What Is English Garden Design All About

You know one when you see it. The English garden design is all about curved beds, winding paths, riotous color. The gardener's hand is light. There, but just barely. It lets nature do its own thing. You might even say that the English garden design is controlled chaos.

The history of English garden design began with the revolt against the constraints of formal landscape design and classic landscape design. These two forms, with their appreciation of balance, symmetry and geometry, sit on the opposing end of the spectrum from English garden design. Where formal gardens find beauty in linearity, English gardens use undulating lines. Where formal gardens seek right angles, English gardens use few, if any, angles. The words of the English poet Alexander Pope (1688 to 1744), the "amiable simplicity of unadorned nature", describe this style.

Impressionist painters were key influencers in the continuing development of the English garden design. Claude Monet (1840 to 1926) claimed that painting and gardening were his only two interests in life. When he first moved to Giverny, where he would build his famous water gardens, his first concern was to arrange the garden in a rampant, naturalistic explosion of color.

The residential English garden design has since become hugely popular in the United States. Houston's semi tropical climate is well suited for vine covered pergolas, sunny rose gardens, dazzling azalea beds and bursts of seasonal color, all plant materials that fit well within the English garden's concept of abundance.

A Quick Study of English Gardens
The English garden design is the essence of an informal garden. The different colors and textures of the plant materials, the profuse wildness, draw the viewer in, creating a feast for the mind's eye. However, while it has elements of a naturalistic garden, it is not considered of this style. Instead, flowering plants are arranged in a seemingly haphazard arrangement that merely recalls a natural landscape.

The general characteristics of an English garden design fall along these lines:
Plants are chosen out of personal preference or connection. It is common to find cuttings from the gardens of family and friends.

Regional plants have prominence because they enhance the naturalistic feel.

Plants, especially flowering ones, are grouped into smaller clumps, not drifts. The desired effect is for the garden to appear somewhat random, but not messy.

Many different kinds of plants are used, annuals, bulbs, herbs, perennials, shrubs and vines.
Scent is very important in an English garden design. Hence, the prevalence of roses and herbs.

Often the garden is enclosed by a picket fence or hedge to help bring some additional order.

Strong mix of colors.

Colors of an English Garden: Evoking the Emotions
English garden design uses plants to reach the viewer emotionally rather than intellectually. Primarily, it is done with color.

Different colors affect people differently, but generally each color has its own psychological appeal. Green is the most restful color. Pale greens and yellow greens are perfect for an English garden design because they feel lighter, brighter and more informal. White creates a sense of space in a garden. Red calls attention to itself or what it surrounds, making it perfect for planting near focal points. Apricot, salmon and peach tints are friendly and welcoming.

Space and Elements of the English Garden Design
The arrangement of elements within the English garden space is very important. Whereas the modern garden design uses a philosophy of "less is more", the English garden simply says "more."

Some elements to consider for an English garden:
Gates. The garden entryway can become an important element of an English garden design. Plants can soften the garden gate, making it even more inviting.

Hardscapes are non plant material features of landscape design. Popular residential hardscape structures made of wood that work well in an English garden design include arbors, pergolas and gazebos. In an English garden, walkways meander through the landscape while providing easy access to your home and other structures. Perhaps a retaining wall, a short wall used to hold the soil in place, is needed as part of a proper landscape drainage system. If so, good landscape designers and landscape architects will construct it so that it fits the design.

Material choices. Just as flagstone and travertine work well in a Mediterranean garden design, brick and gravel complement an English garden design.

The Ever After of an English Garden
While English gardens are lower in maintenance than a formal landscape design, a landscape maintenance program is still required. Especially it will involve the systematic feeding of flowers, bushes and trees. Since trees are a vital part of the English garden, make sure proper tree preservation methods are used during installation. A temporary irrigation system and hand digging to minimize damage to trees and their root systems are a very important part of tree preservation. For the longer term, a permanent irrigation system is also a plus for the entire landscape since it will increase the ease of the required regular watering.

