Guest Author - Hellie T.

Before you start to create a border or overhaul an existing one it is important to think about what you are going to do and plan. You can create your own style by noting down:

1. Very important – how much time do you have to take care of a border? Are you going to go for high or low maintenance or somewhere in between?
   
   
2. Do you know what types of plants grow well in your neighbourhood? This is a good excuse to visit other people’s gardens and glean information
   
   
3. Do you know what your soil type is and whether it is good or bad?
   
   
4. Do you have any walls, fences or trellis on which you can grow climbing plants as a backdrop to your border?
   
   
5. What structures are there in your garden that you need/want to keep? Such as paths, trees, much-loved shrubs etc.
   
   
6. What shape do you want your border/s to be -straight, curved etc.?
   
   
7. Think about the situation of your border, will you see it from the house?
   Try and visualise how you expect it to be – do you want it to have a cottagey feel ?
   Will it be tidy or will the plants be allowed to sprawl? (think about sort of person are you - if you are neat and tidy then sprawling plants will always have a detrimental effect on you!)
   
   
8. Do you want the whole border to be filled with scent or dots here and there?
   
   
9. Which time of the year do you want your border to be at its very best? For instance usually English borders are absolutely wonderful in June and July but it is possible to extend the flowering seasons either side of those months so they are just plain lovely!
   
   
10. Which colours do you prefer?
    This is where you can put in all your favourite colours to give your border that personal touch.
    
    If you jot down answers to these questions you will have the foundation on which to build a glorious border.
    
    Enjoy your garden.