The 5 Ps of Planting Design for Laidback Gardeners

Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve always felt that gardening has a deeply communal spirit.

I remember my childhood, going back and forth with my father to the community garden, the local church lending us a piece of land for our horticultural experiments, and the hours spent at the Van den Hende Garden in Québec with the other children of the horticultural society members.

As a teenager, I mowed lawns and maintained gardens for a few family friends in our neighborhood. Later, as an adult, I became a market gardener, delivering fresh vegetable baskets weekly to a small group of subscribers. Then, my work as a landscape designer led me to transform my clients’ outdoor spaces.

I see friends, neighbors, and even complete strangers exchanging seeds, seedlings, or gardening tips. This human and collective aspect of gardening is always present. When we transform our outdoor spaces, it’s not just for ourselves—it’s for our loved ones, our neighbors, and our community. We green our neighborhoods, making them more vibrant and welcoming, not only for people but also for wildlife and plants.

The Laidback Gardener Community

Today, I am the editor of the Laidback Gardener website, which is much more than just a blog—it’s a thriving community fueled by exchanges, learning, and a shared passion for making gardening accessible to all.

Readers don’t just read articles—they interact, ask questions, and share their own experiences in the comments. Each topic becomes an open discussion where beginners and experts help and advise one another. The blog’s writers aren’t isolated either; they adapt content to the community’s needs and questions. Sometimes, it’s even the readers themselves who inspire new articles!

We grow together, we laugh together, and in a way, we garden together.

The 5 Ps

It’s this same spirit of sharing and learning that led me to develop the 5 Ps of Planting Design for Laidback Gardeners. After answering the same gardening questions over and over and observing the recurring challenges gardeners face, I wanted to create a simple, effective approach to structuring plantings—one that results in a beautiful, low-maintenance garden that thrives all season long!

This method is based on the writings of my father, Larry Hodgson, the Laidback Gardener, which I’ve applied throughout my career as a landscape designer to create and implement gardens. Passed down from my father, enriched by my experience, and shaped by conversations with the gardening community, this approach is rooted in shared knowledge and designed to make gardening accessible to everyone.

The goal of this method is to help both novice and experienced gardeners design planting spaces that suit their conditions, interests, and needs—gardens that are beautiful in every season, balanced, and harmonious, all without requiring excessive effort to maintain.

Place

Selecting the right plant for the right place is the foundation of a successful garden. Consider factors such as hardiness, sunlight, soil type, and available space to ensure plants thrive in their environment. Thoughtful placement not only promotes plant health but also reduces maintenance needs and long-term adjustments.

Purpose

Every planting zone should have an established function, and plants should be selected to achieve that purpose. Whether the goal is aesthetics, privacy, pollinator support, food production, erosion control, or ecological balance, assigning a clear role to each area ensures a cohesive and efficient garden. Thoughtfully chosen plants help fulfill these functions while enhancing the overall design.

Problem-Free

Choosing resilient, low-maintenance, and non-invasive plants makes gardening easier and more enjoyable. Avoid species prone to pests, diseases, or aggressive spreading, as they can lead to unnecessary work and frustration. A problem-free plant selection ensures a sustainable and harmonious landscape that requires minimal intervention.

Prolonged Interest

A well-designed garden should remain attractive throughout the year. Incorporate plants with staggered bloom times, varying foliage textures, and structural elements like evergreens and ornamental grasses to maintain visual appeal in every season. Prioritize plants with striking fall colors, interesting seed heads, and winter structure to keep the  to maintangarden engaging even after the growing season ends. This approach ensures your garden never feels bare or lifeless.

Principles

Applying fundamental design principles—proportion, balance, contrast, repetition, and simplicity—creates a cohesive and aesthetically pleasing garden. These guidelines help structure planting arrangements, ensuring that the landscape feels harmonious rather than chaotic. A well-balanced design enhances both the beauty and functionality of the space.

What Do You Think?

Gardening is an ever-evolving practice, shaped by experience, observation, and shared knowledge. I developped the 5 Ps of Planting Design for Laidback Gardeners as a simple yet structured approach to creating gardens that are beautiful, functional, and easy to maintain. But like any method, it can always be refined and improved through discussion and collaboration.

So now, I turn to you—our gardening community! Do the 5 Ps resonate with you? Is there anything you would add, remove, or adjust? Have you applied similar principles in your own garden, or do you approach planting design differently?

I’d love to hear your thoughts! Share your experiences, questions, or insights in the comments below—because after all, the best gardening advice often comes from the collective wisdom of those who put their hands in the soil every day. Let’s keep the conversation growing!