Long, narrow flower beds are among the most difficult areas in the garden to plant - this is especially true if they are located along a house wall, a wall or in front of a hedge. The difficulty lies not only in choosing the right plants, but also in an attractive composition.
How to design a narrow, long flower bed?
A narrow, long flower bed is best designed with 3-5 different, repeating perennials that have different heights and widths. Choose perennials with a long flowering period and evergreen foliage and make sure to add thematic or color accents, for example through flower colors or decorative foliage plants.
The most important design rules for narrow flower beds
Even if the selection is large and therefore difficult: Less is always more with narrow, long flower beds! Therefore, limit yourself to a few species that are allowed to grow tall and wide. Depending on the length of the bed strip, it is optimal to have around three to five different perennials that are different heights and widths and repeat themselves. In very narrow beds, plant the selected species alternately; in wider beds, the taller species are in the background and the lower ones are in the foreground. The bed strip also produces great effects if you limit yourself to one theme. These can be flowering plants in one color that are combined with evergreen or foliage plants. Especially in narrow beds, you should also make sure to choose perennials with a long flowering period and evergreen foliage. Otherwise it may happen that the bed only looks attractive when it is in bloom.
Narrow flower beds on house walls, walls and hedges
Narrow beds are often found in front of house walls, walls, fences, hedges or as a boundary to the left and right of the main path to the front door. Depending on where the bed is located, special requirements arise in terms of location and soil conditions. You should adjust your plant selection accordingly.
Flower bed in front of a house wall
Beds in front of a house wall often offer particularly difficult growing conditions, as the soil here is often very dry, not very deep and calcareous. So you need drought-tolerant plants – even if it is in a shady location. However, these locations are often very protected, so that even cold-sensitive perennials thrive here and can even be overwintered.
Flower bed in front of a wall/fence
Walls and fences, on the other hand, invite you to be planted with climbing and climbing plants. Clematis, roses or hydrangeas fit particularly well here.
Flower bed in front of a hedge
Hedges are also difficult because there is often great competition for the supply of water, nutrients and light. Depending on whether the location is light and dry or dark and moist, you have to make a decision about appropriately insensitive plants. By the way, perennials with light flowers are particularly attractive in front of a dark green hedge.
Tip
Narrow bed strips do not always have to bloom lushly to be attractive. Ornamental foliage plants - for example with colored or variegated foliage - and various herbs also look very attractive.
