IN BRIEF
What A rural garden where colourful mixed borders curve around a series of lawns, creating a constantly changing and long-lasting show throughout the year.
Where East Sussex.
Soil Heavy clay.
Size One acre; borders total around 600 square metres.
Climate Temperate, with cold (usually wet) winters, and warm and dry summers.
Hardiness zone USDA 9.
A traditional mixed border in its prime is a glorious sight, but the key phrase is ‘in its prime’. As time passes, shrubs become overmature, roses can lose their vigour, perennials need dividing and even the finest border can begin to look tired, possibly old-fashioned and in need of a major overhaul. Sometimes it never worked in the first place.
This was the ‘Fire Power’ and ‘Tom Thumb’, and disperse them through new borders in a way that did not dominate the planting.”
