Colour opposites orange and blue really stand out in a border Pink : Pretty pink offers up possibilities in a wide palette of hues, ranging from deep magenta to the palest shades. Start with a clear out of your garden plants. Small shrubs, especially evergreen ones, can be closely planted to form ground cover. Shrubs, especially small ones, are easy to care for and therefore often labour-saving. Not everything planted will grow, so it's worth having something to fill in any gaps. 21 Annual Flowers for Year-Round Color; Decorate Your Mantel Year Round; 18 Favorite Bulb Flowers for Year-Round Color; 13 Flowering Vines for Year-Round Color; How to Use Twinkle Lights in Your Home Decor All... 15 Cold-Hardy Succulents Related: The Best Low-Maintenance Ground Covers for Your Garden. Any gardener seeking great color needs perennial flowers, so let's learn about eight outstanding choices cold-hardy to at least USDA planting zone 5. Their white blooms in middle to late summer are a welcome source of nectar for pollinators. So before cutting down that tree, think about how much easier a shady garden is. In a really favourable climate they will be in bloom almost year round. 2. They offer interest through their form and foliage as well as through their flowers. These hand-blown glass birds offer an attractive way to keep houseplants watered. Ready-made borders We use cookies to provide you with a better service and experience. Available on Nature Hills; $31.95 per plant. USDA zones 4 to 9. Perennial borders: choosing plants. Perennial borders: choosing plants. For instance, placing small, delicate, fern-like foliage next to larger, round-leaved forms create dramatic visual effects in the shade border. So much for the shrub border, having 12 months of colour or all year round interest. For small punctuation marks, say every 30cm-50cm, go for box balls at entrances or spaced along a bed. Related: 10 Foolproof Flowers Anyone Can Grow. Plant borders also complement and soften the edges of hardscape elements like pavers, arbors, garden art, stepping stones, and other outdoor structures. Before beginning your garden, create a year-round garden planner where you can identify the plants that will bloom each season in your garden. Choose from our selection of borders, all planned and prepared for you to simply work into your plots. 4. USDA zones 4 to 8. They are dynamic, adding motion, attracting wildlife like birds and butterflies, and contributing to year-round color or bloom progression along garden paths and around garden beds. The basic idea of planting for all-season interest is to select trees and shrubs so that as soon as one plant is done putting on a show you'll have a different plant picking up the slack and strutting its own stuff. They are dynamic, adding motion, attracting wildlife like birds and butterflies, and contributing to year-round color or bloom progression along garden paths and around garden beds. The choice is yours; our list will help inspire you. Weeds don’t grow so fast. Delicate and diminutive iris reticulata deserve pots to match. It must be suitable for the location and should not have acute pest or disease problems. There’s a huge range in leaf shape and colour. NEW! Take notes with our guide to achieving an year-round colour. Repeat color combinations that you like throughout the shade border. This is a great... 2. Echinaceas, asters, verbena bonariensis and Japanese anemones will start to come through in July and still be going strong until the first frosts. Dwarf daylilies grow only 12 inches tall, while some standard cultivars might reach nearly 4 feet. Designing year-round gardens ensures that your home is surrounded by color and interest through all four seasons. USDA zones 5 to 9. Keep some big pots on standby to fill with plants and put in a prominent position to add colour. Autumn fern gets its name from the copper-colored young fronds as they unfurl and later mature to deep green. USDA zones 5 to 11. Evergreen or deciduous forms with a wide variety of flower colours. Monty Don explains how to plan out your planting to create a successful, well-balanced display. It has been a favorite border plant for generations because of its attractive, deep evergreen foliage and purple muscari-like flower spikes in summer. And because it’s often more reliant on plant shape than colour, a shady border is more likely to look good all year round. This is Pantone's Colour of the Year 2021 We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. Next put in some structure. There’s a huge range in leaf shape and colour. There must be a Rhododendron for every taste. Maximize the last of the sunshine with an outburst of autumn colour. So much for the shrub border, having 12 months of colour or all year round interest. Plants that offer interest across the seasons are invaluable in gardens great and small. Plants that do flower often last longer. Share. USDA zones 4 to 9. Available from Longfield Gardens; $6.90 for 3 bulbs. It's a great way to inject a pop of colour outdoors. Great for jazzing up tired-looked walls. The trick is to plant a range of perennials from early to later flowering that burst in turn, like a well-orchestrated symphony. Cool pinks have a hint of blue; warm a hint of yellow, and pink can be used boldly or subtly. It features favorites such as rhododendron and winter daphne, Joe Pye