Knot garden is a type of a formal gadren which was invented in Elizabethan England. Knot gardens could be viewed in most English and french landscapes, they were patterned after a rug or tapestry. The main components of the knot garens are: geometric patterns, dwarf hedges of evergreen herbs, and/or paths. There is a kind of knot gardens- close gardens which has no access and compartments, containing colored sand or gravel. The other knot gardens-open gardens involved paths forming the part of the pattern and compartments which consisted of sweet-smlling plants like for example rosemary, hyssop, sage and lavender. The planting schemes of knot gardens are sparse with an emphasis on the individual species. The example of such planting scheme is: the boxwood hedges and the knots mae in groups of four. The knot gardens require a lot of time and maintenance: you will need to provide constant trimming in order that the plants could look good.  There is a great example of knot garden which can be found at Filoli in California. In 1910 William Bowers Bourn purchased Muckross House estate in County Kerry, Ireland as a wedding gift for his daughter. The rich history of this property influenced him so greatly that he incorporated many extensive garens into this estate (Filoli). Eventually this estate was donated to the national Trust for Historic Preservation. In 1976 two knot gardens were created as a bicentennial project.
The length of each garden is 35' by 36". They are bordered on the south by a copper beech hedge, and on the north by rose of Sharon with the purpose to create an enclosed space. These gardens reproduce the style of a medieval knot garden, creating an illusion of colored cords weaving under and over one another. They consist of low growing plants which grow in dense, hedge-like masses. More than 20,000 annuals are planted by the gardeners each year so that they could look spectacular in spring, summer and fall. In spring you can view beautiful magnolias, rhododendrons, and azaleas while the rose gardens rule the summer. The charming fall colors are provided by chrysanthemums, copper beeches, gingkoes and Japanese maples. The knot garens look best in May and June when the lavender, santolina and germander contrast with the rich crimson of the new barberry foliage. Knot gardens are so interesting due to the contrasting foliage colors which they involve and small divisions which create a neat area for growing herbs. It is possible to grow a different herb in each area fitting your plants to certain colors, herbs- for certain aliments or cooking styles or even fragrance. A contemporary knot garden can also include such elements as brick circle, brick diamond, square within a square, diagonal paths, interlocking diamonds, oblongs and right angles, diamonds and squares, diamonds in rectangles and wheel beds. This garden design combines the exuberant natural growth of herbs with the tidy formality of traditional designs. You need to make a bed which is not less then 6'square. If you make a smaller bed the lines won't be weaving. The design of the garden needs to be planned on the grid paper. You may take the ideas from various herb books, books on ancient cultures even some historc books may contain the illustration of knot gardens. If the weater is too cold for growing boxwood hyssop or germander can be used as edging plants. These plants can become a single feature of your main garen or serve as a beautiful centerpiece. It will also look spectacular if you manage to combine together formal and informal styles. A formal garden shouldn't be so intricate as the knot garden but it should involve stucture as well.
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