Garden Styles

What style of garden would you like? Selecting a style can give a garden a sense of harmony, just as it can in any room in a house. Books and magazines are a good place to get ideas, as well as the photo gallery area of our site. We can also provide you with catalogues and show you additional slide-shows of our work. Below are just a few popular styles with some thoughts, "buzz words" and ideas for possible features.

Cottage garden: traditional, lush green lawns, abundance of colour, great variety of plants, railway sleeper borders, rockeries, ponds, cobbles or pebbled areas, renovation of existing features, use of reclaimed materials, informal planting, picket fences, irregular paving, weathered-look walling.

Formal: structured, ordered planting, elegance, neatness, box hedges, statues and water features as focal points, topiary, symmetry, areas linked by pathways.

Geometric: clean, straight lines and geometric shapes dividing lawn areas, flower beds and paving areas. A very square garden can be broken up with a design of connected circles, dramatic colours, gazebos and other free-standing structures for height.

Contemporary: decking, strong shapes and colours, container planting, stepping stones, exotic plants, minimalism, structural features, roof terraces, bamboo, gravel.

Mediterranean: sunshine, paving and raised beds, arbours and trellises, climbing plants, terraces for al fresco dining, brick-built barbecues, vines, informal, terracotta, blues, weathered-look paving.

Courtyard: decorative paving, gravel, herb pots, hanging baskets, raised flower beds or container planting in a variety of heights for interest, white-washed walls, wrought iron furniture.

Sensory: designed to stimulate the senses, a variety of colours, smells, textures and even sounds! Sensory gardens have been shown to be a valuable learning tool for children and adults with disabilities. Pathways and ramps for wheelchair access.

Low maintenance: want to keep it simple? No problem! We're here to advise on the lowest of low maintenance gardens.