16 gardening border ideas for your outdoor space

Find some inspiration for your garden borders to keep your space blooming year round.

borders for gardening

by Lorna White |
Updated on

Choosing the right plants for your borders can really transform the look and feel of your garden. Whether you have a rather small plot or a big garden space, there are plenty of gardening border ideas to suit every green space.

Even in the cold depths of winter, there are ways to keep your garden borders looking healthy and vibrant, and with a little bit of TLC and the right gardening tools, your garden borders can thrive all year-round.

To give you some inspiration, we've rounded up some gardening border ideas to suit all kinds of gardens.

1) Plan your garden space on paper

garden plans

You don't want to be spending all your time in the garden, planting and pruning only to realise that your plans won't work. Spend some time with a pencil and paper, sketching your ideas and plans and really considering the best thing to do with your space.

You can also take this time to consider what patterns you might go for. Will you also be having a theme? Where is the sun hitting on your garden? Will this impact what plants you place where?

2) Use flowers that smell amazing

smelling-plants

There's really nothing better than getting a whif of your favourite plants as you stroll through the garden, and it really adds another dimension to the space. We love the strong scents of lavender, jasmine and roses for this, and they're guaranteed to excite the senses.

3) Go for low maintenanceplants

low-maintenance-plants

Depending on how much time you like to dedicate to your garden, you might want to avoid plants that typically require a lot of maintenance. For example, although rose bushes look and smell amazing, they can take a lot of time to maintain, so instead you may want to opt for colourful perennials or shrubs.

4) Keep your garden borders simple

Refrain from choosing every plant you like the look of, and try and make sure there is some cohesion between everything you plant, otherwise your borders may begin to look a little chaotic. This is why it's often a good idea to make a plan of the theme, patterns and colours you're going for before heading to the garden centre.

5) Add some colour to your garden borders

colourful plants

Although you might have made a plan to stick to certain shades and a theme, a little pop of colour here and there can really help create diversity and add dimension to the space, so don't be afraid of adding some really bright plants here and there. Just be sure you don't overdo it - a bright plant every six metres or so should do the trick.

6) Add large plants to your garden borders

If you've got the space, don't be afraid to add some larger plants into your borders as you really have the space to do something impressive. Alternatively, if you do have a smaller garden, you may want to consider giving up some of your lawn space to accommodate for bigger borders.

7) Layer your borders with plants

garden layering

You don't want a totally flat border. Layering will help your borders look impressive and are pretty easy to plant. Start at the back with the taller plants (trees, bamboo, tall shrubs), next go for mid-sized perennials before planting the smaller shrubs and ankle height plants at the front.

8) Consider the autumn and winter seasons

autumn plants

Cold weather doesn't mean lack of colour. There are plenty of colourful plants which will thrive in winterand brighten up those dreary days. Think bright berries and orange and fiery leaves.

9) Bulbs work brilliantly in garden borders

planting-bulbs

Not only are bulbs low maintenance, they're brilliant for lining paths and they'll continue to flower year after year. Of course, we love sunny yellow daffodils for the spring, but we also love tulips too! Bulbs are also brilliant for smaller garden spaces where you might not have so much room.

10) Height is important in your borders

tall-sunflower

Don't be afraid to go tall. Things like tall sunflowers, or taller trees can look at home in garden borders, and they can also help with layering too.

11) Add some shrubs to your garden borders

garden with shrubs

Shrubs are an essential for any garden border, and they also add year-round greenery. As a guide, it's recommended to aim for 40 per cent shrub in your borders, which may seem a lot, but with plenty of flowering plants around them, they'll look brilliant. Aim for plenty of evergreen shrubs and be mindful of how tall and wide they tend to grow - you don't want to end up with a monster on your hands!

12) Use some tropical plants in your borders

palmtrees

Not only does a palm tree add some much needed height to your borders, they also look fabulously tropical and can transport you to sunnier climes in an instant. It might not be traditional, but it certainly adds something a little different.

13) Add some trees to your garden borders

trees

Trees are great for placing at the back of borders to cover up unsightly walls or fences. They're also great for year-round colour and can really help bring the space to life.

14) Keep your garden borders neat with lawn edging

boardering

If you're going for a more formal look in your garden, then adding a form of divide between the border and lawn can help lift the space and make it look a lot neater. Not only this, it also has a practical use too, as a border will help protect your border plants from the mower when cutting the lawn. Depending on what kind of brick, pebble or stone you use, it can be a really good way of bringing together the style of your home, into your garden too.

15) What is your soil like?

soil

Some gardens aren't always blessed with the best soil for growing. If this is you, it's essential you consider your soil type before choosing your plants as some won't thrive in every type of soil.

16) Make sure your garden borders have a nice backdrop

clematis

If your garden is surrounded by an unsightly wall or fence, then you'll want to add something a little easier on the eye to cover this up. Training climbers such as clematis are a great idea (as long as the area gets sun) as they come in all sorts of colours.

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