Frame academy
Every garden is capable of being a work of art, but the right lawn regime can give your art the edge, says Toby
WHEN the gavel fell on Banksy’s Girl with Balloon painting for a cool $1.4 million, a shredder within its frame whirred to life and chewed through the artwork as if it were an old bank statement. I was thinking of this stunt because I’ve been mowing the big green frame (aka the lawn) in our garden.
Lawns are a horticultural miracle. They survive wear and tear, cost pennies to create, and last a lifetime with only rudimentary care. But they have another attribute that’s less appreciated, much like Banksy’s picture frame – they can improve or detract from what they surround.
When setting out a garden, it’s natural to think about the shape of borders (where the interesting stuff is) first, and the grass second. But because borders undulate, it’s impossible to get a handle on a bed’s true outline so if they are narrow/triangular/wonky at the back, you’ll never notice.
A lawn is different. The level height and homogeneous colour mean it stands out, and that’s why – if you give your grass an arrow-straight edge or graceful curves (see panel below) – your garden will look smart and cared for, even if the beds are full of weeds!
The contrast between the bustle of the borders and the framing effect of the lawn increases with regular cutting. This is because the more the grass is mown, the denser the sward becomes.
That’s not to say you can’t have longer areas for daisies and dandelions. If, like me, you’re leaving your lawn for no-mow May, the same trick of creating contrast by mowing paths around the edge and through the middle makes all the difference to its look. Neighbouring
When setting out a lawn, the best viewpoint to check that the lines work is often the upstairs window. If it looks good from above, it will look good at ground level.
areas of short grass enhance the wildness of the meadow. If it’s all long and shaggy, it looks untidy and just as monotonous as if it were shorn all over.
So reframe the way you think of mowing. It’s not a chore, but a way of making your garden look like a picture. And if you’re not convinced, remember Banksy. When the shredded Girl with Balloon was resold along with the clever frame, it went for $25.4 million!
“Reframe the way you think of mowing”