Planted borders enclose lawns, woods, patios, swimming pools, gazebos and many other features in the landscape. Think of the landscaped border as a picture frame. And the flowering type of frame is the most frequently used today. The line of the frame doesn't have to be straight. Although I've seen some very ornate straight lined borders, my preference is for sweeping bed lines. Since plants do not naturally grow square, a curve often fits their growth habits better.

The showiest landscaped borders are created using a combination of plants, mixing and matching them to get just the right blend. Borders shouldn't be made too narrow. They should be at least seven to 15 feet wide so they'll accommodate a mix of plants. And since you're planting a variety of flora together in the same beds, you can coordinate the plants' ornamental characteristics to achieve year-round interest.

Background shrubs could be lilacs that produce fragrant flowers in early spring ahead of most perennials. Another deciduous background shrub for the flowering border is winged euonymus. Its foliage turns a brilliant red in autumn at a time when many perennials have lost their luster.