GARDEN STYLES
Lawn & mixed beds or borders. Pots, Patios, Furniture etc. Integrated features.
Work - Quite a lot, spread throughout the year, lots of debris! Expense Variable/spread.
Plants - All types of trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, alpine etc.
Predominantly Hard Landscape Garden
Areas of paving, steps, raised walled beds & pots, with shrubs, trees & other plants.
Work - Depends on the type of plants used and the careful choice of plants e.g. More for perennials, less for trees, More for too large plants, one of the easiest with a single conifer.
Expense - Fairly or very expensive depending upon materials, labour costs etc.
Plants - Ornamental garden trees, Most shrubs & plants of appropriate size. Climbers and trailing plants & Container planting of all kinds.
Similar to suburban, usually without lawn. Paths & Boundaries, trellis & arch. Water etc.
Work - Lots of plants mean lots of work spread over the year. Can be reduced by careful choice of plants, & dense planting limits space for weeds. (Mixed Blessing) Lots of compost making! Expense - Can be very cheap using plants from seed & cuttings...or not!
Plants Lots of Perennials, bee & butterfly plants, Annuals & Herbs, Integrated fruit & Vegetables, Roses, Climbers. General effect of informal abundance.
'Natural' or 'Ecological' Garden
Naturalistic paths, paving, seats. Boggy areas. Integrate what you already have.
Work & Expense - This is not a soft option! Can be lot or a little depending upon the plants & skill in planning, & maintenance, e.g. long grass in formerly cultivated & shady areas can be hard work if just 'left' to grow wild. Brambles, bracken, & other noxious weeds can soon dominate if uncontrolled. Well planned and maintained can be quite easy & very cheap.
Plants - Depends entirely on the ground type & aspect. i.e. What grows naturally in the area you have? Choose native/wild plants, trees & shrubs & never use fertilisers.
Mediterranean, Scree, Beach Rock Garden
Generally informal in design taking advantage of natural slopes. Best in open sites and a very useful solution for very dry or poor areas. Boundaries, paths, features should be in keeping with the theme of the garden e.g. beach - Smooth pebbles, shells, bleached wood benches, decking Work - Once established should be very low maintenance.
Expense - Can be very cheap using existing suitable plants & using second hand materials & some imagination. The main expense being shingle & decking. Can be created slowly.
Plants - Ornamental grasses, Native plants for easy care e.g. Valerian, Erigeron, many alpines & small shrubs, yucca & conifers for a more exotic look.
A good solution for shady areas of any garden. Woodland, shade plants ferns, bulbs etc. are grouped, in are well mulched with chipped bark. Cheap, easy & effective. Wooden bench/seat
Chinese or Japanese Gardens
Similar to the last two, using fencing, shingle, azaleas, maples, shapes & plantings that give the appropriate feel to the garden. Water with Koi, Oriental theme features, lanterns etc.
Can be complicated and intricate, like a knot garden, or very simple, using lawns, paths and flower beds, e.g. Roses, conifers or heathers. Work and expense depend on the existing garden, how much work you do yourself & what plants & features you have & where you get them from.
(S.Lord - Create Your Own Paradise - www.cyop.freeuk.com )