6/16/04
Don’t
let Borders box you in
By: Donna Couch
When
people think of borders in their flower gardens, many visualize
a narrow expanse of plants, perhaps 4-8 inches in width, along
the edges of their garden. That’s because we tend to be
boxed in by our thoughts, ideas and visions. Borders are often
thought of as a few low growing plants, neutral in colors so
as not to detract from the “main” garden. Let me
encourage you to think outside the box and expand your horizons,
or in this case, your borders, to be much more.
This
week we’ll learn what a border is, and how it can be used
to beautify your garden. Next week, I’ll share some border
tips with you, describing different plant, color, texture and
height combinations. Perhaps in one or more of these, you’ll
find something that fits your taste, style, and of course, the
nature of your garden situation.
First,
you must decide what you want the purpose of your border to be.
Is it a boundary, marking the beginning edges of a walkway, or
is it the spaces surrounding a raised bed in the center of a
lawn? Could it be a showpiece of gardening leading to a pond
or waterfall? Will it be used just to fill space between your
most prized plants, or are you trying to hide some imperfection
such as an electrical junction box? Will it have a wall, fence
or other backdrop, or will you create a backdrop as part of your
border, such as a thick hedge?
Of
course, some of this will depend on where you place the border
or borders, and lighting and soil conditions must be considered
in making those decisions. Areas that receive sun all year can
often allow more design possibilities, as many plants must have
some sunlight to thrive. Consider how the light will hit the
area all year, especially in the winter months when the suns
angle is at its lowest. For instance, ornamental grasses are
more splendid when the sun gives them back lighting; fern varieties
are best in shady, damp areas. And, unless you have the perfect,
fine, crumbly soil you see on the TV gardening shows, you will
need to amend your soil with quantities of organic composting
materials, perhaps some sand and maybe even top soil. If you
aren’t sure about your soil, testing kits are available
at many garden shops and county extension agents. You will also
need to make sure you have adequate watering capabilities for
your chosen plants.
Next
you must decide on the style of your border. Of course, your
area may have a lot to do with that decision, but you can still
put your own sense of style to work as well. These are some ideas:
a southwest or ranch style home would be great with a border
of lavender, rosemary, skullcap and a variety of gregii salvias,
using a gravel base, accenting barrel cacti and yuccas surrounded
by sandstone boulders. A formal garden with hedge borders, manicured
roses, azaleas and gardenias sprinkled with liriope and mondo
grasses would be appropriate at a stately home, with complementary
proportional wings, where a cottage garden with daisies, coneflowers,
delphiniums and goldenrod would look lovely introducing a country
house.
Color
is another important factor in determining your borders, and
there is absolutely no end to the possibilities there. We’ll
talk more about specific color combinations next week, but some
choices would be one-color borders, two-color, pastel borders,
or “hot” colors. You can make all-season borders
or one-season borders. Whichever you choose, you are not locked
in for life.
I
suggest using a variety of plants, with differing heights, textures
and structures. A border made entirely of plants all the same
height, even in different colors, would be very boring. Traditional
borders feature tall plants at the back and shorter plants at
the front. Island beds (stand alone beds scattered throughout
the landscaping) generally show taller plants in the center with
shorter plants radiating toward the outer edges. This allows
you to see all your plants with a sweeping glance, and creates
visual harmony.
The
foliage and bloom structure are also important aspects to consider.
My husband Walter says, “green is green is green”,
but that is not always the case with plants. You can have several
different shades of yellow in a yellow bed or border. Or different
shades of green in your foliage. Also, you might have a plant
with foliage of a silvery shade, or with purple veins running
through it. All these colors are an important part of your garden’s
beauty as in most cases, the foliage long outlasts the bloom.
And
finally, the structure, or lack thereof, can make or break the
beauty of your creation. In most cases, if every plant in your
border is tall and straight, you can lose the dramatic effect
you are looking to achieve. However, don’t put too many
differing shapes in, because the effect will become fussy and
haphazard.
Next
week, we’ll discuss plant types and combinations for your
borders, and outline some ideas for our hot Texas weather. In
the meantime, keep praying for rain! Happy gardening.
