Interior and exterior confidence
Create Academy has been such a great resource. I'm in the middle of renovating a bungalow with a very large garden and the courses have offered a wealth of inform...
Harvey
Jun 10, 2026
The Fundamentals of Garden Design
Understanding your borders
with JO THOMPSON — A distinguished British garden designer and plantswoman
Lesson 7 of 22
Subscribe to watch
Before ploughing ahead with the design stage it’s important to understand what you already have in your garden. In this lesson, Jo explains why you need to be patient when looking at pre-existing borders, and shares her top tips to help you create an effective border design.
From the Lesson Workbook
Understanding Your Borders
When assessing your garden, be patient when looking at existing borders, as they may reveal valuable ingredients over the course of the year. The tips in this lesson will then help you create an effective border scheme.
Wait and see what any existing borders do and what structure is already in place, such as shrubs and grasses.
These can inspire the perennials that follow.
- Repeat colours and plants to give rhythm along the border.
- Repeat shrubs to give rhythm in the year-round structure, then repeat perennials such as hardy geraniums to amplify that rhythm.
- Hardy geraniums are really versatile and available in a wide range of colours.
- Plant perennials in groups of three or five.
Colour Through the Seasons
Waiting also allows time for everything to do its thing, as plants flower at different times.
Look for colour through the seasons in your borders.
- E.g. in one border I have daffodils in spring, salvias and geraniums in summer, and asters to carry through into autumn.
Get the full workbook, video lessons, and more with a Create Academy subscription.
Subscribe to access the full workbookAlready a member? Sign in to watch
Rated 4.6/5 on Trustpilot
479 reviews
Read moreAbsolutely love Create Academy
Absolutely love Create Academy! The instructors are extremely informative, and it is beautifully filmed. Create Academy is great value for money and plan on renew...
SG
May 31, 2026
Magic in small spaces
Butter's creativity is stunning! Her ability to incorporate brilliance in small gardens is magical!
Carla
May 30, 2026
The best adventure
The best adventure. I like all the courses, but my favorite are both Rita Konig interior design courses and Anna Jones. Excellent!
Karolina Kluczewska
May 20, 2026
Interior and exterior confidence
Create Academy has been such a great resource. I'm in the middle of renovating a bungalow with a very large garden and the courses have offered a wealth of information to dive into and explore new ideas. I'm...
Harvey
Jun 10, 2026
Absolutely love Create Academy
Absolutely love Create Academy! The instructors are extremely informative, and it is beautifully filmed. Create Academy is great value for money and plan on renewing my subscription yearly because there are ...
SG
May 31, 2026
Magic in small spaces
Butter's creativity is stunning! Her ability to incorporate brilliance in small gardens is magical!
Carla
May 30, 2026
Your Instructor
Jo Thompson
A distinguished British garden designer and plantswoman
Jo Thompson is a distinguished British garden designer and plantswoman, who has garnered widespread acclaim and recognition for her exceptional expertise in horticulture. Jo is the winner of four Gold and five Silver Gilt medals from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, as well as the coveted People's Choice award at the RHS Chatsworth Flower Show in 2017. As a member of the RHS Gardens Committee and Garden Advisor for RHS Rosemoor, and an RHS Shows Judge, Jo plays a significant role in shaping the horticultural landscape. She gives regular lectures on her work, including tutoring at The London College of Garden Design, and is a Fellow of the Landscape Institute and a Registered Member of the Society of Garden Designers. Jo is also the author of two books - The New Romantic Garden and The Gardener’s Palette.
Access to all courses