The boardwalk at Rissers Beach in Lunenburg County is an excellent example of curves incorporated in a functional design.
Carla Allen photo
Curves are In
If you’re considering making new garden beds this spring, think out of the box. The square box that is. Curves are in and have so much more visual appeal in the landscape, for garden edging, pathways or patios.
Take the salt marsh boardwalk at Risser’s Beach for example. This beautifully designed structure curves for close to 3/4 of a mile over a protected eco-system. It’s a delightful departure from old-fashioned, straight-as-an-arrow, A-to-B construction, instead featuring graceful widenings and narrowings.
Curves give landscapes the feel of more distance, which works especially well with smaller areas. Using curves adds a sense of motion and flow, to make a garden gradually unfold. Adding something as simple as a curved brick or stone walkway or curved flowerbed will not only add an element of interest but will add a sense of extended space as well.
Although you may be raring to transform your yard into one to rival park-like beauty, it’s best to start small. Complete that curvy beginner project before you tackle one that could sap considerable time and resources.
The customary tip of laying down a garden hose to outline the desired shape is a handy one. If possible, pick a location that receives maximum sunlight for your first gardening project. The selection of varieties is much broader and you’ll have more blooms.
New beds should have all the turf removed. To accomplish this I prefer to dig up the bed and let the clumps dry out for a day or two, then go back in and beat the topsoil out of each one with a hand cultivator.
Most freshly dug areas should be amended with organic matter like compost, rotted manure or shredded leaves mixed in.
To separate the garden bed from lawn area you can edge the border with an edging tool. For a nice ‘finished’ look, pick up some connecting landscaping bricks from your local hardware store. These can be placed to follow curves easily and define the bed.
If you’ve already got established flowerbeds and walks and their lines are too straight for your liking, one way of softening hard edges is to plant draping or creeping plants that will “flow” over edges.
Another tip is to add containers. Plant various sizes and position them in collections to round out corners or as grouped focal points beside paths.
