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The planting of annuals in the border of a plot is called as herbaceous border. Due to wide range of flowers available in winter it becomes a site of attraction in the garden. The concept of herbaceous border has been introduced in Indian gardens by Britishers and now it has become a common feature.
The herbaceous border can be of two types i.e. Single and Double face. Single face herbaceous border is made when border is situated on one side of plot and having some background like wall or shrubbery border. Annuals are arranged in the border according to their height i.e. tall plants in back; medium in center and dwarf in front line.
Double face border is more ideal when border is to be made in between a big plot. In such border, there is no background and tall annuals are planted in the center; medium and dwarf on both sides in descending order so that beauty can be watched from both sides.
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The selection of site for herbaceous border is very important and desired picturesque effect may not be obtained if site is not selected properly. The site should be opening sunny and facing towards south side so that plants get sufficient sunlight for maximum hours of the day. If this direction is not available, it should face east and last choice is for the west.
Back and Fore Grounds:
To make an effective herbaceous border, there should be suitable back ground as well as fore ground. Back ground may be of dwarf flowering trees, shrubbery border or back ground made by training of sweet peas, brick wall in combination of both.
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Fore ground is generally of turf grass which may or may not have other garden ornaments like lily pool, sun dial, statue etc. Green turf in front of herbaceous border is a living green carpet which serves a place for enjoying beauty of flowers while resting.
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Size of the Border:
The size of border depends upon the availability of space. The border can be of any length but width should be about 1-1.5 m or more depending upon the area of fore ground available. Therefore, the width can be adjusted accordingly.
Colour Scheme of the Border:
The arrangement of these annuals according to colour scheme conveys the mood and feelings of the gardener. Dominance of a particular colour in border is suggestive quality of that colour. Hence, the arrangement of these annuals should be done very carefully. In nature green colour being the colour of foliage dominates in garden throughout the year. Warm colour like red dominants in winter whereas yellow colour in spring.
There are three main colour schemes according to which these annuals can be arranged:
1. Monochromatic scheme,
2. Analogous or harmonious colour scheme, and
3. Contrast colour scheme.
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Monochromatic colour scheme restricts the use of single colour or its shades which may be available in the same or different annuals. For example, if blue colour is to be used, annuals like blue corn flower, blue larkspur, ageratum, anchusa, etc. can be used. For yellow colour annuals like yellow dahlia, yellow antirrhinum, yellow calendula, yellow nasturtium, yellow marigold, yellow annual chrysanthemum, yellow coreopsis etc. can be used.
The difficulty may be in getting the seeds of pure colours. According to analogous colour scheme, annuals are arranged according to the nearest wave length of colour. This arrangement harmonizes with the surrounding beds and, hence, it is called a harmonious colour scheme. The arrangement of colours will follow the order as white, creamish yellow, light yellow and finally deep yellow which will follow the same but in descending order.
If red colour is to be used the order will be light pink, deep pink, light red, deep red and crimson and colours will descend in the same order. In contrast colour scheme, the opposite colour of colour wheel are used and plants of contrast colours are planted accordingly e.g. red dahlia against the background of green or next to blue corn flowers creates a good contrast. For yellow colour, violet, blue and red are contrast.
Yellow gamolepis, red phlox or petunia and white alyssum can be planted for a brilliant contrast. The width of the border is roughly divided into three parts in proportion of 5:3: 2 or 6:3: 1 for tall, medium and dwarf plants. Similarly, the plots are made lengthwise.
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The front line of border is not a straight line, but it is made curvaceous and thus plots become irregular in shape. In these plots planting is also done irregularly at an approximate distance so that the border looks natural at the time of bloom.
