🌿 Garden Principles4 min read
Written by Tom Huber
Why I often buy plants in threes (not thirteens)
One of the most common things I notice in garden centres is a trolley full of beautiful plants — but only one of each. It's completely understandable, and there's a gentler way to plant that often feels more at ease.
A different flower catches your eye, then another, and before long you have collected ten or twelve individual plants that you genuinely love. There is nothing wrong with that. After all, it is your garden.
But one simple planting principle can often make a border feel calmer, more balanced and more intentional.
Repetition creates harmony
Rather than buying lots of individual plants, consider choosing small groups of three or five of the same variety. Repeating plants through a border creates a quiet rhythm and lets the eye move comfortably through the planting. The result usually feels more natural and cohesive without being complicated.
This is not a strict rule — it is a design principle that many experienced gardeners lean on because it works well in so many situations. Larger borders may benefit from larger groups; smaller gardens often look wonderful with groups of three.
But remember…
If there is one particular plant that makes you smile every time you see it, buy it.
Gardens are not competitions. They are personal places. The aim is not to impress other gardeners — it is to create somewhere you genuinely enjoy spending time.
Sometimes the happiest garden is not the most perfectly designed one. It is simply filled with plants that mean something to the person who owns it.
A wonderful time to buy plants
Summer is one of my favourite times to visit local community plant sales. Keep an eye out for:
- Village plant sales
- Church fêtes
- Charity stalls
- Open garden events
- Community gardening groups
These often offer excellent value, help support local people or worthwhile causes, and many of the plants have already been grown successfully in the local area. That means they are often well suited to Suffolk's growing conditions and may settle into your garden more easily than plants brought in from much farther away.
You may even discover unusual varieties that are not commonly found in larger garden centres.
Bon Gardening Thought
“A beautiful garden isn't created by buying the most plants. It's created by choosing plants you love and giving them the space to thrive.”
Every garden is unique. The ideas shared in The Bon Blog are based on my experience working in Suffolk gardens. Your own garden may behave differently depending on its soil, aspect and local conditions.
Continue exploring
More from the journal
🌱 Plant Notes
Euphorbia — the quiet backbone of a Suffolk border
If I had to choose a single plant that holds a Suffolk border together through the awkward weeks between spring and full summer, it would be euphorbia. Not showy. Just quietly there, doing the work.
🤝 Care & Community
Gardening for Suffolk care homes and community organisations
Gardens in care homes, supported living settings and community organisations are shared spaces. They belong to residents, families, staff and visitors. Keeping them well maintained takes more than a mower.
🌱 Seasonal Notes
July jobs in a Suffolk garden
By early July most Suffolk gardens are running on the edge of dry. The work now is less about pushing plants on, and more about keeping what you have looking well.