Creating a border from scratch can seem daunting, but with a little planning itâs easy to create one that looks great, grows well and suits your needs. Understanding your gardenâs growing conditions is key to this process, as it helps you choose plants that will grow well in the border. This principle of âright plant, right placeâ makes your planting more climate resilient, reduces cost, waste and disappointment, while also benefittingwildlife and reducing the likelihood of plant health problems.
Our handy step-by-step guide below talks you through the practical and aesthetic factors to consider when planning your border.
What youâll need to plan a border:
- A soil
This describes how acid or alkaline soil is, and is expressed as a number between 0 and 14. Soil with a pH of 7 is neutral, an acid soil has a lower value, and an alkaline soil has a higher one. Most plants grow best in soil thatâs within a specific pH range, so itâs useful to know your soilâs pH. Testing kits are easy to use and widely available in garden centres and online.
- Tape measure or other means of measuring your border
- Pencil and paper for taking measurements and drawing a plan
- Gardening magazines, books, catalogues, websites and RHS Find a Plant for ideas on style and plant selection
- An image of the colour wheel
Top Tip
Choosing plants can be overwhelming (the RHS Plant Finder lists 69,000 plants!), so rather than feel restricted by your specific growing conditions, consider them a useful way to filter your choices.
