7 Styles Of Garden To Inspire You
We’re going garden crazy this month now that Spring is in full flow, so to celebrate we’ve rounded up examples of seven very different styles of outdoor space you could adopt at home.
1. Balcony gardens
We’re realists in that many of you reading this may well be living without a whole lot in the way of outdoor space to call your own, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all the fun of gardening. Whether you have a balcony, a small roof terrace or any sort of unused space around your property you just have to be clever in how you use it.
Try to use plants and garden furniture that makes the most of the space, cover up any ugly sights and add a bit of personality. And since you’re limited with how much you can do – it’s time to go big or go home! Buy one or two statement-making plants or trees, get hold of some eye-catching furniture so you have somewhere to sit and think about adding some lighting too.
We’ve picked out this stunning balcony Bermondsey, London where the owners have grown some beautiful barrier plants to make the space their own.
2. Urban gardens
Similar to balcony gardens, urban gardens have a tough job as they need a lot to provide of functions without having much space to do it in! While many city dwellers leave their gardens as wasted space it can still be possible to make something of your land even if it’s small and has little access to sunlight.
It’s about choosing hardy plants that can cope with low light and the poorer atmosphere of urban areas while still bringing a natural feel to the concrete world surrounding them. And if space is really limited… go vertical instead of horizontal and use your home as the basis for some tall plants and vines to grow up.
We’ve picked out this terraced property in East London to show that even in this urban setting you can create a beautiful garden space with a bit of imagination on your side.
3. Wildlife-friendly gardens
Many of us have probably dreamy of one day having an eco-friendly garden that sits in harmony to the natural world around it, but it doesn’t just have to be a pipe dream if you plan things out carefully.
Research which plants, flowers and shrubs are known to attract bird and insects to a space and invest heavily in them to begin attracting those little visitors to your garden.
This unique five-bedroom home in Herefordshire stands out for many reasons but the garden is what truly makes it shine, with a whole host of colourful and fragrant plants that will attract bees, butterflies and all manner of wildlife into it.
4. Formal gardens
The classic formal garden follows strict rules of symmetry and has a clear, straight path through which visitors are expected to walk around and take everything in.
There’s no question that these gardens are among the most time-consuming to look after compared to some of the others on our list, but if you’re serious about the gardening hobby it can be one of the most rewarding projects to take. And the results speak for themselves!
This East Sussex seven-bedroom home has embraced aspects of the formal garden with topiary-style maze hedges, symmetrical design and an overall feel of order meeting nature.
5. Container gardens
Another idea for those of you limited with your garden space is the container garden – which is even more perfect if your lifestyle tends to mean you move house regularly.
By keeping everything in planters, troughs and pots it means the space you do have is completely versatile. Not only can you load them onto a moving van if need be but you can also simply rearrange the design of your garden on a whim to change things up. So long as you plant a mix of species that complement each other – think different sizes, flower colours and scents – then this can be as beautiful a garden as any other.
This two-bedroom home near Deansgate has created an almost tropical vibe in this small outdoor space despite being in an urban environment.
6. Cottage gardens
The quintessential English cottage garden is probably something you’ve lusted over many times and yet despite you probably thinking it would be too hard to replicate – it’s definitely not impossible!
It’s all about controlling the chaos – grow as many plants as you can comfortably fit in your garden and let them go wild – with only the occasional trim or adjustment to keep things from going too crazy. From winding paths to hedgerows of flowers – there’s possibly no garden more peaceful-looking than this.
We’ve picked out a home in Ayr to showcase this garden style and, we think you’ll agree, the resulting effect is stunning.
7. Water gardens
Finally we have the water garden, which usually involves crafting your garden space around one large (or several smaller) water features as the focal point.
Whether it’s a charming pond, a meandering stream or an eye-catching fountain, adding elements of water into a space helps the overall peaceful feel of a garden as well as providing a relaxing sound as it trickles away in the background.
This family home in Birmingham has a delightful pond in its back garden that sets the space off perfectly.
