Low maintenance border - spotted as I drove past.

22 comments

Driving through one of the villages yesterday, I spotted this low maintenance border, on the edge of a driveway.
Loved the simple, but attractive planting of phormiums, ornamental grasses and the like. Quite effective – gave me a few ideas for next year…

30 Nov, 2021
7 likes

Comments

Steragram

It takes all sorts...

30 Nov, 2021

Hywel

Sorry if I'm disagreeing with you Kate but it looks a bit bare and uninteresting to me ... we all have different tastes though and I can accept that :)

30 Nov, 2021

Rose1949

I like the way they have done it Kate, but I am with Hywel on this! It needs more colour! Maybe they will add that next year!

1 Dec, 2021

Anget

I have gardened on a slope before and they are a constant pain to plant and especially to keep weed-free. They can take hours of work if you use perennials, so I can see why the owners have chosen to terrace with minimal, unrampant planting. It looks very tidy and the plants will fill out a bit more once they are settled. Better that than a tangled mess.

1 Dec, 2021

Feverfew

I too am uncertain about this planting. It might look better when it has filled out, but I think Phormiums are rather ugly prickly plants & seem to grow rather big. I agree with Meadowland that it needs more variety of leaf shape & a few Hebes would give some colour from time to time. Thank you for showing this to us though, it makes for an interesting discussion.

1 Dec, 2021

Drc726

I like the structure of this, quite striking and like all newly planted areas it does seem bare but that will not last long.

1 Dec, 2021

Wildrose

Someone across the road from us has gone for a similar look except he is not a slope. I am not sure about the look to be honest. It is an easy way to keep it tidy but that is about it. It lacks warmth.

1 Dec, 2021

Kate123

Thanks for everyone’s feedback…I think they have gone for an easy, minimal effect. Leave it to itself sort of thing.
I do like it, it’s on buff gravel.
What I like is - the evergreen effect, plus they will grow out eventually. If I WAS doing it, I’d have lots of colourful plants in between these ones.
I’d have acers, ferns, perennial flowering shrubs and the sorts. I’d hate it to be jam packed though, as Ange said, better than a tangled mess.
Thankfully, we all love different things! I’m pleased I got everyone chatting about it!

1 Dec, 2021

Steragram

Tangled and mess aren't always the same thing though. To be truthful I don't like it at all. It looks to me like one of those South coast gardens that are trying to look tropical.

1 Dec, 2021

Bathgate

Reminds me of China's rice terraces. I do like the tiered effect & hardscape. Gardening on a slope can't be fun. Looks like somebody tried to make the best of it. Let's call it a work in progress.

2 Dec, 2021

Kate123

Sue, I do understand your thoughts.
I was taking a few ideas from it - but I would add lots of pretty plants and colours to this.
I like portions but they are too big for my little garden. I like cordylines as I've a few. Plus I like grasses in amongst evergreens for texture.

3 Dec, 2021

Kate123

Yes Paul, I think they probably like tidiness and maybe aren't gardeners. Hey ho...I'll revisit in the future to see how it looks...

3 Dec, 2021

Kate123

Sorry I meant to say phormiums 🙄
You are right, Klahanie. Lots of different opinions.
Which is always good 😊

3 Dec, 2021

Steragram

I didn't mean to sound rude - sorry, I can be a bit forthright at times - must be the Yorkshire heritage. An interesting idea that perhaps they aren't gardeners- if you pass there regularly it will be interesting to see what happens. I hope the gravel doesn't wash off down the slope. It is at least impeccably tidy, which is more than you could say for my
poor neglected plot this year.l

3 Dec, 2021

Kate123

You weren’t rude, Sue. It’s good we are all different people who like different things..it’d be very boring if we were all the same!

17 Dec, 2021

Kate123

Paul, it is quite a coastal, low maintenance theme. You’re right..very Norfolk coast like!

17 Dec, 2021

Steragram

Thanks Kate!

17 Dec, 2021

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