Simply white
One of the most coveted styles of garden borders, Joe Swift reveals how to have guaranteed success with white planting
Joe Swift reveals how to achieve success with a sophisticated white garden
Combining whites, greens and a splash of silver always creates borders with a mood of sophistication, elegance and romance. It’s a classic style, and one that many of us dream of for our own plots. To succeed requires discipline and in some ways is more difficult to execute than a mixed-colour border, but if you’re prepared to focus on the end result and can be ruthless with your plant choice, then the rewards are huge. To restrict your planting to only whites may sound a little dull, but far from it – it will make you look at plants differently. You’ll observe there’s a wide range of whites, from pure white to cooler whites with hints of blue or purple, and warmer, creamier whites that have touches of yellow. When planting up a border of one colour, also consider flower forms and sizes as well as the overall plant habits, which adds layers of interest. It not only makes for a foolproof planting solution, but will also turn part of your garden into something interesting and fun – an exploration of a single colour.
Shrubs and climbers
Naturally, I’ve got a palette of white plants I like to work with, all of which combine well to create a scheme that will succeed in most gardens and provide a display through the seasons (see page 50 for my plan). I start by choosing the shrubs and climbers that will