A mixed border is composed of plants of varying heights, textures and color. Depending on the size and layout of your garden, you can create a mixed border to suit any architectural style, whether contemporary or traditional.
To start, identify which plants you want to use and sketch a rough design. Consider the eventual size, texture and color of your plants as they look now and how they’ll look when they’re mature. Planting a “mulch” of same height, low-growing plants at the edge of the border will unite the design and also help to suppress weeds.
Plant taller plants in the back of your garden bed and use climbers to soften the edge and offer additional vertical interest. Consider layering with plantings at various heights- low, mid and tall- and mix in colorful foliage textures to break up the formal appearance.
Use the same shape and leaf-texture groupings or complimentary families of plants to add a sense of cohesion to the design.
Choose bulbs that bloom at different times of the year to have interest throughout the seasons, along with annuals and perennials. When planning a mixed-border garden, don’t forget to leave plenty of open space between clothe, allowing air and sunshine to reach all the plants.
As your garden matures, you can modify your design by adding new plants, trimming or pruning existing plants, and adding additional soil if needed.
How do you mix evergreens?
Mixing evergreens into your garden is an effective way to provide year-round color, texture, and structure to your outdoor space. Before you begin, it’s important to take into account the size and growth habits of your evergreens.
For instance, large varieties should be used as anchors, while small to medium-sized evergreens can be used around borders and in beds along with flowering plants.
When it comes to combining evergreens, think about the overall shape of the plants, their growth habits, texture, size, and foliage color. For year-round interest and to add depth, use a variety of plants with different shapes and foliage colors, such as an upright conifer, a few mounding evergreens, groundcovers, or a weeping variety.
You can also layer different evergreens to create height and texture.
In addition, you can introduce evergreen shrubs, trees and groundcovers to your garden for a lush, contemporary look. Some of the most popular cultivated varieties include junipers, boxwoods, yews, arborvitae, hollies, cypress and fir trees.
To enhance your garden surroundings, consider combining evergreens with flowering plants, ornamental grasses, evergreen vines and groundcovers, as well as annuals. This will offer year-round interest, color and texture to your landscape.
What is a mixed border?
A mixed border is a style of flower garden that contains a variety of flowering plants, herbs, and shrubs in different heights, shapes and colors. It can include both annuals and perennials and is a great way to create interest and contrast in your garden.
Many people choose to include trees and shrubs as well to provide a backdrop of height and texture to the border. The variety of plants in a mixed border helps to ensure that there is always something in bloom, providing color over long periods of time.
Creating a mixed border requires a bit of planning to make sure that you consider the various needs of the different types of plants including sun and shade requirements and soil composition. Once you have the design and selection planned, you can have a lot of fun visiting nurseries and picking out plants to bring your garden to life.
What should I plant in front of evergreens?
When deciding on what to plant in front of evergreens, you have a few options. You may choose from perennials, annuals, ornamental grasses, ground covers, and flowering shrubs. Perennial plants can provide a continuous show of color, as many rebloom throughout the season.
Annuals such as marigolds and petunias will provide a burst of color in the summer. Ornamental grasses can give texture and movement to the landscape. Ground covers can be used as a living mulch, adding foliage and keeping weeds at bay.
Finally, flowering shrubs such as lilacs, hydrangeas, and rhododendrons can turn a corner of the landscape into a showstopper. When selecting a plant be sure to choose one that will do well in the growing conditions of the area, such as soil type and sunlight.
Also, be aware of the mature size of the plant to ensure it is suitable for the space.
What flowers go with evergreen?
When it comes to flowers that go well with evergreen, there is a wide range of options to choose from. Plants that feature shades of white, cream, light pink, peach, and lavender look especially beautiful when planted around or near evergreen shrubs and trees.
Flowering shrubs such as Camellia, Loropetalum, Hydrangea, and Azalea also look lovely when placed near evergreens and can add a pop of color to the landscape. Low-growing ground cover plants like English ivy, Dwarf Mondo grass, and Junipers also look great when surrounded by evergreens.
When it comes to annual flowers, Pansies, Petunias, and Violas bring a soft, romantic look to the space and look stunning when surrounded by the more harsh texture of evergreens.
How do you group plants together?
When grouping plants together, it is important to consider the individual needs of each plant. This includes light, water, soil type, and fertilizer requirements. It is also important to consider the compatibility of the plants, such as whether or not they will conflict with each other in regards to space and sun.
