st once and briefly, while others may bloom, if dead-headed (removing the spent flowers), for months and months. Although there are perennials you never disturb, for example - peonies; most, hBorders, as one sees in the pictures of the great country homes and gardens in England, are often a work of considerable art, painted with flowers.Often the borders there run 200 feet or more in length to 20 feet or more in width. Also, they are quite labor intensive, what with oll the deadheading, cutting back, and weeding.

However, this is no reason for you to be without a mixed border or two of manageable proportions. A mixed border may have grasses, annuals, perennials, groundcovers, vines, shrubs, roses, or small trees in any combination.

Perennials are considered the mainstay of the mixed borders. Though some are short-lived, most live for years increasing in number. Each winter they die down, then spring comes and up they spring.Some bloom just once and briefly, while others may bloom, if dead-headed (removing the spent flowers), for months and months. Although there are perennials you never disturb, for example - peonies; most, ho

in length to 20 feet or more in width. Also, they are quite labor intensive, what with oll the deadheading, cutting back, and weeding.

However, this is no reason for you to be without a mixed border or two of manageable proportions. A mixed border may have grasses, annuals, perennials, groundcovers, vines, shrubs, roses, or small trees in any combination.

Perennials are considered the mainstay of the mixed borders. Though some are short-lived, most live for years increasing in number. Each winter they die down, then spring comes and up they spring.Some bloom just once and briefly, while others may bloom, if dead-headed (removing the spent flowers), for months and months. Although there are perennials you never disturb, for example - peonies; most, h

ixed border or two of manageable proportions. A mixed border may have grasses, annuals, perennials, groundcovers, vines, shrubs, roses, or small trees in any combination.

Perennials are considered the mainstay of the mixed borders. Though some are short-lived, most live for years increasing in number. Each winter they die down, then spring comes and up they spring.Some bloom just once and briefly, while others may bloom, if dead-headed (removing the spent flowers), for months and months. Although there are perennials you never disturb, for example - peonies; most, h

onsidered the mainstay of the mixed borders. Though some are short-lived, most live for years increasing in number. Each winter they die down, then spring comes and up they spring.Some bloom just once and briefly, while others may bloom, if dead-headed (removing the spent flowers), for months and months. Although there are perennials you never disturb, for example - peonies; most, hst once and briefly, while others may bloom, if dead-headed (removing the spent flowers), for months and months. Although there are perennials you never disturb, for example - peonies; most, however, need dividing every few years. If you only have one mixed border, you probably would like to have flowers throughout the growing season. Choose plants that are lovely for more than just a week or two. If there are any gaps (no blooms) in the border, you can fill with annuals or other flowering plants in pots. Flowering shrubs and remontant (repeat blooming) roses add color to the background.

The border should be at least 10 feet wide. The plants should be planted in drifts of odd numbers . The plants should vary in height from low to high. To keep the border from looking like a stairway to heaven , vary a few drifts throughout the border with a drift of shorter plants in back and a drift or two of taller plants in front.

You may have borde