(My first job after leaving school was in the coal mines of South Wales. Hose pipes of various types were used; sometimes for water; sometimes for compressed air. They were not known as hosepipes, but as 'bags'. DH.)
There is nothing better than a hosepipe (!) for shaping curved borders and beds in the garden. The better quality ones - that don't kink - are best, but a 'cheapy' filled with water will also do the trick.
The main advantage is that you can actually see your curves before scratching out a line on your prized turf, or slicing into it with a sharp spade. You can leave the hose in place and situate a few shrubs or flowering plants around to get the 3-dimensional feel of what your curve is going to do for you.
Simply lay the hose along the outline that you envisage, and move it about until you get the shape required. Fewer, sweeping curves are always better than lots of squiggles. But, if you like squiggles, then go for them, but remember that sharp curves are not as easy to navigate with some mowers.
A typical small garden with the regulation 45cm
(18in border) It is uninteresting in the first
place, so the motivation for looking after it soon
wanes.
The difference a few curves can make.
Background planting of assorted shrubs, which will be followed by a mixture of bedding plants to fill up the gaps.........and a 'cosmetic' finish of ornamental bark chippings, to give us this
Curved borders make the garden more interesting and can provide a feeling of space and size. They can also be used to create several different areas and help towards the evocative hidden gems garden that has to be walked its full length to discover the cameos that make up the whole.
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