Creating a border from an existing patch of grass... or a field!

After almost two years of meddling with "The Field" and the planting, it is now time to structure the new future garden.

The first year was the year of the trees, more or less 450 planted so far, to create a strong backdrop against the land boundaries.

Lots of those trees are slow growers, and have been planted for the future generations, oaks for instance!

Then I planted an eclectic collection of dahlias, roses, grasses, all collected or bought from different places, knowing that I will have to move them around in future new locations.

This time, I am working hard to define the borders, by defining areas where I will have no grass or rushes at all.

Following different advice from fellow gardeners, I am starting by hedges and shrubs to establish some kind of focal points around the different zones.

So best way I found to start the "construction" is to let the grass growing and using the mower, literally drawing the borders carefully by defining their contours.

I went for a series of leaves shapes, 3 at the start.

Then when I was happy with the design, I stripped a length of grass right in the middle of the "leaf", two feet wide (eventually you can also use the mower to define the length of this strip).

The hard part is to remove the grass. If you have regular established lawn, you can hire one machine to do the job. But believe me in a former cultivated field, nothing beat the good pick axe.

If like me, you don't like the gym, it's also a good and fast way to lose weight and gain some muscles!

When it's done, you can then plant your hedge, with a good distance between each plant, accordingly to the type of your choice.

Oleander hedge and at the back
a big round circle
of grass and trees

I have variegated privet, mature oleander and laurel. You don't have to follow a straight line, an arc or a wave should work too.

Now I have an hedge, a contour, next using a grass cutter, break the grass following the border shape.

Using the pick axe, remove a narrow strip of lawn/grass all along the shape, and you will get a good idea of your border size. At any time you can readjust, and you have kept some strip of grass, put it back in place firmly in the soil if you think you made a mistake.

When you have finished the border contour, strip the rest of the grass inside your border.

Plant your selection of shrubs. Don't forget some shrubs could grow bigger than you think so be generous on the spacing.

Anyway when they are established, sometime next year, I will still have time to move them around, before their full maturity.

Voila! You have now your borders, then late winter or early spring you can fill them up with the flowers of your choice, from seeds is a good and cheaper idea if you need plants by the dozen.

What do you think? Any tip to add?

More photos below: