A balanced mix of woody plants and perennials delivers the best show throughout the year.

Learn how to design a gorgeous garden to border a fence.

Designing a Beautiful Back Border—Planting Plan

Trees and shrubs

1. Golden Ruby^® barberry

(Berberis thunbergii* ‘Goruzam’, Zones 4–8; pictured)

2. ‘Compacta’ Hinoki cypress

(Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Compacta’, Zones 4–8)

3. ‘Royal Purple’ smokebush

(Cotinus ‘Royal Purple’, Zones 5–9)

4. ‘Sekkan-sugi’ Japanese cedar

(Cryptomeria japonica ‘Sekkan-sugi’, Zones 6–9)

5. ‘Aureomarginatus’ Japanese euonymus

(Euonymus japonicus ‘Aureomarginatus’, Zones 6–9; pictured)

6. ‘Blanchard’ Southern magnolia

(Magnolia grandiflora ‘Blanchard’, syn. M. grandiflora ‘D. D. Blanchard’, Zones 7–9)

 7. Tiger Eyes^® sumac

(Rhus typhina ‘Bailtiger’, Zones 3–8)

8. Magic Carpet^® spirea

(Spiraea japonica* ‘Walbuma’, Zones 4–9)

Understory evergreens

9. Orange New Zealand sedge

(Carex testacea, Zones 8–9; pictured)

10. ‘Mary Helen’ heather

(Erica × darleyensis ‘Mary Helen’, Zones 6–9)

11. ‘Blue Star’ juniper

(Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’, Zones 4–8; pictured)

12. ‘Moon Bay’ heavenly bamboo

(Nandina domestica* ‘Moon Bay’, Zones 6–9)

13. ‘Densiformis’ yew

(Taxus × media ‘Densiformis’, Zones 4–7)

Perennials

14. Bear’s breeches

(Acanthus mollis, Zones 7–11)

15. Rozanne geranium

(Geranium ‘Gerwat’, Zones 4–8; pictured)

16. ‘Aureola’ Japanese forest grass

(Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’, Zones 5–9)

17. Mardi Gras™ sneezeweed

(Helenium ‘Helbro’, Zones 4–8)

18. ‘Big Ears’ lambs’ ears

(Stachys byzantina ‘Big Ears’, syn. S. byzantina ‘Helen Von Stein’, Zones 4–9)

*Invasive Alert:

Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergia)

This plant is considered invasive in AL, CT, DE, GA, IA, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, SC, VA, VT, WI, and WV.

Heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica)

This plant is considered invasive in AL, FL, GA, MD, MO, and SC.

Japanese spirea (Spiraea japonica)

This plant is considered invasive in AL, GA, IN, KY, PA, TN, and VA.

Please visit invasiveplantatlas.org for more information.

Stacie Crooks is a landscape designer and educator in Edmonds, Washington. She specializes in drought-tolerant designs.

From Fine Gardening #208

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

DeWalt Variable-Speed Cordless Reciprocating Saw with 6-Piece Saw Blade Set

You can fit a variety of blades to this saw to cut fallen branches or prune larger limbs from trees in a pinch. It’s fast, tough, easy to use, and extremely versatile.
- 18.31 x 6.13 x 4 inches
- 1-1/8-inch stroke length
- Variable speed trigger with 0-3000 spm
- DW4856 Metal/Woodcutting Reciprocating Saw Blade Set, 6-Piece

Buy at Amazon

Black and Decker 22-inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer

Quick and easy to put into operation and is less noisy and lighter in weight than gas-powered hedge trimmers.
- 38 x 7 x 7 inches
- 6.9 pounds
- 1 Lithium Ion battery required (included)

Buy at Amazon

DeWalt Variable-Speed Cordless Reciprocating Saw

You can fit a variety of blades to this saw to cut fallen branches or prune larger limbs from trees in a pinch. It’s fast, tough, easy to use, and extremely versatile.
- 18.31 x 6.13 x 4 inches
- 1-1/8-inch stroke length
- Variable speed trigger with 0-3000 spm

Buy at Amazon

Scotts Cordless Grass-Shear/Shrub-Trimmer Combo

With a built-in 7.2-volt lithium-ion battery, this little guy weighs less than 2 lb. and can zip through all your minor pruning tasks quickly and easily.
- 13.5 x 3 x 5 inches
- Uses a 7.2-Volt 2Ah high-capacity built-in lithium-ion battery; Includes a fast charger

Buy at Amazon