How to Plant a Mixed Border
- Step 1. Assess the site. Firstly assess your site. Consider the size and proportions of the border you are creating. The...
- Step 2. Select the plants. Without doubt this is the best bit, but also the most daunting! It's tempting to buy plants...
- Step 3. Prepare the soil. The next step is to prepare the garden border by digging over the soil...
Full Answer
How do I create a new garden border?
When it comes to creating a new garden border, you’ll need to consider a few things: the position and shape of the border itself, as well as what to plant. With a bit of planning, you’ll have an enviable garden border that looks effortlessly striking throughout the different seasons.
Can you plant more in a deep garden border?
You can plant more in deep borders and even use them to hide certain parts of the garden, including walls and sheds. Shallow or narrow borders are useful if you’re short of space but still want to soften certain areas of the garden, such as a strip of soil between a fence and path.
How to choose the right border shapes for your garden?
Choose the right border shapes for your garden, with the help of our design tips. Before you create or plant up garden border, it’s important to consider its shape and depth. Think about what effect you want to achieve. Straight borders tend to be more formal in appearance, whereas curved borders suit a more informal approach.
How to plant a border for year round color?
Learnin g how to plant a border for year round color involves ensuring you have a strong main structural plant as part of your garden border planting ideas. In this design the plant is a Daphne odora ‘Perfume Princess’. Like most daphnes, it doesn’t like its roots getting dry - so make sure you keep them well watered during the hotter months.
How do you plant good borders?
These tips are sure to give you a helping hand.Consider your soil type. ... Work out how much sun your garden borders get. ... Choose the best plants for your garden borders. ... Pick a theme. ... Maximize the impact of your borders. ... Build up a pattern. ... Design the perfect backdrop. ... Keep the interest in your garden borders going all year.
How do you lay out a border?
1:4313:42How to plan a flower border - top professional tips - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThere are nereins. Bulbs are particularly useful in planning a border because their leaves come upMoreThere are nereins. Bulbs are particularly useful in planning a border because their leaves come up often say in the spring. For a few weeks and they cover the bare soil.
How do you plant a mixed border?
1:132:32How to plant a perennial border with Thompson & Morgan. - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt's a good idea to position plants in groups of three of the same kind to give the appearance of aMoreIt's a good idea to position plants in groups of three of the same kind to give the appearance of a larger clump. It's not essential but it does look better than dotting them about randomly.
How do you plant a border like a pro?
Work your way to the front of the bed with the different heights ending with low growing and shorter plants at the front. Plant in groups of three or five, rather than in straight rows, groups look better and as the plants grow they will look bigger too, filling spaces.
How do you group plants in a border?
The easiest and most visually effective way to arrange plants is in layers, with borders backed by walls or fences, tall shrubs, tree borders, bamboo and lofty grasses first. Place roses, smaller shrubs, mid-sized perennials and ornamental grasses in the middle.
How do you dig a garden border?
1:472:51How to dig garden borders - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou want to get as much mud off as possible. So you can keep that in. The. Ground and get rid of anyMoreYou want to get as much mud off as possible. So you can keep that in. The. Ground and get rid of any. Big rocks and stones. As. Well you just want to break up the ground.
How do you plant a border for all year color?
To keep the colour going it's important you keep your plants well fed and watered, especially in hot, dry spells. Deadheading is ideal for plants that will repeat-flower, but it's not suitable for everything. Avoid deadheading plants that won't re-flower, such as astilbes, peonies, ligularias and baptisias.
How deep should a plant border be?
You will need to consider the size, proportions and shape of your border. If you're opting for a longer border, it should be deeper (90cm – 1.2m depth – 3-4ft) but if you're doing a super long border then double this up!
How do I create a low maintenance border?
10 low maintenance garden border ideas. ... Follow the rule 'right plant, right place' ... Include resilient plants. ... Choose low maintenance planting. ... Add a backbone of evergreens. ... Use edging for tidy borders. ... Mulch the low maintenance garden beds. ... Add bulbs for seasonal interest.More items...•
How many shrubs are in a border?
'Try to keep to just six types of plants when you plant a border,' he says. 'This can look very good. ' It's very difficult to stick to six, but the main point is that drifts or clumps with lots of the same kind of plants are more effective than planting just one or two of each plant.
How far apart should shrubs be planted?
Shrubs grow well when spaced about one half the spread of a mature plant. For example, if your mature shrub is 4 feet wide, then it is safe to plant it 2 feet from the widest part of another shrub. Keep shrubs at least 2 to 4 feet from the house or other buildings.
Should you plant in threes?
The "rule of threes" is a key principle in comedy. In planting design, three is often considered a magic number. It's an easy way to think about planting for pleasing impact. In general, odd numbers are useful in creating dynamic, natural-looking plantings.
How do you create a simple border design?
