Border Edging with Flowers

Shape

• Edging flowers can soften the shape of the garden. The border garden may follow a straight line, but the flowers used as the edging can be planted along graceful, curving lines for visual appeal. Drifts of a single color or variety of flowers can be planted in designs to give the border garden the illusion of shape that the area may not otherwise have. The deeper the curve, the slower the eye will move over the border area.

Blooms

• Most border gardens are planted with perennials, but unfortunately, perennials have short blooming times. Choose edging plants so that their flowers will be in bloom when the background plantings are waiting to bloom or have already faded. Low-growing annuals placed among perennial ground covers are a good option for a border edge that is continuously in bloom. Plant in groupings of approximately seven plants to keep the edging from looking spotty.

Maintenance

• Maintenance of the area the garden borders should be a key factor when planning not only the design of the border garden, but also the edging. Wide gardens will be harder to maintain. Gardens that border homes may need to be planned with access to certain areas.

  Edging flowers for a garden that borders a lawn should be set back far enough so that they don't make lawn mowing tasks harder. The edging flowers don't have to come right to the edge of the lawn to fulfill the purpose of an attractive edging.

Color

• The choice of color for the flowers chosen for edging the border garden will play a big part in the enjoyment of the garden. If the border defines an area that is most used during the evening hours, choose plants with white or light-colored blooms that will stand out against the foliage as dusk falls. During the day, the contrast in the intensity of the colors of the edging flowers will compliment the background.

  Color can also give the illusion of space. Light- and cool-colored blooms will make an area more spacious, while warm colors tend to make the area smaller and cozier.