Whenever you are creating a garden, always try to adapt it to your own unique style. This is like.
When starting a new garden from scratch or remodeling an existing garden, there are so many things to consider.
An important decision is the style of garden that you plan to create.
There are many different styles to choose from. This article focuses on looking at formal gardens. Other styles are tropical, Japanese, Mediterranean, coastal, cottage gardens, then contemporary gardens and the minimalist style.
When creating a garden, always try to adapt it to your own unique style, or at least a style that suits you, as well as your lifestyle, your family’s needs and your time constraints.
For example, if you’re a neat and tidy person don’t start a sprawling cottage garden or all you will see is the clutter and informality and it will stress you out.
Likewise, if you’re a laid-back, easy-going person, you may not feel comfortable living in a structured, neat, formal garden where everything is perfect.
However, you can create different garden styles in different parts of your garden so that the front yard has a formal look while the back yard is rustic and more relaxed and informal. All garden styles can have productive elements, with fruit trees and vegetable gardens.
DOMINANT COLOR IN A FORMAL GARDEN
The formal garden is a sleek, elegant style, perfect for those who like it neat, controlled, and neat.
It’s a style that often has symmetry and garden beds mirror and match each other. Formal gardens often use hedges and planting around the edges to define the space and edges.
Unlike other styles where the garden is all about flowers, in a formal garden, although there are flowers, the foliage, the shape of the plants, and the structure created by the plants are more important.
The dominant color in most formal gardens is green.
It is the often layered structure leaves and hedges that arouse interest by using different types of plants with contrasting leaf sizes or leaves in different shades of green.
Caution is needed: If you have energetic children or playful pets, formal gardens, especially neatly trimmed hedges, can be easily damaged by play and take a long time to recover.
Children need space to play, play ball or ride a bike. So make sure you leave open areas for these activities to take place without compromising your formal style.
The first step is to choose your garden style, then design the frame and layout of your garden, and finally choose the plants that suit your needs.
While people often think exotic plants are best for a formal garden, there are many Australian native plants that make good hedges and can be used in a formal garden, such as lily leaves and native rosemary (west ringia).
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE READER’S GARDEN
Q. I am very interested in purchasing the ‘Samantha’s Dream’ rose as we are approaching the 21st anniversary of the loss of our daughter Samantha and this would be a great keepsake for her. Where can I get some? Wayne Metti, Gosford
A. ‘Samantha’s Dream’ is a dainty hybrid tea rose with a medium-sized flower with apricot tones. This repetitive, long-stemmed single rose, bred by the Australian Richard Walsh, has few spines and a light fragrance. As a shrub rose, it becomes 1.2 m high.
The official agent for this rose is Wagner’s Rose Nursery, who are based in southeastern SA and offer shipping through their website wagnersrosenursery.com.au
Green E Roses in Galston, NSW also had a few and can be contacted through greeneroses.com.au. More importantly, Wayne, I want to tell you that I am so sorry you lost and I wish you well.
PLANT OF THE WEEK
In the right position, there is nothing like a camellia for adding color and joy to a garden in winter and spring.
Camellia japonicas are the classic camellias that come in a range of colors, from white and cream to pinks and reds to mauve. They are best known for their full, double flowers, formal or informal in nature, however there are some very attractive open varieties with only a few petals with prominent stamens.
In hot climates, they grow best where they get morning sun but afternoon shade, or under deciduous trees, but in cooler climates they grow in full sun. They need acidic soil and can be grown well in a large pot.
Send your gardening questions to Sophie Thomson via athome@news.com.au
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