Creating a Colorful Mixed Border
Screen a bad view, create a garden room and add year-round beauty to your landscape with mixed borders.
These planting beds contain a variety of plants including trees, shrubs, evergreens, perennials and annuals.
Start your design with the larger permanent plants. The trees and shrubs provide structure to the garden and serve as a backdrop for the flowers.
Include a few evergreens for year-round color. The wide selection of dwarf conifers allows small and large space gardeners the opportunity to include these beauties.
Fill the spaces in between the permanent planting with perennials. Include spring, summer and fall bloomers. Select those with attractive foliage and some that produce seedpods for winter interest
Add a few annuals for a colorful floral display throughout the growing season.
Use repetition of color and form to pull it all together.
A bit more information: Use blues, greens and violets to create a relaxing cool space. Liven things up with warm colors of red, orange and yellow. You’ll make spaces appear smaller, warmer and more energized.
Related
Video
Categories
Upcoming
Events & Webinars
April 18, 2026
3rd Annual Spring Rally
Oshkosh, WI
Register here
April 19, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
April 23, 2026
Iowa State University
More information
April 25, 2026
Pasquesi Home & Gardens
Lake Bluff, IL
April 26, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 2, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 6, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Adding Native Plants
to Any Size Gardening Space
Register here
May 7, 2026
Wauwatosa Public Library
Wauwatosa, WI
Register (opens 4/16, 9am)
May 9, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 10, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 13, 2026
Roots & Branches
West Bend, WI
Register here
May 16, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 17, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 20, 2026
Herb Container Workshop
Pewaukee, WI
Register here
May 21, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Planting & Care of Your Rain Garden
Register here
June 3, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Managing Your Landscape
with Pollinators in Mind
Register here
June 10, 2026
Enjoy Life Active Aging Symposium
Brookfield, WI
More information
July 9, 2026
Ebert's 50th Anniversary Celebration
Ixonia, WI
August 6-16, 2026
Wisconsin State Fair
We Energies Energy Park, West Allis, WI
Sept. 3, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Tree Planting and Care
Register here
Sept. 12, 2026
Knowledge in Bloom Conference
Milwaukee, WI
Register here
Sept. 17, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Fall Landscape Care and Planting
Register here
WATCH ON-DEMAND WEBINARS
MORE UPCOMING EVENT DETAILS
Book an Appearance
Sign up for Melinda's free e-newsletter for a chance to win a Birds & Blooms' Ultimate Gardening Guide!
ENTER NOW
