911±¬ÁÏ

James Lawrence, 911±¬ÁÏ Principal Horticultural Advisor, has designed this simple, attractive, and most importantly, sustainable border design for you to try at home with plants that are easy to grow, widely available and look good together.

This planting design provides a range of plants that, once established, will provide a variety of interest throughout the year.

James Lawrence

Leaf adaptations allow plants to withstand heat and drought well, the hairy foliage of the Verbena and the Salvia help to reduce water loss from the foliage.

The Gypsophila forms ground cover, which suppresses weed growth and helps to cover the soil. Keeping ground covered reduces soil erosion and the loss of water from the soil surface by evaporation.

Using an organic mulch , preferably homemade compost , while the plants establish can help to provide the same benefits.

Several of these plants will also attract vital pollinators to your garden, helping to improve biodiversity

The variety of living organisms (plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms) in a particular environment. Boosting the biodiversity of your garden has many benefits, including supporting wildlife, improving soil health and reducing the likelihood of pest and disease problems. .

1 – Acer palmatum ‘K²¹³Ù²õ³Ü°ù²¹â€™ is a deciduous

Deciduous refers to plants (mainly trees and shrubs) that lose their leaves seasonally, usually during autumn. This is a natural process triggered by the season's shorter days and lower temperatures and allows plants to conserve energy during the winter months. shrub with yellow-green leaves that are margined with pink in spring, becoming green in summer and turning bright orange in autumn.

2 – Sambucus racemosa ‘Sutherland Gold’ is a deciduous shrub with very finely dissected yellow-green leaves. Small, conical heads of creamy white flowers in spring are occasionally followed by glossy red berries in summer.

3 – Sambucus nigra f. porphyrophylla ‘E±¹²¹â€™ is a deciduous shrub with very deeply dissected purple-black foliage. Flat heads of tiny, dusky pink flowers are borne in summer, followed by purple-black berries.

4 – Acer palmatum ‘Crimson Queen’ is a deciduous shrub with arching branches of dark red-purple, deeply divided leaves that turn red and orange in autumn.

5 – Verbena bonariensis is a herbaceous perennial

Perennials are plants that live for multiple years. They come in all shapes and sizes and fill our gardens with colourful flowers and ornamental foliage. Many are hardy and can survive outdoors all year round, while less hardy types need protection over winter. The term herbaceous perennial is used to describe long-lived plants without a permanent woody structure (they die back to ground level each autumn), distinguishing them from trees, shrubs and sub-shrubs. producing tall, sturdy stems topped with branched clusters of small, bright purple flowers from summer to autumn.

6 – Salvia ‘Blue Spire’ is a deciduous sub-shrub with white stems bearing deeply divided, aromatic greyish leaves. Large plumes of small violet-blue flowers open in late summer and autumn.

7 – Gypsophila ‘R´Ç²õ±ð²Ô²õ³¦³ó±ô±ð¾±±ð°ù’ is a semi-evergreen perennial with narrow, grey-green leaves. Slender stems bear large, open sprays of pale pink or white double flowers

A type of flower that has extra petals, often having a fuller appearance. Plants with double flowers are often considered more ornamental and showy than those with single flowers, though they are generally not as good for wildlife, having little or no pollen. Some plants naturally produce double flowers, while others may be bred for this trait. Examples of plants with double flowers include roses, sunflowers, dahlias, and zinnias. in summer.

By choosing plants with themed flowers and foliage you can create a planting scheme that creates a specific feel; in this case of lightness and airiness.

By using plants that are also suited to the planting situation, the plants tend to be stronger and more naturally resistant to pests and disease. Once established, this will reduce the need for extra inputs that less well-adapted plants would need, such as excessive water and fertiliser.

By choosing strong-growing plants, mostly with an AGM (Award of Garden Merit), it is possible, even within a limited palette, to keep your border looking attractive all year round. The plants in this design flower at different times of the year and attract a variety of pollinators.

AGM plants tend to be more naturally resistant to pests and disease and, once the plants are established, this will reduce the need for extra inputs that weaker-growing plants would need, such as excessive water and fertiliser.

A simple planting plan helps to create depth, interest and good coverage in a border.

Using the ethos of ‘right plant, right place’ to create a sustainable planting combination is great for the environment. It helps avoid waste and the use of products and practices needed to try and help ailing plants, such as the application of fertiliser. It also creates robust, long-lived planting that benefits soil health and garden biodiversity

The variety of living organisms (plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms) in a particular environment. Boosting the biodiversity of your garden has many benefits, including supporting wildlife, improving soil health and reducing the likelihood of pest and disease problems. . For more information about sustainable gardening, please see the 911±¬ÁÏ Sustainability Strategy .