Beds are often narrow and elongated, offering different design options than wider flower beds. They also often decorate a fence, a house wall or another boundary. You can find beautiful ideas on how to plant your borders below.
What is the best way to plant borders?
When planting borders, you should first measure the length, width and sunlight, delimit the borders and select plants that suit the site conditions. Combine different heights, such as tall perennials, flowering perennials and low carpet plants. Add variety with decorative elements or rock garden elements.
Planning the border planting
Before you go to the garden store to get plants for your borders, you should take the time to plan the border planting. Proceed as follows:
- Measure the length and width of your borders and record the dimensions.
- Observe the course of the sun and note how much sun the recesses get and whether there are parts that receive less sunlight.
- Then sketch out your discounts on a piece of paper.
- Think about how you want to delimit your discounts and mark the width of the delimitation. (The options can be found in the next point.)
- Then you can think about which plants you want to use. Plants of different heights are usually used: taller perennials or trees in the back, flowering perennials in the middle and small flowers or carpet plants at the edge. For narrower discounts, one or more rows can be omitted. Pay attention to the site conditions!
- Now consider whether you want to use decorative elements such as figures made of clay, metal, decorative plant pots, planted wagon wheels, water elements, etc.
- Finally, the soil of the border can be covered with mulch, pebbles or similar to retain moisture in the soil and inhibit weed growth.
Define the discounts
One of the most important design elements that you should consider before planting the border is the demarcation. Borders often line paths, driveways or streets and should be clearly demarcated from them. This not only leaves a visual impression, but also ensures that the plants do not spread beyond the edge. Most often, natural stones or bricks or paving stones are used for the demarcation. But elements made of wood are also possible.
The most beautiful design ideas
As I said, borders are often designed with woody plants in combination with perennials and cushion plants. Here are three alternative ideas:
The Rock Garden
Rock gardens are easy to maintain and create. Larger ornamental grasses and perhaps a few trees that require little water are often planted for rock garden borders. Here you will find an extensive selection of plants for your rock garden. In between, spread a few nice, large field stones or metal figures and finally spread a layer of pebbles so that the border shines completely white. If you want to put a little more work into it, you can create a watercourse or install a small pond.
The spilled carpet of flowers
Do you have a few old clay jugs or planters on hand? Half-bury this so that it looks like half a jug is lying on the border and plant a flowering ground cover from the opening, which becomes wider the further it gets from the container.
climbing plants
Is your discount on a house wall? Then equip them with trellises and plant climbing plants! Choose hardy plants such as Virginia creeper, clematis, wisteria or honeysuckle.
