DIY Network

Borders and Walkways Borders and Walkways From "Weekend Gardening" episode WKG-311

Figure A

All of the sections of the knot garden have now been filled in (figure A), and now Maureen is bringing in more lavender -- a different kind, and for a different purpose -- and a surprising substitute for common garlic.

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• Fern-leaf lavender (Lavendula multiflora) (figure B) is very long-stemmed and is a little more tender than some of the other lavenders.

• Tricolor society garlic (Tulbaghia violacea 'Tricolor') (figure C) is a vigorous grower whose flower stalks can grow as long as 2'. (If you prefer, you can substitute real garlic or chives in your garden.)

Expert tip: (horticulturist Frank McDonough) Society garlic is not like true garlic: it doesn't produce bulbs, but you can still cook with it. Just chop up the leaves, put them in a skillet and fry up whatever you want. Voilà! Garlic-flavored food!

• The last quadrant of the edging is French lavender (Lavendula dentata candicans) (figure D).

Figure B

Figure C

Figure D

Figure E

Note: This garden uses two types of lavender, but there are actually three. The most cold-hardy is English; the French takes more heat and makes a bigger bush; and the most heat-tolerant variety is the Spanish (figure E). To help you remember: English -- cold; French -- moderate; Spanish -- hot.

Now that the edging has been planted, Maureen is going to create a 1'-wide mulch-lined walkway around the bed to allow access to the herbs on even the wettest days.

Expert tip: (Dave Reynolds, Monrovia Growers) Mulching provides us with an ability to hold ungerminated weed seeds down to a minimum. It also cools the root systems of the plants in the area, and it even has the further purpose of retaining existing moisture in the area, which will help you with your water bill. And that's good for everybody!

Rosemary Hair Rinse

The great thing about a garden like this is that virtually every plant has a use -- or a multitude of uses. Traditionally, a rinse of steeped rosemary has been favored by brunettes to help keep brown hair glossy Here's how to make this rinse (the process is a lot like making tea).

1. Pick several stems of rosemary and gather into a bundle with all the tips even (figure F). Use scissors to trim them down into tiny confetti-size bits.

2. Add enough hot water to cover the rosemary (figure G).

3. Let it steep for a day or two to get all the oil to blend with the water.

4. Strain the mixture into a container to remove all the bits of plant matter (figure H). The rinse is poured into shampooed hair and left to dry.

Figure F

Figure G

Figure H

Wattle edging (figure I), which is woven from green willow and allowed to dry, has been used since before the Middle Ages to provide a solid barrier against rabbits and other creatures. Maureen has decided to use it in her knot garden (figure J) for both its functional and its decorative purposes.

Figure I

Figure J

Time spent: 13 hours.

RESOURCES :

Mulch
Whitney Farms
Website: www.whitneyfarms.com

Plants
Monrovia Horticultural Craftsmen
Website: www.monrovia.com

Simply Beautiful
Website: www.simplybeautifulgardens.com

Maureen Gilmer, Horticulturalist & Author
Website: www.moplants.com

Suggested books/design software:
Gaining Ground by Maureen Gilmer
The Budget Gardener by Maureen Gilmer
Maureen Gilmer's Garden Maker Software