Shape in a garden

[GOODCAT]

I am a very novice gardener. Our front garden is oblong shaped with a narrow border round the edge of the lawn. It only has three plants in the border at the moment so it is pretty much a blank canvas. I have weeded it all and need to add some plants to the border and improve the lawn which is full of moss.

I keep reading a lot about shape in a garden but I don't really know what this means. Is it just about having lots of different sized plants or is it having lots of different shaped leaves or quite similar ones or something to do with the shape of the garden.

Any explanation or suggestions would be gratefully received.

[UniversalTruth]

I guessing it means the big shapes of things like your lawn. You can't change the boundaries of your garden but you can use tricks like curved borders, sweeping paths, trellises to block the view etc to distract your eye.

[UniversalTruth]

But I agree, it's possibly a term used to keep garden designers in business as it appears too difficult for us mere mortals
*No offence to garden designers, I wish I was one!

[AutoFilled]

I think it’s just about adding interest by not having straight parallel lines everywhere. You see it in a lot of back garden with a narrow strip of bed on 3 sides and a rectangular lawn. For plants you might want to have repeats through out to look coherent. Or you can have all blue purple flowers. It’s not too difficult, just remember you want different things to add interest, but have enough similar things so it looks together.

[GOODCAT]

Thank you