Celebrated gardener Alan Titchmarsh has released a video outlining a straightforward four-step method for creating the ideal garden border. The 76-year-old BBC Gardeners' World presenter shared the guide on his YouTube channel, Gardening with Alan Titchmarsh, walking viewers through the process of transforming a bed into a border that maintains appeal throughout the year.
Titchmarsh began by clearing the bed, removing perennials that flower in spring and summer. He advised gardeners to start anywhere, noting that early spring is an ideal time for moving plants as they can survive for several days out of the ground as long as they do not dry out. After removing the plants, he recommended splitting larger perennial clumps into smaller pieces to save money and cover more ground.
The third step focused on improving the soil. Titchmarsh demonstrated working in sections and applying a generous dressing of soil improver to encourage grubs and worms. He stressed the importance of spreading the improver evenly and lightly forking it into the surface.
For the final step, Titchmarsh advised creating a planting strategy. He suggested measuring the bed and drawing a grid to calculate the number of plants needed, avoiding the common mistake of buying too many or too few. He recommended planting one shrub or four perennials per square metre, marking them on the grid before sketching drifts to form shapes.
