Showcase · Three bay lollipops above white hydrangeas and foxgloves in a long grey planter
Topiary Twins · Yew Ball or Bay Lollipop Topiary & 8 white-flowering border plants per metre across 4 species

The White Garden — Border by the Metre with Yew Ball or Bay Lollipop Topiary

RRP£330.00 £313.50 Save £16.50Pair price · incl. VAT
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Quality-checked and photographed before dispatch · 24 hours to review

6 moThrive Guaranteea struggling plant replaced at half the single-plant cost
∞Lifetime Caregrower answers within 24 hours — forever, free
14–21Working dayskerbside pallet delivery — upright, tracked, UK-wide
Quick Specifications
Quick Specifications
  • Coverage: 1m length × 0.6m depth per unit
  • Total Plants: 9 plants per metre (1 topiary + 8 companions)
  • Topiary: English Yew Ball (30-40cm) OR Bay Lollipop (40-60cm stem, 8-10cm girth) — your choice
  • Companion Plants: 8 plants across 4 species
  • Planting Density: ~15 plants per m²
  • Establishment: 10-14 months to mature white garden appearance
  • Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
  • Hardiness: H4-H5 (hardy across UK, protect Bay in severe frost below -10°C)
  • Seasonality: Peak interest June-September (white flowers), luminous at dusk, evergreen structure

Delivery

All Border by the Metre orders dispatch on a single pallet via specialist courier. Delivery window 8am-5pm—driver calls 1 hour before arrival. You'll receive pre-dispatch photos of your topiary for approval before shipping. Orders are delivered in 2–4 weeks. Free UK mainland delivery included regardless of length ordered.

Meet the Twins

This border creates luminous white garden planting designed for evening appreciation—where white flowers emerge from twilight appearing to glow as ambient light fades. The composition is designed for positions viewed during evening hours (approaching entrance at dusk, sitting areas used after work, pathways lit by evening sun). Architectural topiary provides dark evergreen structure whilst white-flowering perennials deliver waves of pure white blooms June-September—this is the "white garden" approach pioneered at Sissinghurst: monochrome restraint creating sophisticated elegance, with the practical benefit that white flowers remain visible long after coloured flowers disappear into darkness.

WHAT'S INCLUDED:

Anchor Topiary (choose one option):

Option 1: English Yew Ball (30-40cm)

  • Deep evergreen clipped sphere creating dark ground-level geometric anchor, exceptionally hardy (-20°C+), provides permanent dark green structure creating maximum contrast with white flowers (dark green makes white appear more luminous), containerised and ready to position

Option 2: Bay Lollipop (40-60cm stem, 8-10cm girth)

  • Elevated ball canopy on clear stem providing eye-level presence, aromatic dark green evergreen foliage, creates more dramatic formal statement than ground-level ball—elevated canopy particularly effective where height desired, containerised and ready to position

Both options provide essential dark evergreen contrast—choose based on desired height. Dark foliage is critical for white garden success (white flowers glow against dark backgrounds). Price adjusts per your selection.

Companion Plant 1: Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' (Smooth Hydrangea)

  • Role: Dramatic white spherical blooms
  • Massive white flower heads 20-30cm diameter June-September (some of largest flower heads in temperate gardening), flowers emerge lime-green maturing to pure white then aging to pale green creating extended interest, deciduous rounded habit 1-1.5m height and spread, flowers on current year's growth (reliable annual display—hard prune spring encourages vigorous flowering), provides substantial white presence creating architectural focal points
  • Quantity: 2 per metre (7L pots—mature specimens)

Companion Plant 2: Aster novi-belgi 'White Lady' (Michaelmas Daisy)

  • Role: Late-season white daisy clouds
  • Pure white daisy flowers with yellow centres August-October, late-flowering extending white garden season into autumn when many white plants finished, upright bushy habit 60-80cm, provides continuous white late-summer-autumn display, attracts butterflies, fills seasonal gap after Hydrangea peak
  • Quantity: 2 per metre (2L pots)

Companion Plant 3: Geranium sanguineum 'Album' (Bloody Cranesbill - White Form)

  • Role: White ground cover and extended flowering
  • Pure white cup-shaped flowers May-September (exceptionally long flowering period—4+ months continuous), low mounding habit 20-30cm height spreading 40-50cm, semi-evergreen in mild winters (foliage persists providing winter structure), excellent weed-suppressing ground cover once established, provides white carpet from late spring through summer
  • Quantity: 3 per metre (2L pots)