0:009:215 Easy border designs for projects | Simple border designs to drawYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipQ M no ah d mmm por qué i sí sí i o por qué pero es la banda un caudal.MoreQ M no ah d mmm por qué i sí sí i o por qué pero es la banda un caudal.
How wide should your border be?
Border Basics Borders should be in proportion to the size of the finished quilt. As a general rule of thumb, a small wall hanging should have a border of less than 6" while a king-size quilt can handle a 12" to 14" border.
How do I create a low maintenance border?
10 low maintenance garden border ideas. ... Follow the rule 'right plant, right place' ... Include resilient plants. ... Choose low maintenance planting. ... Add a backbone of evergreens. ... Use edging for tidy borders. ... Mulch the low maintenance garden beds. ... Add bulbs for seasonal interest.More items...•
How wide should a garden border be?
If you're opting for a longer border, it should be deeper (90cm – 1.2m depth – 3-4ft) but if you're doing a super long border then double this up! Once you have your proportions, you will need to consider the below: What soil type do you have?
Transform your plot with our 6 easy-to-follow garden border planting ideas
Your garden borders are a key consideration for how to plan your garden design with a specific look and feel, so it's worth spending the time getting them right.
When is the best time of year to plan a new garden border layout?
Fall can be a great time to be planning your borders for the following spring and summer. Not only are the bare root plants and trees available to buy now much less expensive, but you will be giving your new border plenty of time to get its roots in, at the same time as sowing seeds and planting bulbs.
How to get better end result when planting plants?
Once you’ve chosen your plants, having a clear planting plan from the start will produce a much better end result than randomly putting in plants wherever there’s a gap, and it’s worth knowing a few tricks of the trade. For example, garden designers often get breathtaking results by grouping plants of the same variety in threes or fives, then using ‘filler plants’ to hold the groups together visually.
What is the best plant to grow in a small garden?
One or two plants that stand head and shoulders above the rest will draw the eye and give it somewhere to rest, making it easier to take in everything else. In larger borders, one or two of the best trees for small gardens can take on this role (crab apples, for example, which have a naturally attractive, open shape and lots of character). In smaller spaces, large shrubs or perennials, such as ornamental grasses or the taller varieties of salvia, are ideal. Gardening guru Monty Don is a huge fan of using salvias for showstopping late summer displays – head over to our feature to read his tips on how to grow salvias in your garden .
How to prepare a garden bed before planting?
I recommend that you remove everything you can, weeds and plants alike and dig the border over adding in well composted organic matter as you go. You can then replant the things you would like to keep once the preparation is done .
What is cottage garden borders?
For Tracy Foster, cottage garden borders suits an informal garden layout. 'Examples that spring to mind are brick edges to simple gravel paths, crazy paving with self seeded herbs and flowers growing in the cracks, herringbone brick paths, and simple stepping stones running through the planting.
When should I plant my garden?
Plant at the correct times of the year. (Image credit: Fi Boyle Garden Design) Garden landscape designer Fi Boyle MSGD explains that there are two key times of year to plant. The first is the early autumn when the soil is still warm and not waterlogged. For Fi, the advantage of planting in the autumn is that the plants settle into warm earth ...
When should I plant a plant in the fall?
For Fi, the advantage of planting in the autumn is that the plants settle into warm earth and start to establish their roots before the winter months. This means that when spring comes they are ready to get going. However, if you have missed the autumn window, you can also plant in spring.
Can you plant in spring?
However, if you have missed the autumn window, you can also plant in spring. Bear in mind that you may need to keep a bit more of an eye on your plants at this time of year as in recent years we have had some very dry springs.
Can I plant a cottage garden on a large plot?
Ana Mari Bull told us, 'Cottage style planting can be achieved in both a small and large garden, though personally I think it works best on a smaller scale as it is visual ly a very "busy" garden, so if I were planning a cottage garden on a larger plot, I would be looking to break up the space by introducing structural elements or creating a garden within a garden or a outdoor room. I would divide a border by either introducing a hedge or a structure on which to attach climbers to create a visual barrier.'
How to propagate plants for free?
Collecting some of the seed to grow more plants from is one way of propagating plants for free.
What plants go to seed after flowering?
After flowering leave some of the plants to go to seed, teasels, grasses, echinacea, echinops add further interest through the autumn with striking seed heads. The seeds and foliage will also provide food and shelter for wildlife.
Why do plants grow in groups?
Plant in groups of three or five, rather than in straight rows, groups look better and as the plants grow they will look bigger too, filling spaces. Straight long rows always remind me of corporation planting schemes in parks. Not necessarily a bad design but we can allow much more imagination to influence our own planting methods.
What are the benefits of a new border?
Bees and Butterflies and other pollinators and wildlife will benefit from your new border too, they will find food, shelter and habitat amongst the flowers and foliage. Choose bees and butterfly plants to attract these essential creatures into the garden.
