How to Read a Border: What a Garden Tells You About Itself

23 Jun

Sometimes the garden tells you everything you need to know — you just have to look closely.

Before adding a single plant or making any changes, I spend time reading the space: its patterns, gaps, structure, and signals. This is the foundation of every planting consultation I offer — understanding what’s there before deciding what’s missing.

Here’s what I look for:

1. Light and Shade Patterns

How the sun moves through the space during the day can drastically affect plant health and layout. I look at what thrives naturally and what’s clearly struggling.

Tip: Don’t fight the shade — plant into it. Ferns, epimediums and evergreen grasses like Luzula can bring softness and texture to dim spots.

2. Visual Balance

Is the planting top-heavy? Too sparse in places? Do colours or forms clash or feel flat? Many borders suffer from over-planting at one end and emptiness at the other.

Tip: Use repetition and height layering to draw the eye through the space — not just to one point.

3. Plant Health & Suitability

Not every plant in a border belongs there. I assess what's thriving, what’s on the edge, and what’s simply out of place for the soil or light.

Tip: If a plant needs constant rescuing, it might be the wrong fit. Sometimes removal is the most generous act for a border.

My Advice:

A garden consultation isn’t about critiquing — it’s about noticing. My aim is to work with what’s already there and help homeowners make better-informed decisions before investing time or money.