Borders on a roll

[Cornishcrops]

Has anyone bought these? Are they good quality? I have a large garden and have put in some new flowerbeds. As a novice, I am thinking these would be a good starting point.

No I have not bought them. But think they would look better painted.

What would look better painted?

Border on a roll is a plant delivery company that set out the design on a roll labelled with the corresponding plant letter. You plant each plant in the designated space and you are meant to have a well designed border. There are a choice of border designs and types and everything is delivered to your door.

I haven't, but a relative of mine has, and last time I saw it (pre-Covid) the border was coming along really nicely; its well co-ordinated, all the plants all look healthy and none have died! Definitely worth investigating as a novice I reckon!

Not ordered but been seriously toying with doing so as they look amazing and I have trouble planning my garden and visualising where things should go. Following with interest

Depending on your style but can I recommend this book? www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1910258636/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_TWTQK6WXBMXYQXS579W9?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

I used it to start my planting plan and they give you instructions, different planting plans and how many you'll need. It's brilliant for when you're starting from scratch and have no idea what to do, what will work, and also it's meant to be nature friendly and low maintenance.

My borders had some annuals added in for heights but here's a pic. This is yr1. They'll get better as the perennials establish and I'm still going to grow the Ammi because it's amazing!!

July border

@GuyFawkesDay
Your garden is beautiful! I may have to buy that book. My absolute favourites are delphiniums and lupins - so would go with the colour scheme

That space was a muddy empty nothing this time last year. It's a great time to buy perennials cheap from the garden centres or order small plants from places online. That book helped me work out the grasses I wanted that are the backdrop for the other things. It's great because it demystified the gardening which scared me a bit!!

Your flower borders are beautiful. Thank you for the recommendation.

That's amazing GuyFawkes. Beautiful borders.

I'm a total clueless beginner who would love a garden like that. I've ordered the book and will give it a go. Thanks so much.

I have seen "borders on a roll" planted up and yes they look great.

I am going to get some. I will wait until around March time though.

Guy Fawkes your garden looks incredible. Does that book talk about plants for different soil types? Our soil is very alkaline (chalky) so I think that limits our plant choices...

Tbh @EveHen the poorer the soil the better for some plants. Rick soul males them grow too fast and they go floppy.

Achillea, perovskia grasses etc and lots of other v trendy perennials thrive on poor soil.

I have the opposite issue and am on HEAVY clay. I've dug in so much organic matter and clay breaker. It's a nightmare.

Chalk and sun = happy plants as long as you pick them right. Yes the book give some advice. Much of the perennial/prairie style planting species thrive on rubbish soil so if you like that style then it'll grow brilliantly for you.

Who is rick soul? Rich soil 😂😂😂🙈

@GuyFawkesDay thanks for that suggestion - I have ordered that book. Our soil is dismal and heavy clay so I’m ever so hopeful!

@GuyFawkesDay another checking in to say thank you for the book recommendation which I'm using to plan our new borders. I'm a complete novice so really like the simplicity of her ideas and the effects (your borders look wonderful). A couple of questions: did you follow one of her planting plans and what is the lime green headed plant in the bottom right in your first photo please?

Progressing slowly with the book plan.

I finally selected my plants, kind of keeping to her guidance but I do find it hard to visulaise all the plants together and so I may have chosen a few more than recommended and I might have mixed my colurs up a bit. I have ordered a bunch of perennial seeds to raise so I have plants to plant out later in spring.

In the book she buys plants from garden centers, but as the timing is pretty good and my busget is limited, I've decided to grow a whole lot of plants from seeds. If I have any extra I will give them away, donate to school fair (optimistic) or sell in car boot sale if we can ever have those again.

I'm waiting on my seed delivery (delayed due to covid but have planted up all the random old seeds I have here on the weekend in case they want to sprout) and I'm ready to go as soon as my more planned seeds arrive. Some are annuals like sunflowers but I am OK with that.

I've covered up the grass where I will be creating my borders with cardboard (sourced from my cardboard storage facility aka the garage) and will add some soil/compost/mulch etc on top closer to planting time.

Feeling excited and hopeful.

I’ve been looking at these on the wickes website but I have a 7/8 meter length bed to fill and it’s about £400! I’m nervous to buy in case it’s wrong or poor plant quality.

Maybe have a look at the Beth Chatto collections. Made use if one as the backbone planting in a raised bed border about 5 years ago. Not cheap but lovely plants and an interesting selection whiçh seem to be still growing well. Am revamping my present home and plan another similar border when the builders finish.

@GuyFawkesDay your borders look fab. We have just had a new patio laid and some sleeper planters built. I love the purple and would love something similar (perhaps on a much smaller scale) as I love purple flowers and also want some year greenery. What are your borders like in winter and throughout the year? That looks fab. Photo attached was thinking about maybe borders/flowers on a roll but your photos have inspired me to maybe give it a go.

@GuyFawkesDay what are your borders like in winter please? Absolutely love the colours, plant selections and the grasses. But our border is a raised bed and mich narrower than yours so would like something similar on a smaller narrower scale which has some colour or greenery year round.