your garden. Planning and designing can be broken down into smaller topics such as plant spacing, placement, diversity, budget, function, appearance, maintenance, and water requirements.

To get started, sketch your current landscape. If you have ideas for changes, create a second sketch to reflect those updates. These sketches can be simple or detailed—whatever works for you. Planning and designing are processes, and you will likely go through several versions before settling on a final plan.

It’s far easier to make changes on paper than after plants are in the ground. And remember, since you are working with nature, keep the process simple.

Plant Spacing
When we go to a nursery, we find plants in all sizes of containers. But unless you are willing to pay top dollar, you are not buying a mature plant. It may take years for that small transplant to reach its full size.

A common mistake gardeners make is filling in all available space right away. It might look good at first, but as plants grow, they begin competing for water, nutrients, sunlight, and space. Over time, this can lead to leggy, unhealthy plants and increased susceptibility to pests and disease.

The solution is patience—and spacing plants based on their mature size. Plant tags or a quick search will tell you what to expect. And when your neighbor asks about the open spaces, you can smile and share your knowledge of proper plant spacing.

Plant Placement
Many years ago, when I moved into my current home, I spent time observing the front beds. They face north and stay shaded most of the year. I noticed a leggy, unhealthy shrub that looked like it needed life support. After some research, I discovered it was a chaste tree (vitex)—a great plant for North Texas, just in the wrong location. I moved it to full sun in the backyard. Years later, it has become a focal point, with multiple trunks and blooms that attract bees from May through June. It’s a beauty now.

Plant placement is about understanding microclimates—or, as we often say, “right plant, right place.” A microclimate is a small area within your landscape that differs from the surrounding environment. For example, a yard may be mostly sunny, but the area under a mature oak tree creates shade. That shaded space becomes its own microclimate. Match plants to these conditions. Use shade-tolerant plants like Turk’s cap or hosta under trees, and reserve sunny areas for sun-loving plants.

The key to understanding microclimates is observation. Watch how sunlight moves through your landscape throughout the year. In my own yard, I’ve noticed that one bed gets full sun from mid-March through mid-September, then becomes shaded the rest of the year due to the sun’s seasonal arc. Once I recognized this, I planted deciduous shrubs, such as Henry Duelberg sage. Now the area is a pollinator magnet in spring and summer, and I let it rest during the cooler months. I also keep a large planter empty until April, then fill it with pentas for months of color.

Plant Diversity
Plant diversity comes naturally to most gardeners. Most of us run out of space before we run out of plants. But diversity is more than just trying new varieties—it plays an important role in reducing pests and disease.

A landscape dominated by a single plant type can be vulnerable. For example, a disease like black spot or mold could spread quickly if roses make up most of the planting.

Earth-Kind principles recommend:

• No more than 10% of your landscape should be a single cultivar
• No more than 30% belong to the same plant family

An example is to have no more than 10 percent of your plants be roses, and no more than 30 percent be from the Rosaceae family. To accomplish this, you will need to do some planning and play around with different combinations of plants on your sketches. This approach strengthens resilience and supports long-term sustainability.

Budget
Budgeting is especially important when installing a landscape in one go. Creating the landscape topography, building beds, and bringing in soil mixes can get expensive in a hurry. Then you have to purchase all of the plants.

If you are starting from scratch or making major changes, it is best to have a detailed plan or drawing for what you want your landscape to look like and which plants you plan to add. A well-thought-out design allows you to budget item by item. Another option is to let your landscape evolve over time. This approach spreads out costs and allows for flexibility as your garden develops.

Function
Have you ever taken a drive out in the country and seen a house in the middle of acres of open meadows or farmland? You may notice trees planted on the west and north sides of the home. This is a functional landscape design. Trees on the west side provide afternoon shade in summer, while those on the north help block winter winds.

As you plan your landscape, consider how plants can serve a purpose:

• Screening views
• Creating shade
• Supporting vegetable production
• Improving energy efficiency

As you create your landscape, consider whether you want some of your plants to serve a function. Again, refer to your sketches to see where those opportunities might exist.

Appearance
This is the fun part. Maybe you’re drawn to an English garden style, or something more modern and structured. We all have a vision for how we want our landscape to look. Use your sketches to bring that vision to life.

Maintenance
Maintenance may not be the most exciting part of planning, but it is essential. Every landscape requires ongoing care—whether you do it yourself or hire someone. Weeding, fertilizing, and pruning all take time. Your plant choices and layout will influence how much effort is required. For example, I’ve learned to prune my vitex tree when the branches are still tender so they can be easily composted. Small decisions like this can make maintenance much easier.

Water Requirements
Water use should be part of your planning process. Earth-Kind landscaping encourages grouping plants by their water needs—a practice known as hydrozoning.

Hydrozoning allows you to:

• Water efficiently
• Reduce waste
• Support plant health

Group drought-tolerant plants together and keep higher-water plants in separate areas. This prevents overwatering and makes irrigation more manageable.

Final Thoughts
Balancing plant spacing, placement, diversity, function, appearance, and water needs can feel overwhelming. There is a lot to consider—and you will likely go through many sketches. And that’s okay.

Whether you are starting fresh, making major changes, or simply updating a few beds, keeping Earth-Kind principles in mind will move you closer to a landscape that is both attractive and sustainable.

Think of the process like working on a puzzle. As the pieces come together, the picture becomes clearer. I just hope it’s a 100-piece puzzle—not a 1,000-piece one.

References:
Texas Master Gardener Handbook, 2019