What is a mixborder? How is it different from a regular flower bed? Features of the composition, style, design tips, how to assemble a mixborder from perennials and annuals — we will talk about everything in this article.

All about garden mixborders

What is a mixborder
Compositions
Styles
— English
— Lugovoi
– Rustic
— Lesnoy
— Ogorodny
Tips for creating and designing
Ready schemes
— From coniferous and deciduous shrubs
— With roses
— from perennials
— With peonies
Trends

What is a mixborder

If translated from English literally — this is a mixed border or a mixed border. At first glance, the phrase is incomprehensible. But in fact, it reveals the very essence. This is a special kind of flowers. Usually it is distinguished by an elongated shape, a large area. Its width is usually less than its length. And they place mixborders along fences, fences, walls or garden paths. Or it can be used for zoning the territory. So the word curb is very appropriate.

Why mixed? Because it always consists of several plant species or varieties of the same species. They are planted in tiers or steps: high — medium — low. At the same time, they are selected in such a way that the flower bed blooms from spring to late autumn, continuously.

Here there is a place not only for flowering, but also for green species, as well as herbs and cereals. They play the role of a background, connecting links, make the composition complete and complete. You can organize a flower bed and completely from non-flowering varieties. But, for example, choose plants with different colors and shapes of leaves.

Composition options

The composition and arrangement of plants depends on what place the mixborder will occupy in landscape design, where it is located and from what angles it will be viewed. Here are two main options.

One-sided

This is a composition planted along the fence or wall of the building. It is only visible from one side. In this case, the upper tier, that is, the tallest shrubs, flowers and trees, is planted in the background, along the wall. Then, closer to the center, varieties of medium height. And in the foreground, closer to the viewing point, are undersized, for example, ground cover.

Circular or open

These are compositions placed in open space. They can be viewed from all sides. Therefore, the scheme of planting flowers will be different. In this case, tall plants are placed closer to the center of the flower bed so that they do not block the view. Then, around them, — medium height, and around the edges — undersized.

Mixborder styles

Let’s highlight a few areas.

English or Garden

Differs in elegance, restraint. Here you will see a fairly calm, harmonious combination of colors and shades. And you will not see too bright, flashy contrasts. At the same time, both meadow, wild-growing, and ornamental garden species coexist. Suitable roses, delphinium, veronica, rosemary, daffodils, hydrangeas, peonies, lavender, lilies.

Lugovoi

Already from the name it is clear that such a composition should resemble meadow forbs. It is distinguished by airiness, an abundance of herbs and cereals, diluted with bright spots of wild flowers: cornflowers, bluebells, daisies, lavender, sage, mountaineer and others.. Their location should look as natural as possible, without sharp transitions.

Rustic

Bright colors, familiar, familiar «country» flowers: daisies, mallows, gladioli, sunflowers, dahlias, phloxes, golden balls, lupins, marigolds, fruit bushes — this is what a country-style flower garden looks like. Unlike the previous two types, bright contrasts, variegation, pomp are allowed here. Plants, as a rule, are selected from those characteristic of a particular area.

Forest

In this case, coniferous and deciduous dwarf trees, shrubs, and grasses set the rhythm. It is important here to choose specimens of limited height, no more than 1.5 meters. Otherwise, the flower bed will turn into a real forest. For such landings use thuja, juniper, dwarf pines, barberry, hydrangeas, marigolds, boxwood, spirea and others.

Vegetable or garden

Perhaps the most unusual option is to turn summer cottages into a flower garden, create a decorative garden. Different types of lettuce, beets, onions, parsley, dill, radishes and carrots — even the most common vegetable crops, planted in a certain order, color combination can decorate your site.

