Beginner Gardening: Basic Question about Borders, 1 by Diana_K

Diana_K wrote:
Straight line vs angles vs curves:
If the house and garden is formal, then straight lines and geometrical angles and symmetrical curves are the way to go.

You do not have to use all evergreen plants in the border. Better if you don't, in fact. Good to mix in some deciduous shrubs or trees for fall color, and some dormant bulbs so they show up for a while, then die back to give something else room.
Even a tree or shrub with no leaves acts like a screen, though not as effective as one that is densely leafed.

If the border is (like yours sounds) between 'tame' (your garden) and 'wild' (the woods beyond) I would use a mix of species. Not JUST one...one...one... but a small grouping of perhaps 3 of something a bit larger, then an area with perhaps 5-7 mid sized shrubs, and a band of something lower, perhaps more colorful at the base, sort of tying it all together. Then repeat some mid sized shrubs (perhaps a different species, color, texture) and another tree or small clump of trees, then more shrubs, and continue a band of color in front. The band of color can be mixed, or larger blocks of one thing, interwoven with a larger or smaller block of something else.

In other words, combine concepts: Mixed species, but several of each so it is unified.
Here is a really simplified concept. If this represented perhaps 1/3 of the distance, I might mirror image that to fill another 1/3, then repeat several of the same species in a somewhat different layout.


This message was edited Aug 24, 2015 4:59 PM