Our 4 Favourite Garden Styles

Traditional gardens

Structured and well-defined, traditional gardens are usually divided into garden ‘rooms’, created through the clever use of clipped hedging, stone walls, pergolas and trellis. They offer variety, whilst retaining an un-mistakeable traditional garden narrative. You’ll find everything from a meticulously preened lawn and vegetable patch to pretty herbaceous borders filled with annuals and perennials, all in a traditional setting.  Many of these garden spaces also feature well placed focal points – a terrace or path may lead to a thoughtfully chosen garden statue, sundial or bird bath, adding personality and charm.

Planting guide: Ten perfect plants for a traditional garden:

• Lavender
• Delpinium
• Hollyhock
• Rose
• Foxglove
• Peony
• Hellebourus
• Hydrangea
• Hardy Geranium
• Box hedging.

Contemporary gardens

Gardens with a contemporary edge use sharp, clean design lines to transform them into modern outside spaces. The use of geometric forms as well as hard materials such as wood, steel and stone, adds minimalism and form to these chic gardens.

But they don’t need to be cold and characterless.  By adding textural planting, lively water features and soft fabrics, contemporary gardens can feel cosy, inviting and can be enjoyed (almost) all year round.

Key features: Try adding these six contemporary ideas:

1. Choose easy maintenance plants that can be kept tidy and uniform
2. Invest in modern furniture – think contemporary seating and dining sets
3. Water features such as rills will add geometric ‘straightness’ as well as interest
4. Brighten up areas of the garden with cleverly positioned, funky lighting
5. High-level, geometric contemporary planters will add a modern edge
6. Go for linear, unswerving lawns, paths and borders to keep everything symmetrical.

Tropical gardens

Exotic-style gardens teem with bold colours, lush greenery and vacation-vibes. Whilst not all tropical plant species will survive the great British weather, there are still plenty of ways you can create your very own outdoor holiday hideaway. Tropical gardens are characterised by bounteous planting, from ground-level foliage to sky-high palms, all in a dizzy array of textures and shades of green.  When complemented by bright pops of colour from plants, furniture, fabrics or even a hammock, these exotic spaces are warm and welcoming.

Five of our favourite exotic plants that can be easily grown in the UK:

1. Chusan Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) – hardy evergreen with relaxed fan shaped fronds
2. Ginger Lily (Hedychium coronarium) – herbaceous perennial with lance-shaped leaves and fragrant orange flowers
3. Bamboo (Fargesia murielae) – a clump-forming, non-invasive variety with elegant, soft, weeping branches
4. Hosta (Plantain Lily) – commonly known by its Japanese name gibōshi, this shade-tolerant perennial’s foliage and fragrant flowers are ideal as ground cover
5. Arum Lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica) -another semi-evergreen perennial that produces white heart-shaped flowers and dark, glossy foliage.

For added punch: Our RHS Wisley Exotic Garden Fountain features a stylised flower design and a tropical custom-made pineapple finial.

Mediterranean gardens

Mediterranean-style gardens will easily transport you back to summer holidays on the continent.  In these laid back gardens and landscapes, paving and gravel replaces manicured lawns for a more textural, warming feel.  This relaxed look continues throughout the rest of the garden by the use of carefully selected plants that thrive in dry, sunny climes.

Get the look:

• Choose planters in warming Terracotta colours – we think our Scrolled Jardiniere works particularly well in this style of garden
• Enjoy this stylish garden from the comfort of a thoughtfully placed stone bench, or dining set
• A centrepiece water feature will add interest and a cooling calm to this sunny garden – our Neapolitan Small Double Fountain is ideal for smaller gardens
• Create a sensory space with the addition of robust herbs like rosemary, sage and tarragon.

We’re here to help you choose the right stonework for your garden, whatever style your prefer

Are you looking for some inspiration for your outside space? Or, would like to chat through some ideas with our friendly, experienced team?

We’re here to help you choose the right style for your preferred garden.

Request a call back and our team will be in touch at a time that suits you.