Don't Overplant
One of the easiest mistakes homeowners can make in their lawn or garden is not anticipating the eventual size of a plant. Most of the plants you buy at the nursery will be labeled to tell you what their mature size will be.
Overplant the bed with these perennials, annuals, and shrubs:
A. Weigela 'Red Prince' B. 'Isanti' dogwood C. Sedum 'Matron' D. St.-John's-Wort E. 'Red Flare' sage F. Lamb's-ears G. Veronica 'Goodness Grows' H. Rudbeckia 'Goldilocks' ...
It is better to overplant in containers because it gives a generous overflowing effect.
If planting a hanging basket use plants that trail over the edge like lobelia and petunias.
Be careful not to overplant, says Camp. The tendency is to get instant gratification from instant planting. Instead, leave plenty of room for plants to grow.
One, it means that you plant only viable seeds and thus won't waste good seeds by overplanting and then having to thin. Two, it means you can germinate your seeds in a warm place indoors even if you don't have room for a half-dozen flats or pots.
(I recommend overplanting your bulbs slightly, with them touching each other, but not touching the sides of the container.) Add 3 more inches of soil. At 5 inches from the top of the container, add your smaller bulbs like grape hyacinths.
Soon after the bluebells bloom in late spring and the seeds have matured, the leaves wither and disappear, allowing overplanting. I stick a few twigs into the ground to mark their location if I need to find them again.
Plant a variety of species in the rock garden. Repeat some species several times to make the garden look natural. Most plants for rock gardens spread readily, so take care not to overplant.
'Goldsturm' won the Perennial Plant of the Year award in 1999 for long-lasting blooms and easy care in full sun to partial shade. Though it can succumb to disease if overplanted, it's low-maintenance and prolific.
If the garden will only be seen from one vantage point, however, you would want the tallest plants in the rear. Don't overplant your garden for the sake of having it look immediately full.
 See also: Plant, Planting, Water, Soil, Growing
  
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