Some pictures of back and front of two of my main borders.
Mid/Late Spring Summer
The long border - Mid/late spring Early Summer around late June Mid to late Summer
This is a new bed planted November 2021 it were mostly grass before . Early Spring very bare . Late Spring Mid Summer Late Summer going into Autumn
Not everything works out first time, herbaceous borders always are a work in progress much like every garden they just more tinkering here and there. I Like to use dahlias and Tender Salvias to fill in gaps where early plants have finished. And dark foliage always seem to me improve the plants around it , it shows them off more with the contrast.
My current border (this was it’s first year so some improvements to make) it’s approx 2.5m deep by 5m wide
My old border had a mix or herbaceous perennials and some shrubs to provide more structure and winter interest, this was 8m on the long edge, 4m across the front going to a point at the back, a triangle garden!
And the border in the back garden of my old house, was only about 1m deep 2m wide
I think you can have a nice herbaceous perennial border that’s narrower, but I think rather than having front, mid, back layers of planting just go for the front and mid and use the plants with more ‘see through’ flowers/plants that have low foliage but tall flowers for your height.
Wow what a lovely showcase of beautiful plants. Great to see Thankyou.
As much as I love grasses I prefer to see them in a mixed border rather than on their own. All of my back garden has a skeletal shape during the winter months. There is no one area that looks flat. I have used grasses, evergreens and deciduous shrubs throughout. It is a bonus to have that extra season, especially when summer months can be disappointing due to drought.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
@GardenerSuze that’s a thing I did well at the old house but not so much here, although leaving the plants as is over winter does provide some interest, especially the hydrangea and verbena, but I cleared it too early this year. When I do the front garden I’m going back to what I did previously and incorporating some shrubs for winter interest!!
@zugenie Many years ago I did an Autumn tidy in a border next to the house. I remember looking out on a big muddy patch all winter. I had recently read Val Bourne The Winter Garden and had one of those moments when everything fell into place. I basically started again with the whole back garden working my way around and looking at all the borders for a rhythm of shapes. I think this is something you can do on a big scale or even in a small garden it is about placing evergreens/ grasses such as Calamagrostis which can cope with winter weather and deciduous shrubs with good winter shape. Yes you will have gaps, early bulbs are good but there is also space for all the lovely plants you want to enjoy the rest of the year. The seasons are changing so may be August will become more of a down time for dry gardens. Great to expand into the winter, especially when the garden is viewed through a pane of glass.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Some pictures of back and front of two of my main borders.
Mid/Late Spring Summer
The long border - Mid/late spring Early Summer around late June Mid to late Summer
This is a new bed planted November 2021 it were mostly grass before . Early Spring very bare . Late Spring Mid Summer Late Summer going into Autumn
Not everything works out first time, herbaceous borders always are a work in progress much like every garden they just more tinkering here and there. I Like to use dahlias and Tender Salvias to fill in gaps where early plants have finished. And dark foliage always seem to me improve the plants around it , it shows them off more with the contrast.
perky, is the yellow in picture 4 a Foxtail Lily?
I keep my dahlias in a separate bed on their own, with Gladiolis.
@fliprollsw it's a ligularia little rocket, they do require moist soil. And possibly shelter from afternoon sun depending where you live. I have another variety przewalskii that droops terribly in a hot summers day
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I've started making a garden at my smaller French house bought 2 years ago. There was only grass.
Mid/Late Spring
Summer
The long border - Mid/late spring
Early Summer around late June
Mid to late Summer
This is a new bed planted November 2021 it were mostly grass before .
Early Spring very bare .
Late Spring
Mid Summer
Late Summer going into Autumn
Not everything works out first time, herbaceous borders always are a work in progress much like every garden they just more tinkering here and there. I Like to use dahlias and Tender Salvias to fill in gaps where early plants have finished. And dark foliage always seem to me improve the plants around it , it shows them off more with the contrast.
Put this on to show how grass look late in the year . They still look decent well into the new year.
If you want to know which plant is what on any of the pictures just ask.
As much as I love grasses I prefer to see them in a mixed border rather than on their own.
All of my back garden has a skeletal shape during the winter months. There is no one area that looks flat. I have used grasses, evergreens and deciduous shrubs throughout.
It is a bonus to have that extra season, especially when summer months can be disappointing due to drought.
I basically started again with the whole back garden working my way around and looking at all the borders for a rhythm of shapes.
I think this is something you can do on a big scale or even in a small garden it is about placing evergreens/ grasses such as Calamagrostis which can cope with winter weather and deciduous shrubs with good winter shape.
Yes you will have gaps, early bulbs are good but there is also space for all the lovely plants you want to enjoy the rest of the year.
The seasons are changing so may be August will become more of a down time for dry gardens. Great to expand into the winter, especially when the garden is viewed through a pane of glass.
I keep my dahlias in a separate bed on their own, with Gladiolis.