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need help with a border

7 years ago

We have almost completed our landscaping project but I have a ground level

border that I was originally going to fill with plants. However, the ground is too hard and it will be difficult to grow anything in it so we are looking to make a feature of it using water and maybe some boards or stones etc. the grass around it hasn't been shaped yet. Any ideas?

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Jane Harries Garden Designs

7 years ago

A raised bed will give you lots of soil for planting in, and also can be integrated with a water feature as you have a height from which the water can drop, perhaps down into a pool. So a two-level water feature with a spout - could be modern in style or traditional lion's head depending on your taste/house etc, with some plants on a shelf in the water and/or some in the raised bed next to it, some climbers to cover the fence.

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Comments (14)

Lexi Parkin
7 years ago
Congrats on finishing your landscaping project! Did you want to include water in your feature?

Here are a few ideas if you did:

Grand Rapids Exterior · More Info

scupper fountain wall · More Info

Contemporary Landscape · More Info

Or if you didn't:

Landscape - Port Melbourne · More Info

A Japanese Garden · More Info

Landscape - Port Melbourne · More Info

Good luck with the rest of your garden!
Kevin Jovinsie
7 years ago
The results of my design sketches. hopefully useful, thank you.
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Firstly Thanks everyone for your comments Progress report. I have some things that could be used (after seeing the price of plants I thought at least I should try) ...they just don't go together?? I have a large 1m sq lavender in the bottom corner that I rescued before we dug the garden up. (not shown on pic and wasn't sure if its staying although its stunning in flower but doesn't have to stay) At the allotment I already have a lavender hedges that's have been growing for a couple of years round beds that could be moved? Hosta's love them I have 2 huge ones in pots at the minute but thought they hated the sun? I also have 2 bushy short bamboos and 4 big tall bamboos all in matching very plain, bronze colour, square fibreglass pots (4 big, 2 smaller) that are at the front of the house that could go round the back just not sure what plants would compliment them. Don't want to end up with something that resembles a meditation garden or panda rescue centre. Painting the fence is a great idea a new one would be even better when funds allow Worried about boxes a little as my pruning seems to get a little wild and I fear I would be left with off shaped balls but ordered my giant alliums already as I can either use them, grow in pots or brighten up the allotment beds Called at the garden centre on the way from work (quick rush round as it was closing) and saw Erica arborea 'Albert's Gold' lime green tall heather plant that had a really nice colour?
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Climbers would be an excellent idea as they tend not to grow outwards as much as shrubs. Lovely scented climbers are Honeysuckle, Star Jasmine (evergreen), Climbing Roses and Clematis. I don’t think there is much room for underplanting, so I would stick with small perennials such as hardy Geraniums, Aubretia, Erigeron and Alchemilla mollis. Box is quite formal and will need regular trimming. Unfortunately they are also prone to Box blight which has affected some areas in the UK but not others - worth a google! You could also place something of interest at the end such as a statue/piece of art or a water feature.
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Hi Keswing. Looks good. Ok, so did a very rough plan with your image but obviously better if you can lay things out with the pots before planting to see if you think they look right. Do check on the label or online for its eventual height and spread. Managed to fit most things in but with the cannas I thought you could leave in pots and just place the pot in the border. They can quite be tender to frost so keeping them in pots will enable you to move and tend to them more easily. Most Mahonias are called Oregon grape, it’s just the common name and like I said they can be big or small, more info here : https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/popular/mahonia If you wanted something tall for privacy have look at one of the x-media varieties, ‘X- media, Winter sun’ would be my choice. I inherited one in my own garden and it‘s adored by the birds although a little prickly (see pic.) I‘ve never bought plants online as I just tend to look at plants in the garden centre then wonder where I can put them 😂. I’m sure most reputable growers will ensure their plants are transported well tho. Anyway here’s the rough plan (hope it makes sense) and my mahonia.
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I assume that area gets a lot of sun? I can suggest plants but I have no idea if they are bunny food or not I’m afraid. Can I ask why eucalyptus? They are very large trees that will swamp the area. Good evergreen shrubs are Viburnum tinus (white flowers in spring), Ceanothus (blue flowers in late spring, Star Jasmine (fragrant flowers in summer, will need something to climb up), Photinia (Red-green leaves and cream flowers in spring), Choysia ternata Sundance (yellow leaves and white flowers now) and Cistus (pink or white flowers now). Hebes are evergreen too and small shrubs for the front of the border with purple or white flowers. Deciduous shrubs that love sunshine are Hibiscus (large pink or mauve flowers in summer), Viburnum opulus (white flowers in spring), lavender, Cotinus (purple leaves) Sambucus (Elderflower purple leaves and white flowers) and Shrub Roses. Smaller flowers for the front of the border are hardy Geraniums (loads of colours), Campanula (blue or white flowers) and Erigeron (pink flowers), but there are loads. i hope I haven't listed too many! Here’s a few pictures from my garden. HARDY GERANIUM COTINUS AT THE BACK AND CISTUS AT THE FRONT CHOISYA TERNATA SUNDANCE SAMBUCUS
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Mary Mary
7 years ago
Hi can you not dig it out and refill with topsoil and compost would be a shame not to have plants we are in the exact same process as you, have added a before and current pic
Janet Bunyan
Original Author
7 years ago
thanks. Yes we are hoping to have some plants with a water feature. It really is shallow so we will probably go for some small plants that don't need much room for root growth.
Ludo Gallagher
7 years ago
How about a rockery with integrated water feature. You can get some alpine plants, moss, ferns, succulents. All do well with little or poor soil.
karencarter44
7 years ago
Its a nice fence so I would go for a "beach pebble" base with tall metal containers planted with bamboo. A tall s/s water feature could then be slotted in the row.
PRO
Pat Oliver Interior Design
7 years ago
You could build raised beds in a large curve that repeats the curve of your fence but runs across 3 panels. Incorporate a tall waterfall feature in the centre and wall climbing plants like clematis, jasmine and roses for colour through most of the year.