weed, and iris. Next put in some structure. All appreciate the shade and will add colour to spring and early summer borders. For instance, you may feel late summer into early autumn is most important, because the holidays are over but it's often warm enough to be out in the garden. Spring is an important season because we need something to reassure us that summer is on its way. It creates a particularly artsy effect when setting pavers close together, allowing only small streaks of stone to peek through the green. As a bonus, it also attracts butterflies. We also love that they are waterproof, too. They’ll be better next year. First of all... 1. It’s a pretty border plant for steps and terraces. Buy in bulk to provide a good display. Evergreen shrubs are probably the most important part of your perennial garden plan. From huge flamboyant blooms to delicate scented varieties. From huge flamboyant blooms to delicate scented varieties. Also called wild, elfin, or Breckland thyme, this ornamental herb has light purple flowers that come to life in late spring or early summer. READ MORE: The best outdoor plant pots for your garden or patio area. Ornamental grasses are perfect plants for sunny borders. Box balls, set at regular intervals, may not even be seen in summer when everything else has filled out, but in winter they'll bring order. Facebook; ... Summer Colour. You’ll pick up lots of tips on effective ways to group plants, how to cope with different heights and growth habits, and how to ensure you’ve got the layout right before you actually plant. Use successional planting in a patchwork of colourful hues to create a garden border that will last long after summer has ended. Whether you're a lawn care novice or a master gardener, everyone can use a little help around the yard. As a bonus, their white, blue, or purple flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds in mid-summer of USDA zones 3 to 9. Tulipa Negrita provides some early colour in a herbaceous border. When it comes to planting your herbaceous borders, a bit of planning can make all the difference. Available from Bluestone Perennials; $12.95 per plant. Extending your perennial border's flowering time. From snowdrops in February to crocuses in March, tulips in April and May, and alliums in June, these bulbs are guaranteed to provide a series of flowers – and plenty of colour. You agree that BobVila.com may process your data in the manner described by our Privacy Policy. Available on Amazon; $7.95 for one plant. A great border plant must be of a scale to fit within the overall landscape plan. Made from 100 per cent cotton and printed with a stylish black and white dot pattern, it will give your garden an instant refresh. A vibrant border for year-round interest in a sunny corner. To do this, start by researching which plants put on their best show in your local climate. Made from a durable fabric, this printed garden cushion is perfect for a garden bench or conservatory seating area. A regular pattern of evergreens like box or yew around the garden will hold everything... 3. The key steps are to take control of the garden, put in structure, and then fill it up with flowering plants. Ground cover varieties grow to about 6 inches high, and mounding varieties to about a foot tall. And what of the other aspect of the non-interest of the shrubs which are not in flower. Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox. It … Though bulbs bloom for only one season during the year, they bless our gardens with waves of color, and many propagate quickly for even more delight the following year. Spring colour shop the border. Add a finishing touch to your balcony or patio with this wicker effect large lantern. Flowers appear as spikes above the foliage, and come in rich blues, purples, pinks, and even white. A regular pattern of evergreens like box or yew around the garden will hold everything together. It’s more private. Check out these 20 plants to use as lawn and garden borders. Daylilies will brighten your sunny border with early summer flowers on clump-forming plants. Perennials, shrubs and trees do more than provide color, fragrance, foliage and filler for the garden every year. USDA zones 6 to 9. Many perennials take more than a year to reach their best. All appreciate the shade and will add colour to spring and early summer borders. But many herbaceous perennials won’t look their best the year you plant them. Cottage Garden Scheme. You may decide to ignore a whole season if you're not around or never go outside at that time. With a huge diversity of leaf patterns and sizes from which to choose, you are sure to find a perfect fit for your garden. Then decide which season is important to you and prioritise the planting accordingly. A well planned herbaceous border can provide constant blooms from March to October and beyond. Cinquefoil adds visual interest in the spring and summer and is salt tolerant. The foliage persists well into winter. Colour opposites orange and blue really stand out in a border Pink : Pretty pink offers up possibilities in a wide palette of hues, ranging from deep magenta to the palest shades. Native to the Himalayas, it prefers full or partial sunlight and well-draining soil. Designed to illuminate automatically at dusk, they charge in direct sunlight. In high summer, the garden mainly looks after itself, and for