2. Don't clog corners.

Give them breathing room. Too often we overplant the ends of our homes with a pyramid of plants that grow beyond their bounds. Instead, work in layers. Beneath a single crepe myrtle, we planted seven 'Olivia' Indian hawthorns that will max out around 4 feet tall. Ground-hugging 'Purple Pixie' loropetalums and 'Happy Returns' daylilies front and flank this pairing. Why you'll be glad you did: You'll save money now and spend less time pruning later.

photo: 'Purple Pixie' loropetalum is part of the Southern Living Plant Collection debuting this spring. The eight plants chosen by our editors for this initial release offer great solutions for common landscape challenges. Visit www.southernlivingplants.com to see all of the plants and find a dealer near you.

Next3. Mass plants for impact.