| Does Your Home Garden Have a Style? You may be | | | | southern gardens with their lush greenery and |
| asking me "Style? For a garden? I just plant flowers." | | | | overblown flowers won't live in either hot desert or |
| But, if you think about it, you can see that there | | | | cold snowy climates. |
| really can be different styles for gardens. | | | | So, you can see that the style of your garden is |
| A garden style can help you decide what kind of look | | | | closely tied to the climate conditions surrounding it. |
| you want for your garden as well as where to put | | | | Gardens can also be defined in style as formal or |
| your plantings. | | | | informal. For instance, a simple rose garden can look |
| How do you take style design into your gardening | | | | dramatically different when planted in a cottage |
| plans when you have so many practical matters to | | | | garden style than when planted in a more formal |
| think about? You have garden size, whether the area | | | | geometric style. |
| is in sun or shade, its proximity to buildings, and how | | | | When trying to decide on a style for your garden, |
| you will be using the space. | | | | first look at your geographical location. Then, think |
| The solution is to treat is element of your garden as | | | | about what style you have in your home. Is it more |
| a part of a single design. The walls, garden furniture, | | | | casual or quite formal? This will give you a place to |
| even potted plants should all relate to the overall | | | | start for designing your garden. |
| garden style. The most successful and beautiful | | | | Now, decide on how you will be using the space. Will |
| gardens have started with a plan. | | | | you be having family barbecues or will you be doing |
| Let's take a look at some different garden styles: | | | | more formal entertaining? Do you have children or |
| You've probably heard of the cottage garden. This | | | | pets that will need a lawn or enclosed area to play |
| style is suggested by rambling roses, type of fencing | | | | in? |
| (usually rock or stone walls) , stones for garden | | | | Next, take a look at your trees and buildings. You will |
| paths, ponds and other natural grasses and materials. | | | | need adequate shade (or sun) for certain flowers and |
| Some other garden styles can be classified as | | | | plants. |
| "national" styles. These garden styles can be Italian, | | | | Once you have taken these matters into account, |
| Japanese, English, Spanish and American. American | | | | you can start your actual garden plan. Draw up a plan |
| gardens are broken down further into southern, | | | | for your garden. Even a rough sketch of the space |
| desert, southwest and others. | | | | where your garden will be and where each element |
| Many times, the style of a garden is determined by | | | | (such as flowers, foliage, stonework,or pond) will be |
| climate and location. Gardens located in Arizona, for | | | | can be a tremendous help in planting your beautiful |
| instance, must be of a different style from those | | | | new garden. |
| located in northern, colder climates. And plants in | | | | Now, all you have to do is plant it! |