Border style

A gorgeous border, filled with attractive plants, is an asset to any garden. Be sure to plan the border well before you start for the best results. A mixed border is the best option for most gardens, where planting has to look good all year round. Using small trees and shrubs as a framework, and finding space for bulbs and annuals as well as perennials, extends the life of a border well beyond the midsummer peak of a solely herbaceous version.

Traditionally, borders are created in front of a wall, hedge or fence, which forms a backdrop and dictates their rectangular shape. This arrangement imposes its own limitations on border design and in order for all the plants to be seen at their best, they have to be planted more or less in descending order of height.

Planting in this way still makes sense today, provided you don’t stick to it too rigidly. Including a few taller plants with an open structure near to the front will break up any overly regimented effect – feathery meadow rue and astilbe are ideal.

An island bed is simply a border that doesn’t have a backdrop. Plant it up so that the tallest species are in the center, then it will look effective from whichever direction you see it.

Formal beds that are part of an overall pattern should also follow this rule – only the most informal cottage borders can cope with a seemingly random mix of heights and scale. It is worth taking the time and effort to plan out your beds and borders carefully. Once you have decided on an overall framework, you can select your plants and let your creativity run wild to create a border that is entirely your own.

SHADES OF SILVER AND WHITE

ABOVE: Airy Crambe cordifolia, with clounds of tiny flowers, lends height to a vigorous silver and white border restrained by low box edging.

SPRING MIXED BORDER

RIGHT: A walled garden in spring has borders filled with a tapestry of biennial wallflowers, pansies, tulips, and forget-me-nots, within a framework of flowering shrubs and trees, including Malus floribunda.

COTTAGE STYLE

ABOVE: These informal borders create a charming profusion of roses, lavatera, marguerites, and clematis leading to an archway swathed in sweet peas.

SINGING WITH COLOR

RIGHT: This traditional herbaceous border includes annual sunflowers that match Verbena bonariensis for height and color contrast, they face sizzling dahlias “Bishop of Llandaff” and “ Ellen Huston” with a shock of blue agapanthus lilies.

FORMAL MEETS INFORMAL

ABOVE: This framework of variegated box and tall slim junipers is filled in with billowing shrub roses, sage, Artemisia, rodgersia, and bergenia, and contained by a smooth grass path.

A ROSY PROSPECT

OPPOSITE: An exuberant rose border is underplanted with complementary colors – red valerian, pink erigeron, red fuchsias, and spires of purple campanula.