What's your garden style?

When you walk around your neighborhood are there certain landscapes that jump out at you as something you would like to see in your own yard? Or, maybe there are some that look nice but isn't what you would want to have or maintain. There are endless combinations of plants that comprise a garden but four main types of design style; traditional, cottage, modern & contemporary. Read through each styles characteristics and maintenance needs to see what resembles you. Follow the link embedded in each category to see pictures.

TRADITIONAL​

• Symmetry & balance (formal)
• Focal points
• More structured plants
• Limited color/monochromatic
• Repetition
• Clean/tidy lines with ‘edged’ pathways
• More lawn than garden
• Hardscape etc.
  • Strong architectural features
    • Columns
    • Fountains
    • Sheared hedges
    • Topiaries
    • Pedestal urns
    • ​​​Pea gravel

COTTAGE

• Relaxed/random
• Softer lines with plant material spilling over pathways
  • Less to no defined edges
• Many plant specimens (a collection of plants)
• An abundance of color
• Mixes of 
  • perennials, herbs, edibles
  • colors, textures, heights
• Full garden/‘Organized mess’ but well tended
• Charming
• Hardscape etc,
  • Clay pots
  • Picket fence
  • Arbors
  • Trellises
  • Flea market finds
  • Paths of natural materials
    • Stone, gravel, earth

MODERN

• Asymmetrical (informal)
  • May interlock with lawn or patio    
• Minimalistic
• Monochromatic color, usually pale palette
• Clean lines
• Commercial
• Geometric
• Hardscape etc
  • Metal-no rust
  • Concrete
  • Function of materials over nature
  • Ponds/reflecting pool
  • Spheres
  • Simple containers with a single plant specimen​​

NATURAL

• Reflects natural surrounding landscape
• Emphasis on plant selection especially natives to that region
• Little to no need for supplemental resources like irrigation
• Emphasis on plant structure over color
  • ‘Dies elegantly’ -Piet Oudolf
• Hardscape elements:
  • Rustic/distressed/uneven