How to choose a plant?
Choose plants with different heights, foliage, form and movement.
Do you need to feed plants in the summer?
If you have prepared the soil in the first instance with added compost or well rotted manure your plants should not need feeding again during the summer.
Can you propagate perennials?
Most perennial plants can be propagated in a number of ways to make more plants for free.
When is the best time to make a flower border?
The start of the year is a good time to plan a flower border.
What to use for a border in Posy's garden?
If you’re planning a new border from scratch, consider using a shrub or shrubs as a central point or points in the border. Then arrange perennials, bulbs and annuals around them. This distinctive shrub in the foreground of Posy’s garden is Cryptomeria japonica.
What are the elements of a flower border?
The five key elements of a successful flower border. The five elements of a good flower border are a tree, shrubs, perennials, annuals (or biennials) and bulbs. Perennials are plants that stay in the border for 2+ years. Some are evergreen but many die down in winter, to re-emerge in spring. Annuals are plants that germinate, flower, set seed ...
How to find a garden designer?
I think the best way of finding a garden designer who can do just one element of your garden is to put ‘garden designer near me’ into a search engine, then check the individual websites. You’ll get an idea of whose style you like from the websites.
How to lift a shrub?
Or if the shrub has a good shape, you can ‘lift’ it by removing the lower branches. This also creates more light and some interesting shapes.
Why is the Gardeners Book of Patterns important?
I really recommend The Gardeners Book of Patterns to give you an insight into a different way of thinking about your garden. Then go outside and look at your own garden. You’ve probably included pattern without realising it. Or if there’s an area you’re not happy with, then it may be because there isn’t enough pattern in it.
Who wrote the Gardener's Book of Patterns?
The Gardener’s Book of Patterns by Jack Wallington is for both professional garden designers and amateurs who want to design their own gardens. ‘As a garden designer, I use pattern in designing a border as much as I do colour or shape.’. ‘Some plants are themselves patterned,’ he says.
What to consider before creating a garden border?
Before you create or plant up garden border, it’s important to consider its shape and depth.
How to undulate a border?
Undulating border edges can look great, but the secret to success is not to make the ‘waves’ or undulations too small. You can use plants to enhance the undulating effect, letting plants spill over the border edges at intervals , creating a rhythmic ‘rise and fall’ effect. Amorphous borders have more curves, of varying sizes and depths, like the flow of a river.
Why do you use a curved border?
Sweeping, curved borders can really help to make a space feel larger than it actually is. It’s important you get a smooth, uninterrupted curve when creating these borders, so use a length of hose to experiment with the shape and size of the border. You can also use it as a guide once you start digging.
How deep should a wood tile border be?
Wood tiled path lined with narrow borders. Borders can be several metres deep or as narrow as a spade’s length. One of the best ways to get an initial feel for how large you want your borders is to get out in the garden and have a walk around potential sites.
What to put next to a garden bench?
Also, consider any other elements close to your border. For example, a border of scented plants would be wonderful next to a garden bench, or close to a patio.
What is straight edged border?
Straight-edged borders naturally have a somewhat formal appearance. Of course, this is partly determined by the plants you use – soft, billowing plants such as ornamental grasses will help to offset the effect of long, straight edges. For small gardens, consider borders with curved edges, which can make the space feel larger.
Where To Place a New Garden Border?
Creating a border that runs along your fence line just accentuates the shape of your garden and makes it look smaller.
What to plant in a border for winter?
It’s a good idea to plant a backbone of evergreen in a border so you have winter interest. Holly, ceanothus, and heathers are good choices. Then pop in some spring flowering bulbs like daffodils, snowdrops, and primroses for early spring colour.
How Big Should Your Garden Border Be?
A border should be a minimum of a metre deep because plants grow and take up more space than you’d think. You should also give plants a 30 cm gap from a wall or fence to avoid the desert-like conditions there.
How to get rid of a smelly garden?
Use your garden fork and dig the border over at least the depth of your fork – that’s called a ‘spit’. If the soil is poor add well-rotted manure, compost, or fertiliser like Growmore. Organic matter (that’s horse or chicken poo) can be bought as dry pellets so you can avoid any nasty smells.
What is DIY garden?
DIY Garden is a UK garden website that aims to inspire, advise and help you improve your outdoor space. For more information about how we started, and our wonderful team check out our ‘ About ‘ page.
How deep should a border be?
A border should be a minimum of a metre deep because plants grow and take up more space than you’d think. You should also give plants a 30 cm gap from a wall or fence to avoid the desert-like conditions there. It’s always a good idea to mark borders out before you dig.
Can you mark borders out before digging?
It’s always a good idea to mark borders out before you dig. If you’re trying something exciting invest in a chalk spray so you get a good idea first. You could use the hosepipe or skipping ropes too. Once it’s laid out head back indoors and look from every window and any favoured seating places too.