The paintings of famous masters are highly valued, but the completeness of any canvas gives it a frame. The overall impression of a work of art depends on how the frame matches the picture. Border flowers create a kind of frame that borders flower beds, paths, beds in geometric gardens. However, in natural style gardens borders are not used at all. As a fence, bricks, ribbons or fences can be used. It's a matter of taste. But the use of fresh flowers, where appropriate, is always impressive.
Rules for creating flower borders
Many principles for creating borders appeared thanks to the famous English gardener and landscape designer Gertrude Jekyll. Her own garden in Manstead Wood impressed with skillful flower beds. Until now, her work is considered a model of craftsmanship and impeccable artistic taste.
Gertrude Jekyll believed that contrast is necessary to enhance harmony, but the use of a neutral color, which is considered white or silver, is also acceptable
In order for the flower border to be functional and attractive, it is necessary to observe some rules when creating it:
- Borders in their own color scheme should contrast with the flower garden, the frame of which they are.
- Using border undersized perennial flowers, remember that they will certainly grow both up and in breadth. Allow them a little more space.
- The presence of gaps in the edging always looks untidy, so it is better to place the plants of the same type in two rows.
- There are classic parameters for borders: width - no more than 50cm, and height - up to 40cm. But the flower frame does not have to be low. It all depends on the place of its application. However, ornamental shrubs and even such one-year-olds as kohiya lend themselves perfectly to a haircut and look very attractive.
- It is important that the frame does not fall apart, has a well-groomed and neat appearance. To do this, choose compact plants that grow slowly.
- Decorative plants can not depend on weather conditions. In rain and in the scorching sun, the flowers should look good. Therefore, for the borders, the most unpretentious plants are selected, which are distinguished by endurance even in a limited place for growth.
Based on the foregoing, it becomes clear that the choice of plants for planting in borders is a key point in creating a high-quality border.
Flowers for fences are always dangerously close to legs and lawn mowers, so fast plant regeneration is another principle by which they should be selected
Annual plants as part of a floral border
Annual plants live a short but vibrant life. In early spring, their seeds are sown in order to get seedlings. In the summer they turn into blooming bouquets, and in the fall they fade. Every year, the border of annual flowers will have to be renewed. But this drawback is the only one, and it is completely redeemed by the advantages of a border made of annual flowers.
Such plants, even bought already in the form of seedlings, are inexpensive, and they bloom very beautifully. Even the very fact of their annual renewal hides a positive: you can create new beautiful combinations of plants. Below we give you a small list of the best varieties.
Marigold. Among the many varieties of these plants, preference should be given to low-growing border flowers. Marigolds bloom from June to the coldest. There are varieties of marigolds with terry and simple flowers. A slight shade does not interfere with their growth and flowering. Marigold seedlings are planted in mid-May.
Marigolds never look too simple: plants are diverse, attractive and not boring: there are both simple and terry varieties
Nasturtium. This plant loves warmth and light. Planted ahead of schedule nasturtiums may freeze. Nasturtium does not tolerate transplantations, so it needs to be grown in peat pots. If the plant has little light, it can stop blooming and growing. Moderately fertile and moist soil is ideal for nasturtium.
Nasturtiums will decorate the site both in curb color, and in hanging baskets, and even just in decorative pots placed along the path
Verbena. It is important not to make a mistake and choose a stunted plant. Verbena seeds in April can already be planted in the ground, if covered with a film on top. This drought-resistant and photophilous plant does not tolerate excessive watering.
Verbena can be in union with marigolds and marigolds, and for the rudebeck and gelenium they create a sharp contrast
Ageratum. Among annuals, flowers with such an amazingly blue color are a rarity. To seedlings of this plant was healthy, you need to plant it closer to the end of March or early April. Ageratum blooms in June, and only blooms by September.
It is important not to plant the plant in the shade and not to fertilize the soil, otherwise there will not be enough flowering, the overgrown ageratum can be cut
Iberis. In March-April, the seeds of this plant can be sown in the ground. Only they must be placed immediately at a certain distance from each other, because when transplanting the plant often suffers. Read more about planting and care.
As a rule, Iberis planted in curbs along with tall annual flowers: it creates a wonderful snow-white background, which makes the garden elegant
Lobelia. This plant loves the sun. Its pink or blue flowers bloom in June, and abundant flowering continues until frost. Seedlings of these plants should be placed under glass.
Look at these flowers and think about whether you would like this amazing royal blue color to be present on your garden plot.
Cineraria. Undemanding and unpretentious cineraria look chic, but very sensitive to waterlogging of the soil. In the shade, the wonderful silvery shade of the plant can turn into ash gray. The plant propagates by seeds.
This magnificent plant mutes like corals and, like corals at the bottom of the sea, has a strong attractive power
Alissum. The alissum sown directly in the soil under the film in early spring will bloom 1.5 months after emergence. He likes cool weather, exudes a delicate aroma that attracts butterflies and bees.
The delicate aroma of this plant is able to attract bees and butterflies to it, and the fragile insecurity of flowers attracts people's attention.
There is simply not enough space to imagine the many annuals that are perfect for borders.
Perennials - a worthy setting for any flowerbed
Perennial perennial flowers are called plants that allow their upper grassy part to die with the onset of cold weather, while their rhizomes simply fall asleep for the time being. In the spring, the time comes for awakening and new shoots grow from the roots so that the flowering does not stop for many years.
Chives. Otherwise, this plant is called speed. This is a bulbous plant that multiplies very quickly. You can plant only one onion in the spring, and by the fall a valuable bunch of onions will grow from it.
The sun, lime-rich soil and moderate watering - these are the main priorities of this plant, chives can be used as food
Arabis. This honey plant can produce flowers of white, pink, red, purple or pink. It all depends on its variety. Small flowers can even be double.
Collected in a brush, arabis flowers appear in April and remain in excellent condition for up to 8 weeks, arabis can grow significantly
Avens. The plant reproduces well both by seeds and vegetatively. Large flowers are rich in nectar, very decorative and attractive. Gravilate seeds planted in the soil can hatch already in the fall, but usually mass germination occurs only in the following spring. Gravilate is also valued as a medicinal plant, but it is beautiful and just as a border flower. Gravilate forms rosettes for the new year of flowering right under the cover of snow.
Gravilate is also valued as a medicinal plant, but it is beautiful and just as a border flower, it forms rosettes for the new flowering year right under the cover of snow
Stonecrop. These photophilous plants can only tolerate minor shading. Bright and juicy stonecrops in the shade become completely unlike themselves. They are even able to lose shape. But the sun is able to give this plant a real tan or a special glow. However, an erosive stonecrop, for example, cannot stand the direct sun and puts up with shade. Stonecrops can grow in one place for about five years.
Tenacious. This variety of evergreen border undersized flowers of perennials is covered with a continuous carpet. Differs in endurance and unpretentiousness. Tender leaves are dark green and even purple. Hue may vary depending on weather conditions and time of year.
A tenacious blue flower blooms simultaneously with iris and Japanese spirea, this plant is often used not only for borders, but also for stony hills.
Feverfew. This plant is notable for its numerous flowers, which are very similar to daisies. It is better to propagate feverfew by seeds. They are sown in a greenhouse in March.
The plant is necessarily pickered, and in June seedlings are already planted in open ground. Golden color of feverfew leaves will remain only in the conditions of planting on the sunny side
If someone thought that this list at least a third presented all the plants that are used for borders, he was mistaken. Border plants are remarkable precisely because their list is inexhaustible. Amazing ribbons can be created from them, as Gertrude Jekyll once did, forming overflows of color and the play of shades under the influence of impressionist artists.
