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A photo shared by Monty Don shows an informal group of terracotta pots softening the edge of a garden path near his doghouse. Garden designer Christopher O’Donoghue says staggered containers and foliage that reaches the paving can make a path feel more integrated with surrounding planting; the effect depends on choosing plants suited to the light and conditions.
A photo of Monty Don’s garden path, shared on Instagram, shows an informal arrangement of terracotta pots beside the route from his doghouse, prompting advice on using containers to make paving feel less rigid. Garden expert Christopher O’Donoghue says staggered pots and foliage that reaches the paving can blur the boundary between a path and the planting around it.
Ideal Home reports that the image shows plants gathered along the path rather than containers placed in a matching or symmetrical line. The greenery appears to continue toward the paving, making the route feel connected to the garden rather than set apart from it. The report describes the display as a practical example of softening hard landscaping, not as a formal design plan attributed to Don.
O’Donoghue, director of Gardens Revived, recommends arranging pots asymmetrically: for example, a group of three on one side and a larger container farther along the other. He says varied pot heights can add structure, while plants that trail or spread over a rim help soften the path’s edge. The central idea is to let the planting, rather than the containers alone, define the finished look.
For a layered arrangement, O’Donoghue suggests combining taller plants with lower or trailing varieties. He recommends Mexican fleabane for a sunny path and creeping thyme in shallow bowls, while trailing ivy, hostas, Japanese forest grass and hart’s tongue fern are options he identifies for shadier settings. These are his suggestions; the report does not establish that Don used those particular plants in the pictured arrangement.
How pots soften paving edges
For gardeners with an existing paved route, containers offer a way to change its appearance without rebuilding it. Grouping pots unevenly can interrupt long, straight lines, while foliage that reaches the paving makes the transition to nearby beds appear less abrupt. The approach can suit narrow paths as well as larger areas of brick or concrete, according to O’Donoghue.
Containers also let gardeners choose and manage growing conditions separately from the ground. O’Donoghue says pots provide more control over soil drainage, which he considers useful in wet UK winters. That does not remove the need to select suitable plants or check drainage: the display’s success will depend on the conditions at the particular site, including sun, shade and moisture.
The method can be built gradually rather than bought as a complete set. O’Donoghue advises starting plants in ordinary pots, then moving established specimens into more decorative containers and adding smaller pots around them. For readers, that makes the visual idea adaptable to existing containers and plants, although the report provides no cost comparison or guarantee that every arrangement will thrive.
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The path in Don’s garden
According to Ideal Home, Don bought his home in 1991, inheriting a two-acre garden overrun with nettles and brambles. The report says he has worked on the garden over the years and has attracted a following on Instagram, where viewers see parts of the outdoor space.
The image at the centre of the report shows a path leading from the timber-framed doorway of Don’s doghouse. Ideal Home uses it to illustrate a broader container-planting technique: rather than keeping paving edges sharply defined, place plants close enough for their growth to visually connect with the surrounding garden. The article offers expert guidance alongside the photo; it does not say Don published a step-by-step tutorial.
““Using potted plants is an excellent way to blur the harsh, straight lines of paving.””
— Christopher O’Donoghue, director of Gardens Revived, quoted by Ideal Home
What the photo does not confirm
The report does not give the date the Instagram photo was posted or identify the plants and containers visible in the image in detail. It also does not say whether Don personally recommended the specific arrangement or endorsed the expert advice presented alongside it. O’Donoghue’s suggestions should be read as general gardening guidance, not a confirmed list of plants used in Don’s garden.
Results will vary with a path’s light, exposure, available space and local growing conditions. The report does not provide measurements, a complete planting plan, maintenance requirements or evidence comparing this approach with other ways of softening paving.
How to try the arrangement
Gardeners following the approach can begin by observing how much sun or shade the path receives, then choose plants suited to those conditions. O’Donoghue’s examples include Mexican fleabane and creeping thyme for sunny spots, and ivy, hostas, Japanese forest grass or hart’s tongue fern for shade. His recommendations are starting points; plant labels and local conditions should guide final choices.
Next, use pots of different sizes and place them in staggered groups rather than forming a straight, matching line. Let plants establish before moving stronger specimens into display containers, and add lower or trailing growth so some foliage can reach toward the paving. The source gives no further confirmed update from Don, so any new planting details or response from him remain unknown.
Key Questions
What is Monty Don’s garden-path trick?
The photo reported by Ideal Home shows an informal arrangement of terracotta pots beside a path near Don’s doghouse. The accompanying advice is to stagger containers and let foliage grow toward or onto the paving.
Should the pots be arranged symmetrically?
No. Christopher O’Donoghue advises against lining up identical pots opposite each other. He suggests uneven groupings, such as several pots on one side and a larger one farther along the other.
Which plants does the expert suggest for sunny paths?
O’Donoghue recommends Mexican fleabane for sunny paths and creeping thyme in shallow bowls. He says creeping thyme can trail over the edge and tolerate relatively dry conditions.
What plants does he suggest for shade?
His shade recommendations include trailing ivy, hostas, Japanese forest grass and hart’s tongue fern. The right choice will depend on the specific growing conditions.
Did Monty Don confirm which plants are in the photo?
The report does not identify the plants in the image in detail or say that Don confirmed the expert’s plant list. The recommendations are attributed to Christopher O’Donoghue.
Source: rss
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