what kind of garden
do you want?

Styles of Gardens
Gardens come in all shapes and sizes and there's always a style to choose from. Your garden can be formal, informal, classical, traditional, contemporary, wildlife and Japanese gardens, to name but a few. Other concepts can be a themed around a poem, a story, a work of art, a historical fact or a piece of music.

Choosing a particular theme is a good way of giving a small garden or courtyard a stamp of individuality, but it's less easy to keep a theme going in a large garden

Wildlife Gardens
Encouraging wildlife into the garden is very rewarding, especially for children. Planting is the most important element and choosing native plants and trees will attract indigenous birds and insects. Water in the garden is a focus for a wide variety of wildlife.

Bird boxes and tables are a good way of caring for wildlife, and will provide an opportunity to observe birds at fairly close quarters. Bird boxes should be situated in a secluded, shaded spot and placed high up to prevent attacks by ground-based predators. Bird tables can be placed nearer the house, as birds will be much braver when food is scarce. Reducing the use of chemicals, especially insecticides, is to be encouraged.

Container and Patio Gardens
Where access to open ground is limited a balcony, roof garden or window box can be the answer. Here, all the plants can be confined to containers and, if cared for properly, almost anything can grow in them. Of course, containers can be suitable for terraces and patios too.

Formal and Informal Garden Styles
Formal gardens generally comprise geometric shapes and straight lines which can be either symmetrical or asymmetrical. A formal garden creates a strong framework and the planting often in tight, strictly controlled blocks. Histroically, traditional formal gardens used very few plants, filling the space between low hedging with coloured gravel.

Inforaml gardens have borders in flowing, curving shapes and avoid straight lines. They look as though they are closer to nature; they are relaxing places to be and often more inviting. Planting is still planned with each plant being given its alloted place. Because the planting is less structured, plants are allowed to scramble almost at will and shrubs are allowed to grow more or less as in nature.