Creating a Full and Colourful Narrow Garden Border
Garden designer Paul Morrow and his gardener Mart Veerhus share their expertise on how to make a narrow garden border look full and colourful, despite its limited space.
A narrow garden border can be a beautiful and vibrant addition to any garden, even with limited space. According to garden designer Paul Morrow, the key to creating a stunning narrow border is to plant it slightly differently from a large border.
These borders around the terrace of Paul's home, Shalford House, are just 60cm/2ft deep, widening to 80cm/2ft 7". They are a glorious cottage garden display of colour, texture, and romantic planting, spilling out over the path and buzzing with pollinators.
## Planting Strategy for a Small Border
Paul and Mart Veerhus, his gardener, have developed a unique planting strategy for their narrow borders. They use a 50/50 ratio of permanent plants and annuals, which is different from the traditional 65-70% permanent planting and 35-40% annuals used in larger borders.
In the narrow borders, perennials are planted further apart, with gaps of 3ft-4ft left between them to allow space for the annuals. This strategy allows for a more dynamic and changing display throughout the seasons.
## Watering and Irrigation
Watering is crucial for a small border, and Paul has installed two lines of drip irrigation, 8" apart, to ensure efficient water use. The irrigation system is set to drip at around 3am, minimizing evaporation and waste.
If drip irrigation is not available, a narrow border can be watered comfortably with a watering can. It's essential to soak the soil thoroughly when watering, rather than spraying water over the plants.
## Adding Height and Texture
Mart Veerhus emphasizes the importance of adding height to a narrow border. Tall, airy plants create a significant impact and balance the proportions without taking up much ground space. This adds visual interest and creates a sense of depth in the border.
Self-seeders are also allowed to contribute to the effect, and seedlings that appear as the borders are being tidied are generally left where they have chosen to grow.
## Colour Palette and Repetition
Paul recommends choosing around three or four main colours for a border, as colour is very personal. He combines silver foliage with pale blue and pale pink, adding some white. Restricting each area to a particular palette helps give the planting coherence.
Repetition can make planting feel coherent, but Paul deliberately avoids rigid patterns. He thinks about how plants might appear if they were growing naturally, rather than planting in conventional groups.
## Grasses and Evergreens
Grasses and evergreens are used sparingly in the narrow border, but they play an essential role in adding texture and interest. A grass called Pennisetum 'Fairy Tales' is repeated a couple of times to add to the soft, airy quality.
The overall effect is almost like embroidery, a mixture of individual plants woven together in a natural-looking way. There is only one evergreen element - clipped Portuguese laurel balls - which are set at intervals to add depth and structure to the border.
By following these expert tips and strategies, you can create a stunning and colourful narrow garden border that adds beauty and vibrancy to your outdoor space.
| Planting Strategy | Traditional | Narrow Border | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Permanent plants | 65-70% | 50% | | Annuals | 35-40% | 50% | | Perennials spacing | 30-40% apart | 3ft-4ft apart |
