Overplanting is not cost-effective, visually or functionally, and is similar to having more furniture than you actually need.

The difference is the furniture won’t expand and can be sold, however, once a plant is in the ground its growth increase is exponential until it is pruned, which is a cost. Thereafter, the process becomes repetitive — growth, prune — which becomes an exponential cost.

Planning, selection, installation and maintenance are key ingredients in creating an attractive, functional and low-maintenance garden.

For example, you select a plant because you like it; whether it is the correct plant for the area is rarely of relevance. If it grows larger than anticipated — because no questions were asked at the time of purchase — even after all the time and labour of pruning it to stay within bounds, you decide it needs to be removed.

Add all the costs associated with that simple exercise and you will be surprised at the price of the mistake. Unfortunately, if you have more than one plant of the same ilk ... well, you get the picture.

The concept you require in the design process for the landscape is really worth thinking through in its totality. Generally speaking, you can’t have a Tucker’s Town landscape if you don’t have the chequebook.

Low-maintenance gardens can be just as aesthetically pleasing as a botanic garden. It is the thought process which plays a major role in the creativity of the finished product; location is of primary importance in selection as salt- and wind-sensitive plants do not grow well in exposed areas. Selection can be based on the surrounds of the property to include screening, security, colour and general appearance, however, encapsulated in this, one should understand the plant’s features, such as top growth height and spread plus the root system spread.

Consider all features and characteristics of a plant when considering its use — flower shape and colour and longevity of flowering, leaf shape and colour, seed, fruiting habit, is it evergreen or deciduous, does it have attractive bark, or interesting outline of growth (architecturally interesting)?

Do not use a plant simply to fill a space, especially if a small space. Be cognisant of window heights, etc, and use plants that will not require constant hacking back to below window level — a truly poor choice in the selection process followed by wasted time and labour.

If a plant has a potential spread of four feet, it makes sense to plant it in an area which is at least 5ft-plus wide. That way you don’t need to constantly clip it back to keep in bound.

This is often a major problem when planting a hedge, especially so when planted right on the boundary; thereafter, you technically have no control of the growth on your neighbour’s property or, worse still, if it is adjacent to a public footpath. It is also wise to think long-term and consider if you are likely to add on to the property in any way. If so, consider this in the design process to avoid having to rip out good, mature plants at some future date or even having to relocate them. There is always a cost and with relocated plantings — no guarantee of 100 per cent success.

Less is attractive, if done correctly, as one can see the individuality of the plants and perhaps, the highlights of hard landscape features such as lighting, outdoor furniture or statuary.

The mind boggles at what can be created, but always at a price.