Expert urges gardeners to follow 'golden number rule' to 'save money'

08 August 2023 , 14:15

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The gardener explained why his hack is so important (Stock Image) (Image: Shared Content Unit)

If you're lucky enough to have some outdoor space, you'll want to make it look as lovely as possible by adding flowers, ornaments, and other trinkets that make you beam with joy - especially when the sun decides to make an appearance. But if you're not a naturally green-fingered person, you may look to experts for gardening advice to help you out.

Senior Landscape Architect at David Wilson Homes, Brian Hawtin, who has lectured in garden design and worked on TV shows such as Love Your Garden, has shared a plant-buying method that can save you money, hailing it as the "golden rule of garden design."

Brian has warned against a mistake that many amateur gardeners make, which is buying plants in even numbers. Brian explains why plants should always be purchased in threes, fives, sevens or nines, and why this could save you money when you're shopping.

He said: "My golden rule of plant buying is that plants should always be bought in threes, fives, sevens, or even nines. A mistake many gardeners make is planting up in singles, pairs or even numbers. Plants should clump, sprawl, and intertwine, not sit in rigid lines or block shapes. Planting in odd numbers creates visual variety and offers maximum aesthetic impact."

He said that single plants don't make enough impact. He said: "Unless you are buying specimens or 'look at me' plants like large trees, full shrubs, or topiary, single plants don't offer enough impact. Specimens are types of plants that draw attention, they're conversation pieces that stand out among other plants in the garden and offer an instant impact."

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He also said that it looks more natural, as "clusters of plants are what we see in nature. Buying in odd numbers is the best way to replicate this effect and make your garden look natural." Brian also said: "You want to avoid even numbers. Gardening is a form of art and, as graphic designers, interior designers and all manner of creatives will tell you, uniformity bores the eye and looks unnatural."

And it's also cheaper, as "garden centres often offer discounts for plants bought in threes. Therefore, buying in odd numbers can actually help you to save money - especially important when you've just moved into a new home."

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Danielle Kate Wroe