English-style garden for your summer cottage
Often, an English-style garden is also called a landscape garden. "A piece of paradise created by nature itself" - this is the first impression of the English garden. On its territory there are no straight lines or plants planted in a row along a ruler. This style provides for the presence of smooth forms that imitate the natural landscape, and the maximum naturalness in the placement of landscape elements.
Characteristic features of the English garden
The main idea of landscape design in the English style is compliance with natural patterns. A landscaped garden with mowed lawns, cobbled paths and well-thought-out planting looks harmonious and natural, but not chaotic. And if you look closely, you will notice a peculiar order in its layout.
When planting plants in a landscape garden, a certain hierarchy should be observed, planting them in tiers: first, trees, ornamental shrubs, then flowers and, finally, a lawn.
For compositions designed to imitate a natural landscape, you need to choose plants that will go well with each other in shape and color. When arranging an English garden, it is necessary to take into account the seasonal changes in the shade of leaves, grass and flowers. In this case, the landscape garden will look harmonious at any time of the year.
Garden in the English style: elements of landscape design
As the name implies, England is the birthplace of the landscape style that emphasizes the beauty of nature. It was here that the gardens were first created, which can be considered aerobatics of landscape design.
Owners of private household plots can also arrange a real English garden on their territory.
Its design must comply with the rules that were formulated back in the 18th century by the English landscape architect H. Repton:
- Free layout.
- The integrity of all elements.
- The naturalness of the landscape composition.
When arranging an English-style garden, you should make the most of the landscape of the area, especially if it has an uneven relief. The disadvantages of the site can be smoothed out and masked, and its natural beauty, on the contrary, can be played up and emphasized.
Plants
Trees, shrubs and flowers in the English garden are placed in free picturesque groups that create a sense of natural, natural beauty. But the main decoration of the garden is flowers. Their various shades, shapes and aromas allow you to create a real fairy tale even on the most boring area.
With the help of flower beds and English flower beds, you can divide the garden into zones and place accents. Mixborder Is the most popular form of flower garden in England. As a rule, trees and ornamental shrubs with beautiful foliage create its background, flowers are in the foreground, and a green grass lawn serves as a frame.
When choosing plants, it is important to remember the rules of harmonious unity. First of all, it is necessary to take into account the requirements for the growing conditions. Consider the height, shape of mature plants and the diameter of the inflorescences.
For flower beds to have a picturesque look throughout the season, plants should be selected taking into account the timing of their flowering. If you plant plants in English-style flower beds that will bloom gradually, alternately replacing each other, then the site will not lose its decorative effect from early spring to frost.
Lawn
A well-groomed green lawn is an ideal backdrop for flower beds, trees, shrubs and garden structures. With its help, you can visually expand the space, fill it with light and give perspective. The lawn is sown with grasses, which form a dense turf, and is regularly mowed to keep its surface even.
Lawn in an English garden, it has an irregular shape without complicated curves and sharp corners. He looks attractive, and at the same time it is enough to look after him. To facilitate the maintenance and mowing of the grass, special curbs can be provided to separate the grass carpet from the paths.
Water bodies
Water is one of the most extraordinary elements of landscape design. The ponds look very organic in the lush thickets of the English-style garden. With the help of water, you can emphasize the nature of the landscape, create a reflection effect and visually expand the boundaries of a small area.
In addition to the aesthetic role, reservoirs also perform the practical function of maintaining the microclimate.
On hot summer days, water increases the humidity of the air. In autumn, plants in such a garden will be better prepared for frost. Ponds, which look like natural bodies of water, need minimal maintenance. You should only periodically check the water level and clean the pond from algae.
Small architectural forms
As a rule, it is customary to add variety to the landscape of the English style in the form of small architectural forms and garden elements:
- winding paths;
- picturesque bridges;
- pavilions and gazebos;
- sculptures and wrought-iron benches;
- decorative elements stylized as ruins.
These structures, which play a secondary role in the landscape design of the English garden, should be harmoniously "fit" into the surrounding natural landscape. As a result, one should get the impression that the garden was not created by man. These people settled in a natural corner of nature and made some details in the form of landscape elements.
The landscape garden is often compared to Sherwood Forest, only with mowed lawns, well-groomed paths and an English-style fence. The location of plants and all elements in such a garden must be carefully thought out. The composition should look like a continuation of the natural landscape and represent a picture of natural harmony.