Plants can be placed together based on their similar needs and environmental requirements. When planning a garden, it is helpful to group plants with the same light requirements together, and it is better to avoid mixing sun and shade plants together.
In addition, plants that require similar amounts of water can be grouped together to conserve water and make watering easier. Grouping plants with similar soil types also ensures that each plant is getting the correct nutrients.
Lastly, it is important to ensure that grouping plants together is not overcrowding the space and that they are given enough room to spread and breathe. By carefully considering a plant’s individual needs and grouping them together accordingly, a successful garden can be created.
What perennials go well with boxwoods?
Perennials that pair well with boxwoods include low-growing plants with similar growing habits for maintaining a simple and tidy garden aesthetic. Good options include Hosta, Ostrich fern, Lungwort, Oakleaf Hydrangea, Japanese Forest grass, Japanese Painted fern, Gin Seng, Solomon’s Seal, and Lady fern.
Many of these options have attractive variegated or colored foliage that provides an attractive contrast to the evergreen boxwoods. Ornamental grasses help to further soften edges while adding movement and texture to plantings.
Depending on the size of the space, taller perennials such as Sneezeweed, Ozark Coneflower, and Bee Balm should be planted towards the edge or in the center of groupings as long as they will have enough sun.
Further, hues of purple, blue, and white can be very striking when planted amongst boxwoods and other evergreens.
What does border mean in gardening?
In gardening, the term “border” typically refers to an edge or edge line that has been planted to act as a barrier or separation between different areas or parts of a garden. A border can be created with a variety of plants, shrubs, trees, or other materials such as stones, rocks, or wood.
Borders can be used to delineate various parts of a garden, provide visual separation or screening, or add structure to the overall design of the garden. Borders are often used to create a sense of harmony or flow between a garden and its surroundings.
They are also a great way to enhance the visual appeal of your garden, as well as add texture, color, and interest to the design.
How many shrubs are in a border?
The number of shrubs in a border will vary depending on the size of the border, the type of shrub planted, and the desired density and look of the border. A shorter border might have fewer shrubs, while a longer border might have more.
If planting full-size shrubs, you may need approximately three to five plants per linear metre. Smaller shrubs or those planted closer together could require up to 10 shrubs per linear metre. If you are unsure about the ideal number of shrubs for your border, a professional landscaping company can help you determine the exact number you will need.
What shrub makes a good border?
There are a variety of shrubs that can make a good border in a garden. Some of the most popular choices include boxwood, barberry, evergreen holly, azalea, and beautyberry. Boxwood is a classic option for borders as it is low-maintenance and grows very quickly.
It also has a neat, spherical shape that stays consistent in size and shape. Barberry is an evergreen hedge shrub with thorns which makes it a good choice for security or privacy purposes. Evergreen holly is a beautiful shrub that has glossy foliage and red berries, but it requires lots of water and sunlight.
Azalea shrubs feature large, showy blooms in a variety of colors and grow best in full sun and part shade. Lastly, beautyberry is an ornamental shrub prized for its attractive purple berries which provide visual appeal.
It also grows quite tall, making it great for borders in larger gardens.
How wide should a shrub border be?
The width of a shrub border will vary depending on the type and size of shrub being planted, as well as the design purpose and aesthetic desired. For formal gardens, a wider border of approximately 6 feet is recommended in order to properly fit particular designs, such as an island bed surrounded by a path or a symmetrical planting bed.
For informal plantings, a wide border of 3-4 feet is sufficient for most shrubs. If planting multiple lines of evergreen shrubs, be sure to leave space for growth and eventual pruning. Also keep in mind the mature size of the shrub when selecting its planting location.
In order to ensure the plants’ proper health, leaving a minimum of two feet of space between shrubs is recommended. It is also important to consider soil fertility and drainage when determining the ideal width of a shrub border.
If soil is poor, make the border around the shrub wider to ensure enough area is available to spread organic materials. In areas with less moisture, wider spaces between plants will help in evaporation.
When using a shrub border to delineate certain garden spaces, keep in mind that shrub borders can be incorporated into hardscapes, like paths or walls, for added contrast and texture.
What are the characteristics of shrubs?
Shrubs are medium-sized woody plants that typically have multiple stems, while their height and length may vary. They are an essential part of most landscapes, because they provide structure and texture and a variety of shapes and flowers.
The characteristics of shrubs are numerous. Generally, they have small to medium-sized trunks that bear multiple branches, although some may produce one single, large trunk. Shrubs are typically evergreen, but can be deciduous or shrubs that change foliage with the seasons.
