Pictures of famous masters are highly valued, but completeness to any canvas is given by its frame. The overall impression of the work of art depends on how the frame matches the picture. Border flowers create a kind of frame, bordering flower beds, paths, beds in gardens with a geometric layout. However, in natural-style gardens, curbs are not used at all. Bricks, tapes or fences can be used as fencing. It’s a matter of taste. But using fresh flowers where appropriate is always impressive.
Many of the principles for creating borders came from the famous English gardener and landscape designer Gertrude Jekyll. Her own garden at Munstead Wood impressed with her artful flower gardens. Until now, her work is considered an example of skill and impeccable artistic taste.
Gertrude Jekyll believed that contrast was necessary to enhance harmony, but the use of neutral colors, which is considered white or silver, is also acceptable.
In order for a floral border to be functional and attractive, it is necessary to follow some rules when creating it:
- Borders with their own color scheme should contrast with the flower garden, which they are framing.
- When using curb low-growing perennial flowers, remember that they will grow both upward and in breadth. Give them a little more space.
- The presence of gaps in the edging always looks untidy, so it is better to place plants of the same type in two rows.
- There are classic parameters of curbs: width – no more than 50cm, and height – up to 40cm. But the floral frame doesn’t have to be low. It all depends on the place of its application. However, ornamental shrubs and even such annuals as kochia lend themselves well to cutting and look very attractive.
- It is important that the frame does not fall apart into different sides, has a well-groomed and neat look. To do this, choose compact plants that grow slowly.
- The decorativeness of plants cannot depend on weather conditions. Both in the rain and in the scorching sun, the flowers should look good. Therefore, for the curbs, the most unpretentious plants are chosen, which are distinguished by their endurance even in conditions of limited space for growth.
Based on all of the above, it becomes clear that the choice of plants for planting in curbs is the key to creating a quality curb.
Fencing flowers are always dangerously close to feet and lawn mowers, so the rapid regeneration of plants is another principle by which they should be selected.
Annual plants have a short but vibrant life. In early spring, their seeds are sown in order to obtain seedlings. In the summer they turn into blooming bouquets, and in the fall they wither. Every year, the edging of the border flowers of annuals will have to be renewed. But this drawback is the only one, and it is completely redeemed by the advantages of an annual flower border.
Such plants, even bought already in the form of seedlings, are inexpensive, and they bloom very beautifully. Even in the very fact of their annual renewal, there is a positive: you can create new wonderful combinations of plants. Below is a short list of the best varieties.
Marigold… Among the many varieties of these plants, preference should be given to undersized border flowers. Marigolds bloom from June until the coldest days. There are varieties of marigolds with double and simple flowers. Slight shading does not interfere with their growth and flowering. Marigold seedlings are planted in mid-May.
Marigolds never look too simple: the plants are diverse, attractive and do not bore: there are both simple and terry varieties
Nasturtium. This plant loves warmth and light. Prematurely planted nasturtiums may freeze. Nasturtium cannot be transplanted, so it must be grown in peat pots. If the plant has little light, it may stop blooming and growing. Moderately fertile and moist soil is ideal for nasturtium.
Nasturtiums will decorate the site both as curbs with 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 low-growing plant. Verbena seeds in April can already be planted in the ground if they are covered with a film on top. This drought-tolerant and light-loving plant does not tolerate excessive watering.
With marigolds and marigolds, verbena can be in union, and for rudebec and gelenium they create a sharp contrast
Ageratum… Among annuals, flowers with such an amazing blue color are very rare. In order for the seedlings of this plant to be healthy, it must be planted closer to the end of March or early April. Ageratum blooms in June, and only fades by September.
It is important not to plant the plant in the shade and not over-fertilize the soil, otherwise there will not be sufficient flowering, the overgrown ageratum can be cut
Iberis… In March-April, the seeds of this plant can be sown in the ground. Only they need to be placed immediately at some distance from each other, because when transplanting, the plant often suffers. Learn more about planting and grooming.
Iberis is usually planted in the curbs together with tall annual flowers: it creates a wonderful snow-white background that makes the garden elegant
Lobelia… This plant loves the sun. Its pink or blue flowers bloom in June and bloom profusely until frost. The seedlings of these plants should be placed under glass.
Take a look at these flowers and think if you would like this amazing royal blue to be present in your garden.
Cineraria… Undemanding and unpretentious cineraria look gorgeous, but are very sensitive to waterlogging. In the shade, the wonderful silvery shade of the plant can turn into an ash gray. The plant propagates by seeds.
This magnificent plant is mute like corals and, like corals at the bottom of the sea, has a strong alluring power.
Alissum… Alyssum sown in early spring directly into the ground under a film will bloom 1,5 months after germination. Loves cool weather, exudes a delicate aroma that attracts butterflies and bees.
The delicate aroma of this plant is able to lure bees and butterflies to it, and the fragile insecurity of flowers attracts the attention of people
There is simply not enough space to present the many annuals that are perfect for borders.
Plants are called curb perennial flowers that allow their upper herbaceous part to die with the onset of cold weather, while their rhizomes simply fall asleep for the time being. In spring, it is time to awaken and new shoots grow from the roots so that flowering does not stop for many years.
Schnitt-onion… Otherwise, this plant is called speed. It 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.
Sunshine, lime-rich soils and moderate watering are the main priorities of this plant, chives can be used for food
Arabis… This melliferous plant can produce flowers in white, pink, red, purple or pink. It all depends on its grade. 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. Gravilat seeds planted in the soil can hatch by autumn, but usually mass germination occurs only next spring. Gravilat is also valued as a medicinal plant, but it is also beautiful just as a border flower. Gravilat forms rosettes for the new year of flowering right under the cover of snow.
Gravilat is also appreciated as a medicinal plant, but it is also beautiful and simply as a border flower, it forms rosettes for the new year of flowering right under the cover of snow
Sedum… These light-loving plants can only tolerate minor shade. Bright and juicy stonecrops in the shade become completely different from themselves. They are even capable of losing their shape. But the sun can give this plant a real tan or a special blush. However, stonecrop, for example, cannot stand the direct sun and puts up with the shade. Stonecrops can grow in one place for about five years.
Zhivuchka… This variety of evergreen curb stunted perennial flowers covers the ground with a solid carpet. Differs in endurance and unpretentiousness. The leaves of the tenacious are dark green and even purple. Shade may vary depending on weather conditions and time of year.
The tenacious bloom with blue flowers at the same time as iris and Japanese spirea, this plant is often used not only for borders, but also for rocky hills
Feverfew… This plant is notable for its numerous flowers that are very similar to chamomile. It is better to propagate feverfew by seeds. They are sown in a greenhouse in March.
The plant must undergo pickering, and in June the seedlings are already planted in open ground. The golden color of the leaves of pyrethrum will persist only if the plantings are placed on the sunny side
If anyone thought that this list represented at least a third of all the plants that are used for borders, he was mistaken. Curb plants are remarkable precisely because their list is inexhaustible. They can be used to create amazing tapes, as Gertrude Jekyll once did, forming the play of colors and the play of shades under the influence of impressionist artists.