Companion Plant 4: Digitalis purpurea 'Alba' (White Foxglove)

  • Role: Vertical white spires and cottage charm
  • Pure white tubular flowers on tall spires 100-120cm June-July, biennial (flowers second year from seed, self-seeds for continuity), classic cottage garden vertical accent, tolerates partial shade, attracts bees, adds height and drama without bulk—tall spires rise above lower plants creating vertical punctuation
  • Quantity: 1 per metre (2L pot)

HOW THE COMPOSITION WORKS:

Colour palette is deliberately monochrome and restrained: deep dark green topiary, pure white flowers (all species), lime-green Hydrangea buds and aging flowers, yellow Aster centres. This monochrome approach creates sophisticated unity—the composition reads as intentional design statement rather than random white-flowering collection. The absence of coloured flowers (no pink, no blue, no purple) maintains discipline and enhances luminosity.

White flowers' luminescence at dusk is the defining feature: as ambient light fades (approaching sunset, twilight, dusk), white flowers appear to glow whilst coloured flowers disappear into darkness. This makes entrance most dramatic during evening hours—arrival home at dusk reveals composition at peak beauty. The effect is enhanced by dark evergreen topiary creating contrast (white appears more luminous against dark backgrounds—this is why dark green Yew or Bay essential, not pale green topiary).

Flowering progression ensures continuous white May-October: early season Geranium starts (May continuing through September—exceptionally long), early-midsummer Digitalis spires peak (June-July providing vertical drama), midsummer-autumn Hydrangea dominates (June-September with massive flower heads—peak spectacle July-August), late season Aster extends into autumn (August-October filling gap after Digitalis finished). No gaps in white flower coverage June-September—something always blooming.

Seasonal interest extends beyond flowers: Hydrangea flowers age gracefully (pure white → pale green autumn creating extended interest), Digitalis seed heads architectural through winter (vertical spires persist), Geranium semi-evergreen foliage provides winter ground cover, Aster stems remain through winter (can leave standing or cut back depending on preference), evergreen topiary provides year-round dark structure.

SCALABILITY:

Each metre is a complete white garden unit. When ordering multiple metres:

  • Topiary rhythm: 1 topiary every metre creates dark geometric punctuation preventing white flowers from appearing washed-out or formless—essential discipline maintaining composition (monochrome schemes particularly need strong structure)
  • White flower drift: Plants flow continuously between topiary units creating seamless white carpet effect—Geranium particularly spreads creating white ground cover
  • 2-metre order: Intimate white entrance or evening pathway
  • 5-metre order: Substantial white garden with genuine luminous effect at dusk—white flowers register as intentional monochrome design
  • 10+ metre order: Grand white colonnade effect—dramatic contrast between dark topiary rhythm and white flowering abundance creates powerful evening spectacle

The design scales from elegant (2-3m) to breathtaking (10m+) whilst maintaining white garden sophistication—monochrome restraint ensures elegance at any scale, with increasing impact as twilight luminosity effect amplifies with length.

Care & Maintenance
ESTABLISHMENT PHASE (First 6-12 Months):

Topiary:

  • Yew Ball: Water 2-3× weekly summer, minimal winter. Feed once spring. Exceptionally hardy and low-maintenance.
  • Bay Lollipop: Water 2-3× weekly summer (vigorous grower needs consistent moisture), minimal winter. Feed once spring. Fast-growing—needs frequent trimming.
  • See Complete Care Guide for species-specific topiary maintenance.

Companion Plants:

  • Watering: 2-3× weekly first spring/summer. Hydrangea needs consistent moisture (never allow to wilt—particularly important for white flowers which brown in stress/heat). Water deeply (15-20L per m²) encouraging deep roots. Reduce frequency progressively autumn.
  • Mulching: Apply 5cm layer bark mulch or compost after planting. Essential for Hydrangea (moisture retention). Keep mulch 5cm clear of plant stems.
  • No feeding Year 1—planting compost contains nutrients.

ONGOING MAINTENANCE (Year 2 Onwards):

Topiary:

  • Yew Ball: Water 2-3× weekly summer, minimal winter. Feed once annually spring. Prune once annually late May-early June (slow-growing). See Pruning & Trimming Guide.
  • Bay Lollipop: Water 2-3× weekly summer, minimal winter. Feed once annually spring. Prune 2-3× annually May-August (fast-growing). See Pruning & Trimming Guide.

Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle':
Simple maintenance—flowers on current year's growth so prune hard. Late winter/early spring (February-March) cut all stems to 15-30cm from ground. This encourages strong new growth with massive flower heads (hard pruning = larger flowers). Water weekly during growing season (particularly during flowering—never allow to wilt, causes flower browning). Feed spring and midsummer with balanced fertiliser. Mulch annually spring (well-rotted compost). Very few pest/disease issues. One of easiest Hydrangeas to maintain—reliable massive white flowers with minimal fuss.

Aster novi-belgi 'White Lady':
Moderate maintenance. Water during prolonged dry spells (more moisture-needy than prairie perennials). Light spring feed (balanced fertiliser). Can be prone to powdery mildew late season (particularly in dry conditions at roots/humid air—improve air circulation, water at base not overhead, consider preventative fungicide if recurring problem). Deadhead spent flowers or leave seed heads for winter. Cut back to ground late autumn or early spring. Divide every 3-4 years spring to maintain vigour and reduce disease susceptibility (congested clumps more prone to mildew). Provides valuable late-season white flowers August-October.

Geranium sanguineum 'Album':
Extremely low maintenance. Drought-tolerant established. No feeding required. Shear back lightly after main flush of flowering (midsummer) to encourage second wave and neaten foliage—though flowers continuously May-September regardless. Cut back to ground level late autumn or leave semi-evergreen foliage through winter (provides some ground cover mild winters). Virtually pest/disease-free. One of most reliable hardy geraniums—exceptionally long flowering season (4+ months) with zero fuss.

Digitalis purpurea 'Alba' (White Foxglove):
Biennial habit: plant Year 1, flowers Year 2, then dies (but self-seeds). Allow some seed heads to mature (don't deadhead all) for natural regeneration—seedlings appear autumn/spring, flower following year, creating continuous presence. Water during establishment only. No feeding required. Remove spent flower spikes after blooming unless saving seed. Seedlings can be thinned or transplanted to desired positions spring. Self-seeding creates authentic cottage garden randomness—embrace gentle spreading (becomes naturalised feature of white garden over years).

WHITE GARDEN MAINTENANCE PHILOSOPHY:

This bundle follows monochrome restraint approach—discipline and structure essential for white garden success. Key principles:

  • Dark topiary rhythm maintains structure (without dark evergreen contrast, white flowers appear washed-out—topiary trimming non-negotiable)
  • Deadhead Hydrangea and Aster if flowers browning (white flowers show stress/age more than coloured flowers—remove if unsightly)
  • Allow Digitalis self-seeding (creates naturalistic cottage effect whilst maintaining white discipline—seedlings always white)
  • Never allow coloured flowers to intrude (remove any pink/purple Digitalis seedlings if they appear—reversion occasionally occurs—maintain white purity)
  • Evening appreciation: this border designed for dusk viewing—consider subtle lighting to enhance effect

Reward: sophisticated monochrome elegance, luminous evening presence (white flowers glow at dusk when most borders invisible), continuous white June-September, timeless aesthetic aging gracefully, creates calm restful atmosphere.

COMPREHENSIVE CARE GUIDES:

For detailed care covering all seasons, pests, diseases, and troubleshooting:
→ Complete Care Guide
→ Seasonal Care Calendar
→ Pruning & Trimming Guide
→ Container Care & Repotting Guide
→ Pest & Disease Management Guide
→ Winter Protection Guide

GETTING HELP:

Lifetime email support: hello@topiarytwins.co.uk (24-hour typical response). No time limit, no cost. Species-specific guidance for all plants in your border available forever.

Botanical Specifications
SITE REQUIREMENTS:

Light: Full sun to partial shade. Topiary (Yew or Bay) tolerates partial shade. Hydrangea actually prefers some afternoon shade (prevents flower scorch in hot sun—white flowers particularly prone to browning in intense heat). Geranium tolerates sun to partial shade. Aster prefers full sun but tolerates light shade. Digitalis tolerates sun to partial shade (actually suited to woodland edges). This bundle is particularly suitable for positions receiving morning sun and afternoon shade—ideal for many entrances and commonly available light conditions.

Soil: Well-drained, moderate to rich fertility. Hydrangea prefers consistent moisture and rich soil (appreciates generous organic matter). Geranium, Aster, and Digitalis adapt to typical garden soil. Avoid waterlogged positions. Amend with compost before planting (20-30% by volume) to improve moisture retention and fertility—white-flowering plants generally appreciate richer soil than hot-colour borders.

