Question
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Hello again, Laura.
My question was in regard to containing the garden in a way that does not require weedeating.
Thanks, Denise

Followup To
Question -
Hello, and thank you.  
I have just moved into a new house with the promise of a lovely lawn.  I am single with health problems and am looking for low maintainance.  I desperately want to build an English or cottage garden and put my energy into that, not into weedeating the lawn.  What would be the best way to contain my garden and reduce the need for weedeating around it.
D. Bailey
Answer -
Denise,I just answered a similar question so I am going to give you the same answer but it may need to be ammended,for instance your planting zone(which you didn't mention,)and a neighbors garden which may or may not pertain to you.Also,go check out some books at the library on English and "cottage" gardens.There are many because that's how I started.
Well first you need a plan.Without a plan,you will be lost. Take your camera and get as many views as possible around the house and where you want the beds to be. Start slowly.If you rush it,you will be sorry you started.So roughly sketch out the area on paper,it doesn't have to be perfect,just a starting point.Work on one area at a time,whatever your priority is.I would also check with the neighbors that have the neglected garden to see if there are any salvageable plants or anything.I do that for a living and believe me,there are usually some plants that thrive without any care at all.They may be hard to identify until they bloom so you have to keep an eye out every season for color.Check for anything you can use,like statuary or border stones or shrubbery.They probably won't care if they aren't restoring it.Also here are some websites to look for plants that thrive in your zone,which is THE most important factor when planning a garden,so know your plant zone,which will be ?:Here are some great sources to look at on the web:White Flower Farm,Wayside Gardens, Shady Oaks Nursery,Walters Perennials(or Gardens),Jackson & Perkins,Khelm's Song Sparrow Perennial Farm,Van Bourgondien Bulbs,Van Dyck's Bulbs,Brent & Becky's Bulbs,Plants by Mail,Gardener's Supply Co.,Bluestone Perennials,Sheperds Seeds

All these companies offer free catalogs too and a lot of specials if you order online.
Good luck with your garden and remember to go at your own pace!  

Answer
The best thing to do is to have large beds full of perennials,bulbs,shrubs and annuals.This doe not however mean less work,just less mowing and weed eating.Make sure you use weed barrier plastic or fabric in the beds secured by metal garden staples and have a clean edge around all the beds.You will have to use a weed killer around the edges of all the beds or else you will have to weed eat that.
You could also have raised beds using bricks or lumber or railroad ties.
Look at the web sites I listed to look at different materials to use for making flower beds.
Filling up the beds with perennials etc,will just evolve over time as they spread and you start moving and transplanting various plants that overcrowd or get lost behind others.Soo after you get the beds established it doesn't take too long for the multiplying to start and before you know it,you will have beautiful full beds with hopefully,very few weeds.Good luck to you.
PS.You may need some help in the first stages of the bed makingMake sure you choose someone with some muscle!