GARDEN STYLES

Formal:

This style is characterized by rigid, symmetrical plantings. No growth in the formal garden is left to chance. Lawns are neatly manicured, flowers are chosen for their uniform growing habits and reliable blooms, and shrubs are pruned to precise, well defined shapes. Well suited to colonial style homes, the formal garden requires more work than most, but yields an impressive elegance.

Cottage Garden:

Also called the romantic look, this style of garden features soft sweeps of color, with clusters of flowers in varying heights. The blooming plants are scattered throughout the garden seemingly at random, but without looking overgrown and ragged.

Woodland:

A woodland setting is the most natural of all gardens. It is achieved by using plants native to the region, with an emphasis on trees, shrubs, and groundcovers rather than a profusion of blooms. Flowers are limited to wildflowers and naturalized bulbs. Once planted, this garden is easy to care for, as weeding, thinning, and pruning are avoided.

Japanese:

The basic components of a Japanese garden are simplicity, elegance, and careful consideration. No loud splashes of color or overly large plants dominate the design. Gravel, groundcovers, and statuesque trees and shrubs define this uncluttered design.

Dry:

In response to increasingly limited water supplies in many parts of the country, more and more gardeners are designing patio surfaces with succulents and heat-loving plants.