Additionally, they range in height from a few inches to fifteen feet or more, as well as having a wide range of leaf types and foliage colors.
Flowers are a major feature of shrubs, and can be small or showy. They can bloom from spring to fall, depending on the type of shrub, and often create attractive scenery in the landscape with the different petal and sepal combinations.
Additionally, some shrubs will produce berries, cedar cones, or other types of fruits or nuts.
Shrubs are ideal for many purposes in the landscape, such as providing a backdrop for flower gardens, creating privacy or screening areas, or adding visual interest and texture in a landscape. They are fairly easy to grow and care for, requiring regular pruning and trimming to maintain their shape and size.
Additionally, some shrubs are drought-tolerant and can be a great addition to any drought-resistant garden.
What can I plant in the middle of a border?
When it comes to what can be planted in the middle of a border, there are many great options that you can choose from. Depending on the overall look that you are going for, you can choose either evergreen shrubs, ornamental grasses, or flowering/non-flowering perennials that will look great when framing the border.
If you are unsure of which plants will work best for your particular garden area, you can always consult a local gardening expert for advice.
Evergreen shrubs are an excellent choice for the center of a border because they stay green year-round, providing the garden with an attractive backdrop all year long. These plants can vary greatly in color, texture, and size, so it is important to do your research before selecting the best option.
Ornamental grasses are another great choice as they can be low-maintenance and are also attractive. Depending on the variety you choose, they can also provide movement and texture to the garden area.
Finally, perennial cultivars can create a stunning display in the center of a border. Whether you choose flowering or non-flowering options, you can select from a variety of colors and textures. If you decide to plant flowering cultivars, you can enjoy watching the garden come alive with vibrant colors each season.
No matter which option you choose, any of the above will add visual appeal to the middle of your border. Be sure to select plants that are suitable to the climate zone where your garden is located and research proper planting and care instructions to ensure your plants’ best chance of success.
How do you fill a garden border cheaply?
Filling a garden border cheaply can be accomplished by using low-cost filler materials such as pine needles, leaves, shredded bark, mulch, gravel, and stones. Pine needles and leaves are both inexpensive and excellent for soil moisture retention, particularly when combined with organic compost.
Shredded bark is an excellent mulch material, as it provides nutrition for plants, helps to retain moisture in the soil, and provides a base layer for other plants or materials. Gravel is also inexpensive and can come in various sizes and colors, allowing you to create interesting pathways.
Stones are another great option, as they can serve as effective design elements in the garden and are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. Additionally, you can upcycle old containers, bottles, cans, or other containers to use for planters.
Reusing and repurposing items to use in your garden can give it a unique, customized look.
What is a good border plant perennial?
A great border plant perennial is Veronica longifolia, also known as ‘Long spike speedwell’. This low-growing plant has clusters of bright blue flowers that bloom in late spring/early summer and will reward you with stunning colour all throughout the summer.
It grows well in both sun and shade and is incredibly drought tolerant once established. It is a very reliable border plant, which will spread out and make a nice ground cover. It is also slug, rabbit and deer resistant.
Other attractive and reliable border plant perennials are Ajuga reptans, Geranium macrorrhizum, Lavandula angustifolia, Perovskia atriplicifolia, Salvia nemorosa, Thymus spp. , and Phlox paniculata.
What is the most low maintenance outdoor plant?
The most low maintenance outdoor plant is likely to depend on your climate, since different plants need different levels of care depending on the environment. However, some popular examples of low maintenance plants for outdoor spaces include succulents, sedums, cacti, lavender, yarrow, Russian sage, and Gerber daisies.
These plants are relatively easy to care for, requiring minimal amount of pruning and minimal amount of water. For areas of full sun, consider tulips, coneflowers, Black Eyed Susans, and yarrow. For shady locations, ferns, hostas, impatiens, and bleeding hearts are ideal choices.
With the right combination of low maintenance plants, your outdoor space can be both beautiful and effortless to maintain.
What is an edging plant?
An edging plant is a type of garden plant that is planted along the perimeter of a garden bed or a walkway. It is usually chosen for its low growth and interesting foliage and flowers. The most popular types of edging plants include boxwood, rosemary, lavender, juniper, and yew.
These plants can create a neat, defined border between flower beds and walkways while also providing a nice visual contrast to the colors of nearby flowers. Edging plants also help to protect gardens from wind, keep weeds from spreading, and preventing soil erosion.
With the right selection of plants, edging can become a vibrant accent to any garden or outdoor space.
