Create a beautiful border garden with these smart design tips and techniques.
A well-designed border garden blends seamlessly into the surrounding hardscape.
Use the tips in this guide toplanting a border gardento select and arrange the best mix of plants.
Credit:Matthew Benson
What Is a Border Garden?
Tips for Planting a Border Garden
1.
Choose a Color Scheme
There are endless ways to go about choosing colors for your border garden.
Maybe you love the elegant look of agarden composed of pure white flowersand nothing more.
Maybe you like the boldness of hot colors.
Maybe you’re a diehard sports fans and want flowers in your team colors!)
However, there are a few points to consider when planning for color.
Take note of surrounding structures.Is yourhouse light or dark, neutral in color, or something flashy?
Matthew Benson
2.
Do they all likewell-drained soil?
Lots of water or long periods of dryness?
Overlap Bloom Times
Many border gardens are primarily aboutproviding color, usually from flowers.
However, most perennial plants don’t bloom non-stop throughout the growing season.
That’s why its important to consider bloom times and durations when choosing plants for your landscape.
This will be beneficial to the overall look of the garden, as well as pollinators.
While selecting plants, don’t just look at flowers.
Collectively, the varying textures can be used to compliment and accentuate the surroundings.
Be careful not to block shorter plants with taller plants or hide groundcovers with larger, overhanging plants.
Consider Plant Types
Many border gardens aredesigned with both perennial and annual plants.
However, note that there are pros and cons for each of these plant types.
However, annuals allow for a new set of plants, new colors, and more variety.
Perennials also offer less design flexibility and usually cost more on the front end.
On the other hand, perennial plants provide habitat throughout the year, provide excellent structure in the garden.
Keep in mind that border gardens are more than just a place filled with plants.
They set a mood and compliment their surroundings.
Well-designed border gardens provide valuable habitat and enrich your landscape year-round.
), you’re free to go as wide as 6-8 feet.
For most regions, you might’t go wrong with spring planting.
Including groundcovers in your border will also help reduce weeds.
