Styles

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Styles of gardens
There are so many different styles of garden to choose from - it can be quite a daunting prospect. We have listed some of the popular styles below which can be a useful starting point. We also recommend looking at magazines, searching the internet, looking at both neighbours' and public gardens for inspiration as well as looking at the architecture of our house. If you still aren't sure, then don't worry, we will have suggestions of what will work well for the size and location of your garden before we get on with the main work of designing it in detail and making it unique to you.

Contemporary
Contemporary gardens are minimalist designs using sleek clean lines. Architectural planting such as phormium and cordyline are often used as well as rows of striking planters. Lawn is less likely to be used with more of a focus on hard landscaping. Lighting is key and the use of sculpture and water features really sets this style off. Although more obviously used in modern properties, the contrast with older properties can be particularly successful and can be good for those looking for a low maintenance design with a focus on entertaining.

The Cayman Islands Garden - Chelsea 2009
Country Cottage
This style is most suited to properties of the same name but is so well loved it is often a feature of all sorts of homes. Herbaceous borders, meandering paths, archways and lawn are key feature of the country cottage design  giving a very soft and relaxing feel to the garden. Due to the nature of the herbaceous border, this style is higher maintenance than it may seems in order to keep it looking stunning throughout the flowering period.
Country cottage garden - Chelsea 2009
Family Friendly
It's possible to design a garden which is child friendly yet still provides adult space for entertaining and relaxing. Zoning the garden provides specific areas for certain uses giving everyone the garden they desire. Whether it's a play area with rubber matting for the kids, a lawn that can be used for all the family or a patio area for adult entertaining, there are many options to please all. Hardy shrubs can be used which look lovely but are also child friendly.
Family style garden
Formal
A formal design looks wonderful in large period properties but can be equally striking in a small courtyard with a row of containers with clipped planting. Symmetry is key to this style using lots of box hedging as well as annual bedding plants providing colour, often in patterns. Topiary is a common sight in formal gardens as well as classic sculptures and water features. Formal gardens must be maintained regularly as the tidy clipped look is key to this design and may take some time to mature to the desired look.
A formal garden
Japanese
Japanese is an increasingly popular theme for UK gardens. Designed well, they can be absolutely stunning, particularly in Autumn when shrubs such as acers are at their most eyecatching. Planting also includes bamboos and hostas and are reasonably low maintenance. Water features, ponds and Japanese bridges are also key and lawn is likely to be replaced with gravel or paving. Oriental sculptures set this style off perfectly,
A Japanese garden
Wildlife
More and more people are keen to attract wildlife into their garden and provide a haven in our ever more urban areas. Features of wildlife gardens include a pond, wildflower lawn, compost heaps, nest boxes and bird houses and leaf piles. Wildlife friendly plants such as buddleia and sedum are important as well as shrubs with berries to attract birds. Wildlife gardens are relatively low maintenance as its important to leave areas undisturbed to attract wildlife.
Wildlife garden - Chelsea 2009
Self Sufficient
The vegetable patch is quickly becoming the most essential addition to our gardens. It not only helps you save money but helps add value to your property in the long term. As well as the “home allotment” being an environmentally sound option, it is also a source of cheap and delicious food – food that you know for sure is pesticide-free. Other elements such as  compost heaps and water butts can be incorporated as well as plants which benefit from being cut  providing beautiful bouquets for your home.
Growing veg - Chelsea 2009


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