Frame academy

Every garden is capable of being a work of art, but the right lawn regime can give your art the edge, says Toby

- Toby

WHEN the gavel fell on Banksy's Girl with Balloon painting for a cool $1.4 million, a shredder within W its frame whirred to life and chewed through the artwork as if it were an old bank statement. I was thinking of this stunt because I've been mowing the big green frame (aka the lawn) in our garden.

Lawns are a horticultural miracle. They survive wear and tear, cost pennies to create, and last a lifetime with only rudimentary care. But they have another attribute that's less appreciated, much like Banksy's picture frame they can improve or detract from what they surround.

When setting out a garden, it's natural to think about the shape of borders (where the interesting stuff is) first, and the grass second. But because borders undulate, it's impossible to get a handle on a bed's true outline so if they are narrow/triangular/wonky at the back, you'll never notice.