Space: 1m length × 0.6m depth per unit minimum. Can extend depth to 0.8m if desired (allows more generous spacing for large Hydrangea—mature specimens reach 1-1.5m width). White garden benefits from viewing perspective—plant where evening viewing will occur (approaching entrance, sitting areas, windows).

POSITIONING WITHIN EACH METRE:

Step 1: Position Topiary
If using Yew Ball: Place centrally within 1m width, positioned 20-30cm from back edge. Ball (30-40cm) creates ground-level dark anchor.

If using Bay Lollipop: Place centrally within 1m width, positioned 20-25cm from back edge. Elevated canopy (total height ~100-120cm) provides eye-level dark presence.

Dark topiary is critical for white garden success—provides essential contrast making white flowers appear more luminous.

Step 2: Plant Hydrangea 'Annabelle'
Position 2 Hydrangea plants to sides or in front of topiary (depends on topiary choice—if using tall Bay lollipop, can plant in front; if using low Yew ball, plant to sides). Space 100-120cm apart (mature specimens become 1-1.5m width—need space). Massive flower heads (20-30cm) are focal features—position prominently where they'll be appreciated June-September. These are substantial plants requiring generous space—don't crowd.

Step 3: Plant Geranium (White Ground Cover)
Position 3 Geranium plants throughout front third creating white carpet. Space 40-50cm apart. Spreads to create weed-suppressing ground cover within season. Position right at front edge or slightly behind (10-15cm) creating continuous white ribbon when flowering May-September. Low habit (20-30cm) ensures won't obscure taller plants behind.

Step 4: Plant Aster 'White Lady'
Position 2 Aster plants in mid-ground between Hydrangea and front edge. Space 50-60cm apart. Upright bushy habit (60-80cm) fills vertical space between low Geranium and tall Hydrangea/Digitalis. Late-flowering (August-October) ensures white continues after Digitalis finished and as Hydrangea fades.

Step 5: Plant Digitalis (White Foxglove)
Position 1 Digitalis plant to one side (left or right) in mid-ground or back area. Tall spires (100-120cm) create dramatic vertical accent June-July. Biennial habit means flowers Year 2 then dies, but self-seeds for continuity—allow gentle self-seeding (thin seedlings if becoming too abundant). Position where tall white spires will be visible and dramatic.

REPEATING FOR MULTIPLE METRES:

Continuous borders (2m+):

  • Topiary positioned at precise 1m intervals creating dark rhythm (essential for white garden—without dark structure, white flowers appear washed-out or formless)
  • Hydrangea positioned consistently (to sides or front depending on topiary choice)—large specimens need consistent spacing to develop properly
  • Geranium flows continuously creating white ground carpet—plant across metre boundaries, don't create hard divisions
  • Aster positioned consistently in each metre maintaining white mid-ground layer
  • Digitalis positioned alternating sides (Metre 1: right, Metre 2: left, etc.) or scattered organically depending on self-seeding—embrace natural cottage garden effect

Evening viewing positions:

  • Consider where border will be viewed at dusk/evening (approaching entrance, sitting areas, windows)—position to maximise evening luminosity effect
  • Lighting enhancement: subtle uplighting on dark topiary enhances contrast with white flowers (optional but effective)

DETAILED LAYOUT PLANS:

For visual top-down diagrams showing plant positioning within 1m × 0.6m unit and how multiple metres create continuous cottage border, see our Border Planting Guide.

[View Border Planting Guide →]

Guides to Help You Plan
The White Garden — Border by the Metre with Yew Ball or Bay Lollipop Topiary £313.50

Your scheme's plants — photographed before dispatch · 24 hours to review

With Every Metre

Bought by the metre.Backed plant by plant.

Six things that arrive with the scheme.

N° 01

A metre is a module

Each metre is a fixed module — 1m long, 0.6m deep, eight to ten plants depending on the scheme. The variant you choose names the exact count. Order three metres and three of everything arrives, so the run repeats down the bed exactly as it was drawn.

N° 02

A clipped evergreen in every metre

Every module carries one topiary anchor — an Ilex crenata ball or cube, an English yew ball, a bay, photinia or variegated holly lollipop, or a blue Arizona cypress spiral, according to the scheme. It is the part still standing in January.

