The aim of a border is to display groups of plants that are combined well together either in harmony or by contrasting colour and form. They can also be planned to build up to a peak in one season (usually summer) or have something to offer in each season.

For the majority of people, a typical border is a grouping of herbaceous perennials, shrubs and bulbs together in a long bed with the boundary hedge or fence as a backdrop. There are other variations, such as double borders with a path down the middle or islands beds where the plants are visible on all sides, although these are usually for larger gardens.

Research

Before planting up a border it is worth doing some plant research. Start by thinking about the larger permanent plants such as shrubs:

• Will they get enough sun or shade?
• Will they thrive in the soil?
• How much space will they need in five years time?

You should also try to ensure that there will be interest in all the seasons:

• Spring - flowering shrubs and spring bulbs
• Summer - herbaceous perennials
• Autumn - late-flowering perennials, autumn bulbs, berried shrubs and shrubs with autumn colour
• Winter - evergreens, winter bulbs

Prepare a Plan

Measure up the area of the border and draw a plan on graph paper. Although a rough sketch is fine, you should make sure that it is to scale. Mark in any existing features and where the sunny or shady spots are positioned. You will now have an idea how much space you have for plants.

Choosing the Plants

Start by adding in the shrubs to the plan, taking into account how much they will spread in 5-10 years. Try to include both colourful evergreens and deciduous shrubs with either stunning autumn foliage or eye-catching flowers. In general, shrubs tend to go at the back and in the middle of the border, whilst herbaceous perennials should go in the middle and in front. An exception to this rule is with island beds, where the taller plants are in the middle with lower plants either side of them.

Once you have chosen the shrubs, you can select the perennials. You should aim to include those with interesting foliage, as well as those with attractive flowers. Spring and winter bulbs add out of season interest to a border; they are often placed towards the back or middle of a border so their dying foliage is hidden by emerging perennials.

Clearing the Bed

Make sure that you thoroughly clear any perennial weeds before planting and dig the soil over.

Planting Up

If the plants are hardy, it is often best to plant up the border in autumn. Place the plants in position whilst they are still in their pots, so that you can check their spacings. You will probably plant most shrubs as single specimens but most perennials should be planted in groups of three or more so that they grow together to form a drift or clump. Water plants well before planting, and then start planting up at the back of the border, positioning the large plants first, then working your way to the front.

Maintenance

After planting, level out the ground as much as possible and cover the ground between plants with a 5 cm deep layer of bark chips. Water plants until they are established.

The first spring after planting, sprinkle a general fertiliser on the soil, water in if the weather is dry. If you have any large gaps between shrubs, it is often a good idea to add in some temporary plants such as annuals or bedding plants.