Better Homes & Gardens Beds & Borders
Better Homes and Gardens
From the Ground Up • DIG INTO 20 TIPS AND TECHNIQUES TO HELP YOUR GARDEN GROW—FROM SOIL LEVEL TO TREETOP. THESE SOUND HORTICULTURE PRACTICES WILL EASE THE WORK AND INCREASE THE JOY OF TENDING YOUR BEDS AND BORDERS, WHETHER YOU’VE CELEBRATED MANY SPRING BLOOMS OR ARE PLANTING YOUR FIRST PERENNIAL.
The BHG Test Garden Top 10 • THOUSANDS OF PLANTS MAKE UP THE BETTER HOMES & GARDENS TEST GARDEN, BUT THESE TEN STAND OUT AS RELIABLE, VERSATILE, AND HARDWORKING PERFORMERS. THEY’RE A SURE BET!
Sun’s Out • ENJOY A SEASON-LONG PARADE OF COLORFUL FLOWERS WITH PLANTING PLANS FOR FULL SUN SITES.
Perennial Welcome • GIVE GUESTS A FLORAL GREETING BY PLANTING NEAR WALKWAYS AND CURBS. A MIX OF PERENNIALS CREATES A MONTHSLONG PARADE OF COLOR.
Summer Splendor • A NEARLY CAREFREE MIX OF PLANTS GROWS CLOSE TOGETHER TO CHOKE OUT WEEDS AND EFFORTLESSLY CREATE A ROMANTIC COTTAGE GARDEN.
Fresh Cuts • WRAP A SUN-DRENCHED PATIO—OR ANY ALFRESCO LOUNGING SPOT—WITH A CUTTING GARDEN. ENJOY THE BLOSSOMS OUTSIDE AND INSIDE!
Year-Round Roots • NEATLY CLIPPED EVERGREEN BOXWOOD SHRUBS PROVIDE GARDEN STRUCTURE AND A PLEASING BACKDROP FOR SUMMER FLOWERS.
Engage the Senses • BREATHE IN THE CALMING SCENT OF LAVENDER AS YOU MEANDER THROUGH THIS GARDEN BED. CUT AND DRY STEMS TO ENJOY THROUGH WINTER.
Mix and Mingle • AN UNFUSSY COMBINATION OF VIGOROUS PERENNIALS AND ANNUALS COMES TOGETHER TO CREATE A GARDEN PARTY FILLED WITH COLOR AND TEXTURE.
Full Sun Top 10
Low Water High Color • DROUGHT-TOLERANT BEDS AND BORDERS CAN BE FULL OF COLOR FROM SPRING TO FALL. THESE PLANS LEAD THE WAY TO A VIBRANT DRY LANDSCAPE.
Walk This Way • DRIFTS OF LONG-BLOOMING PERENNIALS LEAD THE WAY TO A FRONT DOOR. THESE TOUGH PLANTS REQUIRE MINIMAL SUPPLEMENTAL WATER.
Succulent Sensation • A VARIETY OF SUCCULENTS UNITE TO CREATE THIS LOW-WATER GARDEN THAT CHANGES IN COLOR AND TEXTURE WITH EVERY SEASON. FALL IN LOVE WITH THESE EASY-CARE PLANTS.
Textural Delight • ALIVE WITH INTEREST 365 DAYS A YEAR, THIS LOW-WATER GARDEN IS LUSH WITH SLOW-GROWING SUCCULENTS, GRASSES, AND COLOR-RICH PERENNIALS. ALLOW THE PLANTS TO GROW TOGETHER, WEAVING A TAPESTRY OF TEXTURE IN A FEW YEARS.
Drought-Tolerant Meadow • CIRCLE UP CHAIRS IN THE MIDDLE OF A BACKYARD MINI MEADOW AND ENJOY THE SONG OF SWAYING GRASSES ALL SUMMER.
Dream Weaver • FULL OF NORTH AMERICAN NATIVES, THIS DROUGHT-TOLERANT GARDEN BED BRIMS WITH POLLEN-RICH PERENNIALS.
Low Water Top 10
Made in the Shade • HAVING LOW LIGHT CAN ACTUALLY BE A GARDENER’S GAIN—AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A COOL GARDEN RETREAT.
Into the Woods • MIMIC THE QUIET MAGIC OF A FOREST AS YOU USE THIS PLAN TO GROW A WOODLAND GARDEN UNDER ESTABLISHED TREES.
Morning Light • JUST RIGHT FOR THE EAST OR NORTH SIDE OF A HOME, THIS PARTIAL SHADE GARDEN IS ANCHORED BY LONG-BLOOMING HYDRANGEAS.
Plant a Living Tree Skirt • BLANKET THE EARTH AROUND A TREE TRUNK WITH A COLORFUL TAPESTRY OF LOW-MAINTENANCE PERENNIALS.
Plant Your Patio • REDBUD TREES ANCHOR THIS 20-FOOT BY 30-FOOT SEATING AREA. A LUSH MIX OF EASY-CARE PERENNIALS PROVIDES POPS OF COLOR SPRING THROUGH FALL.
Emerald Carpet • PLAY UP TEXTURE BY TEAMING HOSTAS WITH A HOST OF EASY-TO-GROW PERENNIALS THAT REVEL IN LOW LIGHT.
Shade Top 10
Welcome Pollinators • DESIGNED TO DRAW GARDEN VISITORS, THESE PLANS HELP BRING BEES, BUTTERFLIES, AND A HOST OF CREEPING, CRAWLING, AND FLYING GUESTS TO YOUR GARDEN.
Flowering Oasis • CREATE A NEAR-PERFECT LANDING SPOT BY PAIRING LONG-BLOOMING, POLLINATOR-FRIENDLY PERENNIALS WITH A SIMPLE WATER SOURCE.
Wild and Free • THE BEST POLLINATOR GARDENS MIMIC...