N° 03

The layout plan

Everything for the run arrives together with a plan showing where each plant sits inside the module. Nothing has to be designed on the lawn with the pots still in their trays — that work is already done.

N° 04

You see the plants first

Your scheme's plants are photographed before dispatch, and you have 24 hours to review them before the pallet is built. The evergreen anchors and the supporting planting, as they actually are.

N° 05

Upright, tracked, palletised

The whole scheme travels standing up on its own pallet — never boxed, never laid flat — fully tracked, with a timed kerbside delivery and a call from the driver about an hour before he turns in. Allow 14–21 working days.

N° 06

They thrive or we step in

Six months of backing on every plant in the scheme, individually, and unlimited grower support long after that. The full terms and numbers are set out immediately below — no asterisks.

Backed, Supported, Delivered

Promises withnumbers attached.

The terms, in full — no asterisks a lawyer would love.

6 mo

The 6-Month Thrive Guarantee

A border scheme is a lot of plants, so this works per plant, not per order. If an individual plant fails to thrive in its first six months despite reasonable care, we replace it at 50% of that plant's own single price — half what that one plant costs on its own, whether it is the evergreen anchor or one of the perennials around it. Email hello@topiarytwins.co.uk, subject line “Thrive Guarantee Claim – [order number]”, and eligibility is reviewed within 48 hours.

If a whole stretch goes at once rather than one plant here and there, tell us that too — planting that fails together usually points at the ground rather than the stock, and drainage, a wind funnel or a buried rubble layer will do the same thing to a replacement. That is exactly the conversation Lifetime Care Support exists to have, and we would rather fix the ground than send the same outcome twice.

∞

Lifetime Care Support

Unlimited email guidance from the people who grew your scheme, answered within 24 hours, free, forever. Send a photograph of one sulking plant in the third metre, a question about when to cut the grasses back, or a picture of the shears you are about to take to the anchor — there is no expiry date and no limit on how often you ask.

14–21

Delivery, kerbside and palletised

Kerbside pallet by a specialist plant haulier, UK-wide, in 14–21 working days from order. The plants travel upright and are never boxed, the consignment is fully tracked, and the driver phones about an hour ahead so you can be there.

Your scheme's plants are photographed before dispatch, with 24 hours to review them before the pallet is built. Delivery is to the kerb, so plan the carry from kerb to bed before the pallet lands — a five-metre scheme is forty to fifty pots.

How to claim, step by step → in the questions below.

Placing The Run

Three decisionsbefore you order.

Three chapters. One pinned frame. Scroll.

Tape measure run along an empty garden border bed to read its length in metres
Planted garden border with clipped evergreen balls set at even intervals along the run
Three-tier border with clipped evergreen balls, salvia and low hedging along a path edge
01 / 03
01

Measuring the run — and what to do at a corner

Take a tape along the bed and read the length. That is the only measurement the order depends on: depth is fixed at 0.6m per module, so a bed deeper than about a metre simply takes a second module behind the first, offset, and a bed shallower than half a metre is edging rather than a border. Round up, never down — a run that stops a hand's width short of the corner is the one mistake you cannot plant your way out of later. Curves get measured along the front edge with a hosepipe laid where you want the line, then the hosepipe gets measured. At a corner, treat the two arms as two runs and order each to its own whole metre, so the join lands where you decided rather than where the maths left off.

02

The rhythm the anchors make

The spacing inside a metre is already settled — it comes drawn on the plan — so the only rhythm you are choosing is the one between the metres. Because every module carries a single clipped evergreen, a three-metre order lands three anchors down the bed at even intervals, and that repetition is what makes a loose planting read as designed rather than accidental. Set those anchors first on planting day and let everything else fall in around them. If you want the anchors to pull the eye rather than just hold the line, the taller ones do that work: the blue Arizona cypress spiral in The Silver & Blue and the bay lollipop options stand above the perennials all season, where a 30–40cm ball sits down in the planting and reads as punctuation.

03

An edge, a bed, or the strip by the door

A single module run tight to the front of a path or drive behaves like an edge: one row deep, the anchors carrying the line, the planting softening it — which is the same job the driveways and pathways planting does, in scheme form. Two modules front-to-back, offset, behaves like a proper bed, and that is where the taller schemes earn their keep. Around a seating area or a small paved garden, one or two metres is usually the whole planting budget of the space, so pick for scent and evening colour rather than mass — the logic behind the courtyard and patio planting. And if the run you are measuring is the strip either side of a front door, the entrance schemes are built for exactly that frontage instead.

