What Is An English Garden Design?
What Is An English Garden Design?
An English garden design is an 18th-century garden originating in England that focuses on natural, informal plantings and native plants.
These gardens often feature curving pathways, rustic wooden structures, well-worn benches, wildflower meadows, and a variety of blooming shrubs and flowers that have been carefully chosen to create a romantic atmosphere.
Trees are left to grow naturally but can contain minor pruning or shaping if they threaten pathways or low-lying structures. The English garden design welcomes nature and celebrates the beauty of the countryside with its lush vegetation, winding paths, whimsical sculptures, and colorful flower beds.
What Are The Features Of An English Garden?
An English garden is characterized by its beautiful and often romanticized landscape, which typically includes a lake, majestic rolling lawns dotted with trees, and recreations of classical temples, Gothic ruins, bridges, and other picturesque architectures.
Its main goal is to create an idyllic pastoral setting that can be enjoyed for its beauty and serenity.
This type of garden also tends to include wildflower meadows, birdbaths and feeders, winding pathways lined with trees or hedges, creative stonework designs like ponds or fountains, colorful flower beds with blooming flowers of all varieties, shaded seating areas situated amongst the foliage.
Perfect for an afternoon respite or gathering with family and friends – and often even small grottos tucked away in a corner somewhere. All together these features combine together to make up a quintessential English garden.
What Are The Different Types Of English Gardens?
English gardens are a style of landscaping that draws from the cultural and traditional garden designs of England. The two main types of English gardens are the English cottage garden and the English country garden, each with its own unique look, appeal, and character.
The English cottage garden is full of informal flowers and plants like roses, foxgloves, primroses, and daisies, combined in a way that looks like it has been thrown together almost randomly, though there is actually a great deal of thoughtful design involved.
The country-style English garden features more formal elements such as topiaries and clipped shrubs, symmetrical pathways, and classical statuary which all come together to form an elegant look that exudes beauty, charm, and sophistication.
What Plants To Put In An English Garden?
For an English garden, popular choices include Lady’s Mangle, Foxgloves, Pinks (Dianthus), Peonies, Hollyhocks, Phlox, Delphiniums, Lavender, Herbs such as Rosemary and Thyme, Primroses and Hydrangeas.
To ensure something is always in bloom throughout the growing season it would be wise to select plants that bloom at different times; for example peonies in late spring and lavender in summer.
Why Are English Gardens Walled?
English gardens are typically walled for a variety of practical and aesthetic reasons. They provide protection from strong winds, frost, and other extreme weather conditions, as well as help to maintain the desired temperature in the garden.
Aesthetically, garden walls offer structure and definition to a space, providing an appealing backdrop for shrubs, trees, and colorful flower beds. Additionally, by containing plants within the confines of a walled enclosure it is easier to control problems such as pests and disease.
The walling also aids in retaining moisture which can be beneficial when planting sensitive or tropical plants that require higher humidity levels. Finally, walls can add height to an area by helping create additional layers within the design scheme.
