The ultimate guide to a beautiful border garden

Many gardens face the same problem: they consist of tiles and a few standard plants like hydrangeas and lavender. But what if you want to transform your garden into a place where you can spend hours relaxing? A well-placed border can completely change the atmosphere, and the best part is that it makes the garden look much more inviting. But how do you create a border that truly works? In this blog, we’ll walk you through different styles for a border garden that will give your garden that extra touch.

4x Moodboards for borders – Choose the style that suits you

1. Luxury and exclusive border

A luxury border feels rich and full, featuring a mix of various plants, textures, and colors. Layered planting creates a vibrant composition that always looks well-maintained. Unlike a sleek, modern border, a luxury border is lush and atmospheric.

Heuchera 'Paris' - Geranium 'ROZANNE' - Echinacea purpurea - Varen div. soorten - Calamagrostis x Actutifolia 'Karl Foerster' - Persicaria amplexicaulis - Hydrangea paniculata - Caryopteris 'Blue Mist Shrub' - Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost'

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2. Mediterranean border

A Mediterranean border has a vibrant, sun-drenched appearance. It’s all about creating a light, airy atmosphere with fragrant flowers, aromatic herbs, and tropical plants. Gray-leaved plants are often chosen, and incorporating different flower colors works well here. For example, purple with orange and pink.

Yucca rostrata - Perovskia 'Blue Spire' - Hemerocallis 'Norton Orange' - Origanum vulgare - Olijfboom - Pinus Mugo - Stipa tenuissima 'Pony tails' - Lavendel - Stachys byzantina

3. Japanese border

A Japanese border focuses on simplicity and tranquility, without unnecessary elements. The design radiates balance and serenity, with a natural look. The planting is subtle, with a few flowering plants here and there. Most of the color comes from blooming trees and shrubs.

Hibiscus - Helleborus 'Pink Frost' - Fargesia - Azalea japonica - Acer palmatum - Carex Morrowii  - Miscanthus 'Red Chief' - Hakonechloa macra - Imperata cylindrica 'Red Baron'

4. Modern border

A modern border features clean lines and a clear structure, often with symmetry or straight lines. Sharp corners and defined transitions play a major role in the design. The colors of the plants are typically limited to one or two shades for a calm, stylish look. Multi-stemmed trees make a great addition to the border garden.

Allium Purple Sensation - Carex paniculata - Echinacea purpurea 'Alba' - Osmanthus burkwoodii - Meerstammige steeneik - Liriope muscari - Pennisetum alopecuorides 'Hameln' - Verbena bonariensis - Hosta 'Devon Green'

Common border mistakes

1. Placing plants too close together, resulting in a cluttered border where the plants don’t have space to grow.
2. Only planting summer bloomers, leaving the border bare in the fall and winter. 
3. Neglecting leaf textures, which are just as important as flowers.

Tips for the border garden: How to make your border truly interesting!

A border garden is so much more than just a few plants. You might look at a border and think, "Wow!" Curious about how to make your border irresistible? Keep reading and discover the secrets to a border that really works.

Contrast is key to an attractive border. For example, if you choose just one type of plant with a uniform bloom shape, like only plume-like flowers of the same height and color, the border can quickly feel cluttered and disorganized. (and, frankly, boring!) It’s important to play with different contrasts. We recommend incorporating at least one and no more than two of the contrasts below to create a balanced and surprising effect in your border garden.

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Contrasts that take your border to the next level

1. Spire-shaped blooms – Umbrella-shaped blooms
   By combining flowers with vertical spire-shaped blooms with those that bloom horizontally (umbrellas), you create a playful and attractive variation in form.
2. Contrast in color – Color wheel
   Using colors that are opposite each other on Itten's color wheel, such as purple and yellow, makes your border stand out. This creates a vibrant contrast and makes your garden visually engaging.
3. Ball-shaped – Plume-shaped
   By combining ball-shaped flowers or ball-pruned shrubs with plume-shaped specimens, you add variety in both form and texture. This makes the border less monotonous and adds dynamism.
4. Leaf texture – Small leaves with large leaves
   Variation in leaf texture makes all the difference. The contrast between small and large leaves adds extra layers, giving the border more depth.
5. Contrast in height
   Ensure variation in the heights of your plants. For example, place taller plants in the background and shorter ones in the foreground to create a sense of depth and layering.

A border garden that works: Custom planting plan

A border garden requires attention to details like soil, blooming time, and playing with contrasts. If you’re not very experienced, start small with 3 to 5 different plant species. Want to go bigger? A planting plan is the ideal solution to find the right balance. We’re happy to help transform your border garden into a vibrant space that thrives year-round. Schedule an appointment for personalized advice today!

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