Knot Gardens

Figure A

A knot garden is essentially low-clipped hedges planted and trimmed to create a knotted- cord effect, where the different plant materials come in and out from underneath each other and give you that look of a knotted cord. There's the open style (figure A), where bare soil can be seen within the figures.

Figure B

The closed style (figure B) is where the design is completely filled with plants.

"The No. 1 thing that takes the most time however is the clipping of the hedges," says Alex Fernandez, manager of Filoli Gardens in Woodside, Calif. "Since it is a very formal garden with a lot of different plant material, you have to really delineate your lines and plant material. You have to be really meticulous because it's important--especially in an open knot garden--to keep that area free of weeds so the plants really show off."

If attempting a knot garden at home seems daunting, just start a small container knot garden.

A great container knot garden is a work of gardening art.

It's a commitment of time and energy, but this is surely a garden you'll fall in love with. Look for knot garden design inspiration in patterns around you--a garden gate, a favorite tablecloth, your family’s coat of arms. What better place to unleash those knotty ideas than the garden!