What hasn't quite turned out as you'd hoped?

Show it your post. That'll put the wind up it.

 

What hasn't worked for me is expecting plants to behave and grow in a specific manner...

That's particularly true for the border below, which I restructured last year. Prior to that, I had come up with a plan using specific roses and each other plant being a lavender. I thought it would be nice and tidy. Instead it is a mess



I think I am going to have to sacrifice some of the rose blooms and tidy the rose shrubs (mainly the pink one in the middle). Also move the lavender behind it a bit to the right. Then wait until the lavender flower spikes are spent and give them a good prune.