The Knot Garden

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The Knot Garden

• Hort 4000
• Mary Laine

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What is a knot garden?

• Plants are clipped to create intricate designs of
  interwoven ribbons of usually herbs or boxwood
• 2 or 3 herbs are usually combined for texture,
  color, foliage contrast
• Symmetrical pattern in a square or rectangle
• Diamonds, concentric circles, simple curves,
  intricate curls
• Inner spaces filled with colored gravel, black
  coal, plants, sand, bricks, slabs

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History

• Dates from the 15th century and Charles II
• Patterns originated from Oriental carpets,
  clothing, Celtic symbols, embroidery, nature,
  jewelry
• Monks created the gardens to grow medicinal and
  culinary herbs

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History

• Gardens were more highly esteemed if they had an
  elaborate pattern
• By the time of the American Revolution,
  prosperous Americans had knot gardens

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Country Housewifes Garden, William Lawson, 1618
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• Hampton Court knot garden
• http//www.jbutler.org.uk/cgi-bin/image.cgi?Richmo
  nd/02442.jpg

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Traditional Plants

• Lavandula angustifolia lavender
• Hyssop officinalis hyssop
• Rosmarinus officinalis rosemary
• Teucrium chamaedrys germander
• Armeria spp. thrift
• Santolina chamaecyparissus lavender cotton
• Buxus sempervirens Suffruticosa dwarf boxwood
• Buxus sempervirens European native boxwood

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Accents for the Garden

• Plant bulbs such as tulips and agapanthus in pots
  or in the ground within the inner space
• Plant topiaries, roses, herbs, and bedding plants
  in larger inner spaces
• Install statuary, trellises, or fountains

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Plants for our Area

• Zone 4
• Euonymus alatus Compactus
• Pinus mugo mugo
• Taxus media Hicksii
• Taxus cuspidata Nana
• Zone 5
• Teucrium chamaedrys germander
• Boxwood and lavender generally are hardy in zones
  6

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Tips for Success

• The smaller the area to be planted, the simpler
  the design should be
• Inner spaces should be no smaller than the width
  of the hedge so the pattern doesnt disappear as
  the hedge matures
• Using a simple pattern allows plantings in the
  inner spaces

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Tips for Success

• Plants in the inner spaces should not compete
  with the hedge
• Let the hedge become established before planting
  the inner spaces to avoid competition for light,
  water, air
• In large areas, several knots are more effective
  than one large one

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For Our Area

• Who has suggestions for plants to use in zones 3
  and 4?
• Has anyone seen a knot garden here?

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References

• Hadfield, Miles. Topiary and Ornamental Hedges
  Their History and Cultivation.
• Whalley, Robin, and Anne Jennings. Knot Gardens
  and Parterres.
• Yang, Linda. Topiaries and Espaliers, Taylors
  Weekend Gardening Guides.
• Barnsley knot garden http//www.plantsgalore.com/g
  ardens/uk/images/England-2004-Barnsley-006.jpg
• Castle Bromwich http//www.draca.freeserve.co.uk/c
  bhg/gpics/oldmos.jpg
• Hampton Court Knot Garden http//www.jbutler.org.u
  k/cgi-bin/image.cgi?Richmond/02442.jpg
• Smith College http//www.smith.edu/garden/Gardens/
  capengarden.html