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The use of bedding plants in formal carpet bedding dates back to the early 1800's and the bedding out was done twice a year, in early autumn for a spring display and in late spring for a summer display. These formal garden designs can still be seen today. A bedding plant design can be seen at its best in English parks and the gardens of stately homes where some truly magnificent designs can be found. By visiting these parks and stately homes you can pick up some great ideas to use as patterns and colour schemes for designs in your own garden or yard, but of course on a smaller scale. Unless you are lucky enough to have several acres, then you can really let your imagination run wild. Some of these designs use hundreds of plants and some councils, to this day, still produce their own bedding plants in their own greenhouses just for use in park displays. But what is a bedding plant though? It can be best described as a garden plant that is grown solely for its overall decorative effect. It is raised in a greenhouse in pots, trays or flats. And is transplanted to its final growing position in a spring or summer flowering bed or border. It is short lived, flowering in one season, usually for about three months, and then fades away forever. If a plant meets all the above it can truly be called a bedding plant. So, where and when should you use these plants? A true bedding plant design is geometric with the plants set out in squares, ovals, half moons, rectangles, circles or any shapes imaginable as long as the overall design is geometric. The bedding plants are set out in these shapes using the same plants in a shape. Each shape will have different colour and textured plants, but usually with opposing shapes having the same colour and texture plants to maintain the overall geometric pattern. Some designs can be quite intricate. But these intricate designs were back in the 1800's and while the spring and summer flowering beds of those days where magnificent, you can be less formal and use bedding plants more or less how you please. There are no longer set rules for setting out these seasonal beds as bedding plants can be set amongst existing perennials, shrubs or bulbs, and used just as "fill ins". The only criteria is to create a pleasing effect and this is down to your own personal choice. While some may still like to create a whole garden bed with an intricate design using a theme with plants that are similar and complementary in colour and texture you may prefer to use contrasting colours in a less formal design. Well which ever, that’s ok, neither of these themes are right or wrong. After all, its your choice, what appeals and pleases you? You can be as conservative or as bold as you like. Make a really bold statement and design and plant up a Union Jack or Stars and Stripes or the flag of your own country just with bedding plants. Or just fill in empty spaces between existing shrubs or perennials, this can create a really show stopping display. They can also be used with great effect in hanging baskets, window boxes, troughs or patio tubs and pots throughout spring or summer. They can also be used with great effect in hanging baskets, window boxes, troughs or patio tubs and pots throughout spring or summer.
Annuals, half hardy perennials and biennials can be classed as bedding plants, as long as they meet the description above, use them in your spring and summer beds. So where can you get bedding plants from? Just visit any garden centre or plant nursery from early winter, throughout spring and into early summer and you will find all the bedding plants you could ever want. You can buy them in single pots or for much better value in trays or flats. You can also buy plants online and most internet plant companies make buying plants easy. This is a good way to buy plants, online, as there are usually very good bargains to be had and the plants delivery is right to your door. The plants are usually top quality as well, so you really can't go far wrong. But the best way to get bedding plants is to propagate and grow them yourself, for free, from seeds or cuttings! Propagating your own plants is a lot easier than you might think and the sheer pleasure, delight and sense of achievement is unbelievable. Seed sowing and germinating, taking cuttings and rooting or layering really is quite easy, when you know how. Its all explained throughout this website to give you that know how, so visit the home page to learn more. Or to find out how to propagate and grow your own favourite garden, yard plants, just go to:
If you want any further information on bedding plants or how to propagate and grow any of your favourite garden ( backyard ) plants please feel free to contact us
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