Landscaping 101

Lesson 1: Why Landscaping is Important

Garden Styles

Garden Styles

Style refers to the overall look and feel of your landscape. Although there are numerous garden styles, the different categories of gardens can fall into one of two types: formal and informal.

Formal gardens are the so called “classic” garden. These gardens are characterized by a strong geometrical arrangement and are symmetrical in nature. These gardens generally have straight lines or precise circular patterns, and as the name suggests, a “formal” appearance. With this type of garden the plants are kept orderly and well pruned. Therefore, this type of landscaping requires a large amount of maintenance.

Informal gardens have a more free flowing style and utilize free flowing curved lines. They generally use asymmetrical balance. An informal design appears much more random and compatible with nature than a formal garden design.

The architecture of your house will dictate what type of style you should include in your landscaping. A stately Victorian house would look best with a formal garden; while a cottage home or cabin would no doubt look best with an informal landscape.

In addition to the two major groupings of formal and informal, there are a few other distinctive styles that are worth considering as you are planning your landscaping.

The English garden or cottage garden. These gardens originated in the 17th and 18th centuries. This type of garden utilizes an abundance of shrubs and perennials and are put together in somewhat of a rambling design. Cottage gardens are dense with plants and have a large diversity in colors. Any garden accessories used tend to be of a rustic nature.

The Oriental landscape. Oriental gardens tend to reflect nature, but in an organized and artistic manner. These gardens tend to use water, rocks and evergreens and a variety of plants to create perspective. However, the gardens are generally designed to be places of contemplation and thus are free from distractions such as bold colors or strong textures. Oriental gardens were used for thousands of years to enhance the tranquility of temples. These gardens can have a Chinese, Korean or Japanese basis for their style. Some are very elegant with ponds, streambeds and falls, while others are quite minimalist, depending instead on lines, shapes and simple elements such as sand beds as garden elements.

Woodland gardens or naturalized gardens. These types of gardens try to mimic nature. They can take several different forms depending on the amount of sun or shade your landscaping receives. Some naturalized gardens mimic meadows full of wildflowers, while other more shaded landscapes may duplicate what you might see in a forest with thick undergrowth, streams and boulders. Naturalized areas may include assorted daffodil and crocus bulbs that are scattered throughout the landscape. The region that you live in and your personal preference will determine what type of “natural” garden you want to imitate.

Wildflower gardens. This is just like it sounds. Your garden is based on the native wildflowers in your area. Flowers are generally planted in a random nature and allowed to spread however nature intends. These garden beds tend to be very attractive to birds and butterflies.

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