Knot Gardens for Creativity
Seasonal Planting Tips
Pansies and snapdragons can be planted now to replace summer annuals. They will provide color this fall, winter, and next spring. If you have dogwood, walnut, birch, or maple trees, prune them in late summer or fall to avoid sap bleeding that occurs when pruned in early spring or late winter. Choose chrysanthemums in a variety of colors now—they are hardy perennials that will brighten your garden each fall. Plant cool-season vegetables immediately to ensure a good fall harvest.
Fall is the ideal time for planting! Trees, shrubs, and perennials planted now will grow twice as much next year compared to those planted in spring.
Knot Gardens for Creative Landscaping
Landscaping a new garden area offers an opportunity to be creative and add unique features. One formal garden style, known as a knot garden, dates back to Elizabethan England and resembles the threads of ancient Celtic knotwork. Traditionally, knot gardens displayed royal coats of arms, plant or animal figures, or embroidery stitches. They can be designed as open knots (with spaces between hedges) or closed knots (with flowers filling the gaps).
While traditionally composed of flat hedges, knot gardens can also be sculpted into three-dimensional, woven strands for an intricate, undulating effect. This design is featured at the new Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital, using a shield knot—a Celtic symbol of protection believed to ward off illness.
Designing Your Knot Garden
- Use fine-textured foliage plants like germander, rosemary, lavender, or red-leaved Japanese barberry.
- Differentiate threads of the knot with contrasting plant types or colors.
- Most knot gardens have symmetrical designs for visual appeal.
To create your own:
- Prepare the soil and sketch the design using flower or lime, or spray paint.
- Arrange plants about 18 inches apart, adjusting until the design is balanced.
- Let plants grow naturally or trim evenly to form the knot.
The effect can include circles, diamonds, or concentric curves. For longevity, use perennial herbs like lavender (grey foliage), rosemary, or germander (dark green). Most herbs share similar sun and watering needs, making them ideal companions.
A fully established knot garden takes 2–3 years. During this time, trim and fertilize regularly to maintain lush growth. Once mature, it requires minimal upkeep.