After The Pallet Leaves

What clients noticea season in.

They grow into the house. Every year the structure looks a little more like it was always meant to be there.

David · The Cotswolds

Neighbours stop to ask about them. We've handed your name over the fence more times than we can count.

James & Priya · Kent

Drag · Scroll

Once your border is in, share it with #TopiaryTwins or tag @topiarytwins — and if you film it, our referral programme pays 20% of your order back, rising to 100% if two friends order with your code.

The Border Family

Ten schemes.One module.

Same 1m × 0.6m module every time — the palette and the evergreen anchor are what change. Each length is its own price; read the one on the length you want.

The Formal Edge border by the metre with a clipped Ilex crenata ball, lavender, salvia and allium

N° 01

The Formal Edge

Lavender, silver carpet, salvia and allium round an Ilex crenata ball — or a bay lollipop instead.

1m–5m £275 – £1,924 · ball or lollipop

The Cottage Drift border by the metre with an Ilex crenata ball, geranium, alchemilla and nepeta

N° 02

The Cottage Drift

Geranium ‘Rozanne’, alchemilla, nepeta and penstemon — blush, lilac and lime, May to November.

1m–5m £275 – £1,306 · 10 plants a metre

The Silver and Blue border by the metre with a blue Arizona cypress spiral, festuca, agapanthus and perovskia

N° 03

The Silver & Blue

Festuca, agapanthus, stachys and perovskia — steel blue and silver, exceptional drought tolerance.

1m–5m £275 – £1,710 · yew ball or spiral

The Autumn Gold border by the metre with a photinia Red Robin lollipop, crocosmia, rudbeckia and miscanthus

N° 04

The Autumn Gold

Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’, rudbeckia, sedum and miscanthus under a photinia lollipop — peaks August to October.

1m–5m £295 – £1,401 · 9 plants a metre

The Naturalistic Grass border by the metre with clipped topiary, pennisetum, molinia and echinacea

N° 05

The Naturalistic Grass

Pennisetum, molinia, verbena bonariensis and echinacea — prairie movement and see-through texture.

1m–5m £295 – £1,544 · yew ball or Ilex cube

The Shaded Woodland border by the metre with an English yew ball, astilbe, brunnera, fern and hellebore

N° 06

The Shaded Woodland

Astilbe, brunnera ‘Jack Frost’, male fern and hellebore under a yew ball — partial to full shade.

1m–5m £300 – £1,425 · 8 plants a metre

The Warm Meadow border by the metre with a photinia Red Robin lollipop, rudbeckia, helenium and echinacea

N° 07

The Warm Meadow

Rudbeckia, helenium, echinacea and crocosmia — gold, bronze and orange, sun-drenched, July to October.

1m–5m £330 – £1,568 · 9 plants a metre

The White Garden border by the metre with a bay lollipop, hydrangea Annabelle, white aster and foxglove

N° 08

The White Garden

Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’, white aster, geranium ‘Album’ and foxglove — it glows at dusk.

1m–5m £330 – £2,066 · yew ball or bay lollipop

The Winter Structure border by the metre with a variegated holly lollipop, hellebore, carex and cyclamen

N° 09

The Winter Structure

Hellebore, carex ‘Evergold’, cyclamen coum and scented sweet box — peaks November to March.

1m–5m £400 – £1,900 · 9 plants a metre

The Fragrant Path border by the metre with an aromatic bay lollipop, lavender, catmint and fragrant rose

N° 10

The Fragrant Path

Lavender ‘Vera’, catmint, sweet violet and fragrant rose round an aromatic bay — scent all year.

1m–5m £520 – £2,470 · 8 plants a metre

Border schemes start from £275 for the first metre. Every price above is the RRP for that scheme's shortest and longest run, including VAT.

Prefer to compare them side by side? The whole border family.

Clipped evergreen balls anchoring a modern planted border against black timber cladding

Designed as a scheme · photographed before dispatch · delivered kerbside

Before You Order

Your border.Straight answers.

How many metres should I order?

Run a tape along the bed and read its length — that is the only measurement the order depends on, because the module is a fixed 0.6m deep whatever you buy. Round up to the next whole metre rather than down; schemes are sold in whole metres, one to five per order. Then read the price shown against the length you actually want. Each length is its own variant with its own published RRP, and the schemes are not priced at a flat rate — several of them shift as the run gets longer — so scaling the single-metre figure in your head will give you the wrong number. Border schemes start from £275 for the first metre.

