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Long, thin dark border to design.

elderberryelderberry Posts: 118
in Garden design
I have a series of raised beds in my garden, in the sun, which means I'm left with a long  (15m?) corridor (3m wide) of grass next to a boring north-facing hedge. If I put in a properly deep ornamental bed, it'd eat away too much space for my liking, but it's hard to think what might work there in a very narrow space. I could use climbers, but I'm worried I'd just lose them all every time I prune the hedge. Any suggestions?
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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Hi @elderberry. If you leave a gap [narrow-ish path] in front of the hedge for access/maintenance etc, you can certainly have a narrow border.
    I have a raised, narrow bed along my back fence. It's largely evergreen, as i see it from the kitchen, so it's cheery during the winter. It has spring bulbs too.

    I'll see if I can find a pic. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    This is from 3 years ago. I've since raised the lower section by another 'tier'
    It's only about 15 inches in depth [front to back] and the bit at the far right [just out of the pic] which is a slightly higher bed,  has an Osmanthus burkwoodii

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,543
    Just a thought.
    Do you need a border in front of it,could the hedge itself be a feature?
    It would make it easier to maintain the hedge if there is nothing in front of it.
    Not having seen your hedge so just an idea really.
    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
  • elderberryelderberry Posts: 118
    madpenguin said:
    Just a thought.
    Do you need a border in front of it,could the hedge itself be a feature?
    It would make it easier to maintain the hedge if there is nothing in front of it.
    Not having seen your hedge so just an idea really.

    It's a shared hedge between me and my neighbour, but I have allowed some parts to grow out, and have carved them into shapes, so that is a possibility madpenguin.
  • elderberryelderberry Posts: 118
    Fairygirl said:
    This is from 3 years ago. I've since raised the lower section by another 'tier'
    It's only about 15 inches in depth [front to back] and the bit at the far right [just out of the pic] which is a slightly higher bed,  has an Osmanthus burkwoodii
    That's certainly a very pretty border in a narrow space, well done! I think the ivy works well on the wall as a backdrop. My hedge is on a different scale though, it's probably 2.5M high. Raised bed borders are a very interesting idea.

  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    I think I agree with @madpenguin If you would like another bed could it go somewhere else?
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    How about two or three long rectangular troughs stood in front of the hedge with interesting plants in them. You could try roses, or small flowering shrubs perhaps. this would avoid the problem of the existing hedge roots sucking all the moisture and nutrients from a flower border.   
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Bear in mind that you can easily plant free standing shrubs and all sorts of grasses etc, to get height and interest .
    I was simply using my bed to show that you don't need a huge, deep border in order to have something to look at. A fairly high, yet shallow [ in depth] raised bed containing taller perennials and grasses would screen the hedge quite well. 
    You could also have a raised bed with trellis at the back,  and have climbers. Plenty to choose from, as long as you pick according to the medium in the raised bed.

    My fence, behind that bed, is a bit over 6 feet, but it's largely irrelevant. The trick is to have enough interest in your bed so that the hedge is less imposing  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • elderberryelderberry Posts: 118
    Lizzie27 said:
    How about two or three long rectangular troughs stood in front of the hedge with interesting plants in them. You could try roses, or small flowering shrubs perhaps. this would avoid the problem of the existing hedge roots sucking all the moisture and nutrients from a flower border.   

    I like this idea, thanks Lizzie. Now to try to find something that fits the bill.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I hope you don't mean those little troughs a few feet long, that you buy in garden centres?
    You need something sizeable, or it won't look right at all.
    It'll look like an afterthought, and will just emphasise the hedge rather than deflecting from it  :/
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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