If you like a more modern approach and have the climate for it, use bamboo and banana plants with a waterfall and pool feature.
Janet Bunyan thanked Pat Oliver Interior Design
PRO
Peter Reader Landscapes
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I would completely concur with the plan to build a raised bed. You can use railway sleepers which are cheap and easy to construct into a bed. If you buy topsoil in bulk (which you will need to do) then it is much cheaper than you might expect compared with potting compost from a garden centre. Make sure you add in a good organic supplement too - something like spent mushroom compost or well rotted horse manure. I would definitely also dig out a depth of the poor soil that you have by the fence at the moment - the greater the depth of soil the better and most medium size shrubs will be happy in 450mm of good soil. Just make sure it does not dry out, especially when the plants are establishing in their first year or two.

What you plant is entirely up to your taste and desires, but I would personally be cautious of bamboo. Even the clump forming varieties are generally pretty agressive and spread with strong roots that will take over a raised bed. I would suggest going for a mixture of evergreen shrubs to give you a base structure even in the winter and supplement with some perennials that will give colour and change through the summer. Climbers on the fence will help soften it too - Evergreen Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminiodes) is a great plant giving nice shiny leaves all year with heavily scented little star flowers in mid-summer.
Janet Bunyan thanked Peter Reader Landscapes
Simon Betty
7 years ago
Second picture from Lexi! WOW!!
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Jane Harries Garden Designs
7 years ago
Hi - you might want to put that it doesn't dry out not that it does! I agree re the bamboo and the planting - great ideas.
Janet Bunyan thanked Jane Harries Garden Designs
designdreams89
7 years ago
Penelope McCormick - Design and Dreams

To follow with your desires:- it would be lovely to add a curve in the lawn to allow for a large spherical polished stainless steel water feature - I recommend a curved line of charcoal bricks/pavers - (easy edge for mowing - keeps pebbles in) adds another colour interest and compliments the fence curve. Large pebbles at the base of the Sphere and curve then spanish white pebbles, then smaller beach pebbles.. On the back fence I suggest a gate mirror or two behind the water feature this will carry your eye through and create an interesting feature. There is more you could add in the way of pots and plants if you wish to know more.
Janet Bunyan thanked designdreams89
PRO
Peter Reader Landscapes
7 years ago
Hi Jane (Harries Garden Design). Well spotted - indeed - meant to say 'make sure it does not dry out'. I have edited it now so it reads correctly. Thanks.
caas
7 years ago
A large 'rock' water feature set on a mixture of slate and pebbles ,leave enough room to walk around the 'rock'. Lights could be added to illuminate the feature at night. (a couple of smaller 'rocks' could be added for more impact) safer for children than a pool .

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