Plants For Your New Border

So you have chosen the location for your new border, analysed the soil and micro-climate, decided upon shape and style and prepared the area. Now the exciting part begins - choosing the plants!

At this stage it is tempting to grab the plant catalogue and pick out all your favourite plants, plus some of the new varieties with enticing photos and descriptions. However, such an approach is likely to end in disappointment, with plants failing to thrive and the border having a limited season of interest.

If you want a border where the plants grow well and provide interest throughout the year then you will need to do a little planning. Start by thinking about the backbone of your border - the trees and shrubs. These give the border its substance and shape. Evergreen shrubs are important because they define the border in the winter months - I like to aim for a ratio of 3 evergreens to every 1 deciduous shrub.

Of course the shrubs should be chosen to suit your location - on my sandy soil I opt for evergreen shrubs such as Escallonia, Ceanothus (Californian lilac), Choisya (Mexican Orange Blossom), Prunus lusitanica (Portuguese laurel), the larger Hebes, Photinia 'Red Robin', Rhododendrons, plus some deciduous varieties such as Fuchsia magellenica (hardy fuchsia), Philadelphus coronarius (mock orange), Buddleia (butterfly bush), Cornus (dogwood), Hamamelis (witch hazel), Spirea and shrub roses. Although not shrubs in the botanical sense, some of the larger ornamental grasses, such as Miscanthus, can perform a similar function in the border, as can the evergreen perennial Phormium (New Zealand Flax).

Then you can think about your medium-sized plants which will fill out and put flesh on the borders 'skeleton'. This plants will consist of smaller shrubs and grasses, and ground-covering perennials. For example, in my garden, this role is filled by plants such as Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald 'n' Gold', small Hebes and Cistus, Santolina (cotton lavender), Lavendula (lavender), Salvia officinalis (sage), Alchemilla mollis (lady's mantle), Acanthus (bear's breeches), Heuchera, Pulmonaria (lungwort) and ground-cover roses.

Then last of all you can make a list of the other perennials, annuals and bulbs you wish to use, still making sure that they suit your soil and climate.

Within these categories, look for plants that combine several attributes, such as attractive foliage, flowers and seedheads, fragrance, autumn colour, coloured bark or berries. Then think about the seasons of interest of these plants - have you got a good mix of spring, early summer and late summer flowers, or do they all flower at the same time? Have you included some varieties with autumn colour or attractive berries? What about winter interest - have you got winter flowers, coloured stems or coloured evergreen foliage?

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