Karen Atkins’s Edible Knot Garden

Though they are typically found in large, formal gardens, Karen Atkins believes that knot gardens make eye-catching elements in any landscape, even a suburban backyard. In her plan, she combines the aromatic foliage of ‘Boxwood’ basil with hardy dwarf lavender in a simple but visually appealing pattern that comes together with the help of a kiddie swimming pool.

For centuries, knot gardens were a focal point in the landscapes of European kings and queens, and a major landscape feature in Tudor England. By the eighteenth century, these complex gardens fell out of favor when more naturalistic landscapes became popular. A century later, Victorian gardeners resurrected the style of knot gardening when they began to create elaborate and flamboyant formal flower beds and parterres.

Patterned on weaving. As the name implies, the history of knot gardens is intertwined with weaving. “A knot garden is a patterned garden where plants of contrasting habits and foliage are interlaced to mimic the ‘over and under’ effect created by two or more different colors of yarn,” says Karen. Karen created this herbal knot garden pattern by simplifying a design first published in Gervase Markham’s The Countrie Farm, in 1616. “A 10- by 10-foot space will give you enough room to plant the garden, with a 2-foot perimeter all around it,” she says.

Easy to install. Today, knot gardens are often reserved for botanical gardens. They have not been widely adopted by modern gardeners, who fear the intricate and complex patterns, as well as the accompanying assumption of high maintenance. Yet Karen Atkins’s design is easily installed, extremely manageable, and can be used as the centerpiece of a larger garden or just as a small jewel on its own.

Site to be seen. Choose a location that offers plenty of sunshine, decent well-drained soil, and a chance to be viewed at its best. “A patterned garden is best enjoyed from above,” she says. “Therefore, you may choose to center your knot on an upstairs window or even a slightly raised porch for greatest effect.” To keep the knot design distinct, Karen recommends that the lavender plants be trimmed annually. ‘Boxwood’ basil is an annual herb (with extremely aromatic foliage), and young seedlings can be transplanted into the pattern each spring once the risk of frost has passed.

Karen’s Garden Plan

1. Dwarf lavender. The fragrant blossoms of lavender can be used in scones, shortbreads, and other baked goods, as well as mixed with the tiny leaves of ‘Boxwood’ basil and sprinkled over yogurt and berries. Try ‘Munstead Dwarf’, ‘Thumbelina Leigh’, or ‘Dwarf Blue’.

2. ‘Boxwood’ basil. The ‘Boxwood’ basil is an aromatic cultivar of this annual herb with an attractive, rounded growth habit. Its extremely flavorful leaves can be used in place of regular basil in favorite recipes. If you’d prefer a perennial edible, common oregano could be substituted and clipped to shape, or the ornamental plant germander, which is hardy to Zone 5 and has attractive silvery foliage. If ‘Boxwood’ basil is difficult to source, ‘Spicy Globe’ or ‘Pistou’ could be substituted.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Knot Garden

Knot Garden Materials

Instructions

  1. 1. Mark the center of your garden, preferably aligning it with an upstairs window or even a slightly raised patio or deck. At each of the outer corners of the 8- by 8-foot garden install a lavender plant (see drawing).
  2. 2. Plant each corner ‘Boxwood’ basil 4 feet from the center of the garden, centered inside the four lavender plants. Fill in the lines by planting one ‘Boxwood’ basil every foot between the corners of the inner diamond (see drawing).

    Steps 1 & 2

  3. 3. Center a standard (36-inch-­diameter) baby pool or hula hoop on one corner of the diamond. Arrange lavender plants every foot around the outside edge of the pool or hoop. Remove basil plants every other time they intersect, so that you establish an alternating “over/under” pattern (see drawing). Repeat this step for each corner of the diamond.

    Step 3

  4. 4. Plant the remaining lavender plants between the half-circles and the lavender plants at the outer corners of the garden (see drawing).

    Step 4

  5. 5. Using pea gravel, mulch the inside of the figures formed by the basil and lavender plants to emphasize the contrast between the two types of herbs.