Tips for creating and designing

• More space. Such a flower garden needs a lot of space both in length and in width. It is unlikely that it will be possible to harmoniously place several types of plants of different sizes and heights in a small area. In addition, each of the «tenants» needs personal space. When planting, it is important to maintain the distance between flowers.
• When choosing plants for a flower garden-mixborder, one should not forget about compatibility. Varieties and species should be «friends» and get along with each other.
• Choose plants that need approximately the same conditions in terms of light, humidity, and soil composition.
• Don’t forget about color combinations. You can create a monochrome flower garden or use contrasts. In the first case, it is important to combine several shades of the same color so that the flower bed does not look boring. In the second — to harmoniously distribute bright color spots over the entire area.
• It is advisable to draw a sketch in advance. It is not necessary to draw every plant in detail. It is enough to note the color and the approximate area that each of them will occupy. Divide your future flower garden into «compartments».
• It is better to start with the highest, dominant specimens. They will form the «skeleton» of the composition. Then move on to landings of medium height, and in the final — to short ones.
• When filling these «compartments», distribute the perennials evenly.
• Consider flowering periods so that at some point part of the composition does not turn out to be “empty”.
• Use grasses and herbs to fill in the spaces between flowering plants. They will not only fill in the gaps, but also add airiness and lightness.

Ready-made schemes of flower beds

Scheme of a mixborder of coniferous and deciduous shrubs

Such compositions look especially good along fences and fences, if you want to disguise the structure a little. They can be either completely green or interspersed with flowering plants.

For similar flower beds arborvitae, juniper, dwarf pines and spruces, larch, cypress are suitable as a basis. It is better to choose varieties of different heights in order to set the rhythm due to their combination. But still, the height difference should be such that it turns out to create a smooth transition.

From deciduous and flowering you can use barberry, host, spirea, geyhera, hydrangea, roses, mock orange, peonies, heather and others.

Finished mixborder scheme

1. mountain pine
2. thuja
3. tree hydrangea
4. Spruce
5. Juniper horizontal
6. mountain pine

Mixborder with roses

Roses are quite self-sufficient to be planted separately. But they can also become a decoration of a mixed flower garden. More often choose shrub varieties. True, they are quite demanding of their neighbors.

good the company of roses will be geyhera, catnip, sage, juniper, hosta, delphinium, astilbe, gypsophila, lavender, cuff and others.

Ready composition scheme with roses

1. Geranium small stamen
2. Geranium hybrid
3. Zopnik
4. eryngium flat-leaved
5. Alpine small-scale
6. Echinacea purpurea
7. Oregano
8. Miscanthus sinensis
9. meadow sage
10. loosestrife loosestrife
11. Veronicastrum virginiana
12. Lavater
13. Gypsophila paniculata
14. Quaking grass
15. park rose
16. Katran
17. Lofant anise
18. Mallow hybrid
19. Highlander changeable
20. Monarda hybrid
21. Mordovnik ball-headed

Perennial mixborders: photos and diagrams

Plant and forget is a gardener’s dream. Of course, perennials cannot be completely forgotten, they also require care. But in general, they are less capricious and picky, they will please for several years.

You can collect a flower bed entirely from perennials, or you can use them as a basis, updating every year with annual flowers. Blooming perennials include: crocuses, daffodils, tulips, periwinkle, geranium, aquilegia, astilbe, lupine, mallow, primrose, hydrangea, mountaineer, hosta and others.

Finished scheme

1. gray fescue
2. Miscanthus sinensis
3. switchgrass millet
4. foxtail clover
5. Kachim creeping
6. sedum

Mixborder with peonies

Lush, large inflorescences of peonies will decorate any flower garden. And when the flowering period passes, dark green dense bushes will become an excellent backdrop for other flowers.

Good neighbors for peonies will be juniper, geyhera, cuff, primrose, delphinium, foxglove, irises, petunia, astilbe and others..

Finished scheme

1. Hosta hybrid
2. Narcissus
3. Narcissus tubular
4. onion hybrid
5. Onion
6. Dicentra is magnificent
7. Peony evasive
8. Phlox paniculata
9. Gravity hybrid
10. Rosa hybrid

Trends

Mixborders have been around for hundreds of years. It is believed that they appeared in England during the reign of Queen Victoria. But, like any phenomenon, over the years such flower beds have changed.

What is relevant now?

• Natural forms, lack of clear boundaries. The fashion for naturalness, naturalness, also touched flower beds. Now the design is in demand in the style of «as if it were,» reminiscent of natural landscapes.
• Smooth transitions between plants and tiers. The second point comes from the first. This is also the result of the desire for naturalness and naturalness.
• Unsymmetrical spacing between plants. Indeed, symmetry is rarely found in nature. It is rather inherent in man-made gardens and parks.
• Grains and herbs do not lose their relevance. They can be added to any compositions.