winter, invest in a couple of winter-flowering plants near the front door that you'll see daily. This border has been designed using plants which can cope with chalky soil giving you interest throughout the year. Shrubs form the framework of the garden and if selected carefully, can provide interest throughout the year. Work with your garden's natural layout. Be inspired by the gloriously colourful herbaceous planting executed by garden designer Chris Beardshaw for his Morgan Stanley Healthy Cities show garden (above) for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year, and plant up an herbaceous border or two that will billow … One of the oldest known medicinal herbs, it thrives in cool, dry environments and requires little maintenance. Related: 20 Ways to Garden Without a Backyard. It’s more private. Don’t worry if the plant gets a little trampled; when crushed, the blooms give off a fresh, sweet fragrance that lingers as you pass by. Any gardener seeking great color needs perennial flowers, so let's learn about eight outstanding choices cold-hardy to at least USDA planting zone 5. Iris Reticulata. Facebook; ... Summer Colour. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Why not consider a “living” edge, using plants to define the borders? A planner will not only help you keep track of what you have planted, but it will also allow you to add garden notes or other thoughts as well as pictures. From small shrubs to almost tree-like forms. Ensure all year round interest Use a combination of shrubs, herbaceous plants and bulbs, the “mixed border” approach, to provide all year round interest. The silvery-green foliage releases its intense fragrance whenever you brush against it, and blue or purple flowers color the landscape each spring. 10 Affordable Landscaping Projects You Can DIY in a Day, These 10 Flowering Plants Boast the Biggest Blooms, The Best Low-Maintenance Ground Covers for Your Garden, 20 Plants That Survive With or Without You, Easy Ground Covers: 7 Varieties to Enhance Any Landscape, The Best Soaker Hoses for Your Yard and Garden, The Dos and Don’ts of Mulching the Garden, 10 Rooftop Gardens That Bring Gardening to New Heights, Stay Sharp: 12 Knife Storage Options to Buy or DIY. The sign comes with either a rope or suede hanger. Available on Amazon; $7.95 per plant. Available on Amazon; $28.99 per plant. Available on Amazon; $35.99. House Beautiful participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. This fast-creeping plant provides thick, carpet-like coverage, and it blooms with lavender-colored flowers dotted with bright yellow centers in spring or early summer. Receive free, no-commitment estimate from lawn service professionals near you. Line your sunny garden path or entrance walkway with French, Spanish, English, or hybrid lavender for a real treat. We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. So before cutting down that tree, think about how much easier a shady garden is. Coral bells grow 8 to 12 inches tall and 12 to 14 inches wide. The low-cover, moisture-loving perennial is ideal for lining a pathway or filling in the spaces between pavers. And because it’s often more reliant on plant shape than colour, a shady border is more likely to look good all year round. The choice is yours; our list will help inspire you. Weeds don’t grow so fast. The large pink, blue, purple or white globes of hydrangea flowers show up well in their preferred dappled sunlight garden locations.Use these medium-sized deciduous shrubs to separate garden rooms or corridors with masses of deep green foliage and beautiful blooms. They look best in swathes – just throw them on the ground and plant where they fall. Planting a short ground cover before taller border plants adds to color and interest. Our summer garden parties might be looking very different this year, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy this cheerful candle lantern. Available on Burpee; $11.95 to $13.95 for one plant. The glossy, deep green foliage of Winter Gem boxwood neatly complements a manicured lawn. It thrives in warm, moist conditions, especially when given afternoon shade and not too much rain. They slowly release water into the soil around your plants as needed – as the soil dries out, it releases oxygen back up into the glass bulb which pushes water back into the soil. This is a great time to do this as if things don't look good now, they never will. You’ll have scores of colors and sizes from which to choose. For some summer colour, a border of catmint (Nepeta ‘Dropmore Blue’) is planted, after loosening up the root ball slightly. Transform your seating area with this cosy floor cushion. Place a couple of Christmas box and wintersweet where their flowers can be seen and their scent appreciated. Steamy Jungle. This and other compact boxwoods make a fantastic border plant for formal gardens. Evergreens stay green all year round… even in the bitter cold of winter. The term "bulbs" is also used to describe corms, tubers, and rhizomes, all of which have swollen storage systems. USDA zones 4 to 9. Your choice of garden edging for lawn and garden borders is one detail that can help unify the whole while adding a touch of your personal style. Combinations that you like throughout the shade border pink “ foxtail ” blooms in late summer a... 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