What actually arrives in a metre?

Between eight and ten plants, depending on the scheme, all in pots and ready to go straight in the ground, plus the layout plan showing where each one sits. The split is always the same shape: one clipped evergreen topiary anchor plus seven to nine supporting perennials, grasses and bulbs. The variant title spells out the count for the length you pick — a metre of The Cottage Drift is ten plants, one topiary and nine border; a metre of The Fragrant Path is eight, one topiary and seven border. Order three metres and three of everything arrives, so the scheme repeats down the run exactly as designed.

Which scheme suits my aspect and my colours?

Aspect first, palette second. Partial to full shade takes The Shaded Woodland, where a single metre is £300 — astilbe, brunnera, male fern and hellebore under an English yew ball. Hot, dry and sunny takes The Silver & Blue, a metre at £275 with the yew ball or £360 with the blue Arizona cypress spiral. For late colour in full sun, a metre of The Autumn Gold is £295 and a metre of The Warm Meadow is £330. For clipped formality, a metre of The Formal Edge is £275 with the Ilex ball or £405 with the bay lollipop. For the months nothing else performs, a metre of The Winter Structure is £400; for scent beside a path, a metre of The Fragrant Path is £520. Longer runs are priced individually, so check the length you want on its own listing.

What do I do about corners, curves and awkward gaps?

At a corner, stop thinking of it as one border. Measure the two arms separately, round each up to its own whole metre and order them as two runs — that way the join lands where you chose it, with an evergreen anchor near the turn to hold the angle, rather than wherever the arithmetic ran out. For a curved front edge, lay a hosepipe along the line you want, adjust it until it looks right from the house, then measure the hosepipe rather than the straight line behind it. And for a gap too small to take another whole metre, do not stretch the scheme to fill it: a single clipped specimen from the topiary collection closes a short gap far better than thinned-out planting, and matches the anchors already in the run.

How is it spaced and planted, and what happens afterwards?

The spacing inside the metre comes drawn on the plan, so there is nothing to work out: clear the bed of perennial weeds, fork over the full 0.6m band with compost rather than digging individual holes, then set the evergreen anchor first — it fixes the rhythm of the whole run — and stand the rest out in their pots to the plan before anything goes in the ground. Most people plant a metre in under an hour. Afterwards: soak deeply once or twice a week through the first summer rather than sprinkling daily, cut the perennials and grasses to the ground in one pass in late winter, and give the anchors one or two short trims a year. That is the entire calendar. The step-by-step method is in our planting guide.

How does a border scheme get delivered?

Kerbside, on its own pallet, by a specialist plant haulier, UK-wide. The plants travel upright and are never boxed, the consignment is fully tracked, and the driver phones about an hour ahead so you can be there when he arrives. Allow 14–21 working days from order — your scheme is being selected, photographed and documented in that window, and you get 24 hours to review the photographs before the pallet is built. Because delivery is to the kerb, work out the carry before the lorry lands: a five-metre scheme is forty to fifty pots, and the taller anchors are two-handed. Full terms are at delivery & returns.

What happens if a plant fails in the first six months?

Tell us early. The 6-Month Thrive Guarantee works plant by plant, which is what a multi-plant scheme needs: if an individual plant fails to thrive in its first six months despite reasonable care, we replace it at 50% of that plant's own single price — half what that one plant costs on its own, anchor or perennial. Email hello@topiarytwins.co.uk with the subject “Thrive Guarantee Claim – [order number]” and eligibility is reviewed within 48 hours. If a whole stretch fails together rather than one plant here and there, say so — that usually points at the ground rather than the stock, and replacing plant for plant would only repeat it. That is what Lifetime Care Support is for: unlimited email guidance from the growers, answered within 24 hours, free, forever, so we can fix the conditions instead.

The Topiary Twins Difference

Measured once.Planted in an afternoon.

Ten schemes, each one worked out to the plant — so the only decision left to you is how long the bed is.

Structure in every metre

A clipped evergreen anchor in every module — the border still reads in January.

Backed plant by plant

The 6-month Thrive Guarantee covers each plant in the scheme through establishment.

Growers for life

Lifetime Care Support — a photo gets grower answers for as long as you own the plants.