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Garden Planning

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If you want a perfect garden, has a lovely tree, plant perennial flowers and / or problems of gardening as better prepare your garden, you should know how to plan your garden. Find out how to accomplish this, a method that ensures your garden best suits your needs regarding the design, beauty, and / or harvest is concerned. There are many recommendations and suggestions that will help your general gardening, flowers or yourbeautiful, and / or your garden (any kind) that may be more efficient landscaping.

If you are planning a vegetable garden in winter is a good time to start planning. Design a garden, according to the depth of the draft, as you may want to start paper with a pencil and a sheet of graph paper. Want to make sure the correct measurements, how deep your seed, Burry, what kind of conditions require different plants, andAs space and soil quality, you have at work. Depending on the variety of vegetables you choose, you can create ideal conditions for a garden of vegetables which produce healthier, more or vegetables for you.

Your plant area is very important. When it comes to gardening, remember this phrase "the right plant right place" and you will have the greatest possible success for your specific environmental conditions.The sentence above is a mantra for the gardener with practical gardening experience. Consider variables such as leaves (in other words, trees that provide shade other leaves, and buildings or structures such as fences or shelters, for that matter. The light is almost always considered the most important factor when you decide to planting something. The weather conditions are very important variables to consider: Conditions such as humidity and temperature. Their particular plantgrow under certain conditions, a certain amount of sunlight a day. So if you have a high level of protection storage side or close to your shrubs, bushes and you need direct sunlight for at least three hours a day, you have no time shall the minimum amount of sunlight concerns.

If your favorite flower prefers a more humid climate than you have wells near the area where you live or you should plant them in a pond with waterfall.In fact, there is a simpler solution for you if a garden pond, waterfall or reflecting pool, all they have to do is plant the fog and / or flowers to be kept moist. This is for the maintenance of a system under perfect conditions, the extra moisture, true almost every time.

The advent of modern technology, there are also pieces of gardening and equipment available for landscape easily check the conditionsYour garden space. You know almost everything needed to create the conditions are perfect in the garden or where you live, or create your garden can thrive Sun cuts above the garden tools are sometimes very important if you need a extra help.

Create the conditions necessary for your success in your garden or landscape products is essential. Here's an example of such a system, manyPeople love him, courtyards and gardens: the Bradford pear flower.

The new flowering pear (Pyrus calleryana) tree is a big, beautiful and fragrant, is very typical to see trees along the streets to create a little 'comfort to the allies. Pyrus calleryana when care is something in your garden, know that there is a small - flowering tree space. The tree is also, unfortunately, could be deformed and perhaps dangerous for you becauseclose, and other trees grow more vertically, and therefore less likely to survive a devastating storm. Under conditions where severe storms are very common, probably can not see, flowering pear trees in bloom every path sensitive flow-like.

There are of course many other examples of both flowering plants and others are perfect for you in the garden and can / should or landscaping. Discover your favorite plants and flowers, and discover the environmental conditions they prefer, thenDesign the perfect garden or landscape project. It may also convince you, if you and your garden is in the best conditions for each for each plant.

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Old Garden Bench

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garden benches that are very old and I could resist climate change can be classified as antique garden benches. These benches are usually very elaborate and have many recordings on them. They can be of any material, but the materials most commonly used stone, iron and clay are, among others. Usually wood benches garden benches garden is not as old found, and how they break down over time, perishable.

OldGarden benches are usually unique, finely crafted and the display are very expensive and high quality design. These benches usually belong to the European medieval and Renaissance times. They are used mostly as decorative elements, which are used not only for seats, but also as decorative elements. Its main feature is, in fact, add the beauty of the gardens, the second biggest decorating.

These antique garden benches are usuallyRepresentatives of several regions or art school. Many of them are stone garden benches, the years, many have survived. These antique garden benches usually have supplements such as furniture designed garden fountains, statues and others around them. All these pieces of antique garden benches are with antiques for the garden.

These antique garden benches are available in easily adorned exclusive agreement, furniture storesantique furniture. These garden benches can be found even in the auctioneers, and the only unusual pieces are available. Antique garden benches are available through the online catalogs, which sell a large number of goods in ancient times. Prices for such antique garden benches according to their shape, size and age. Benches garden are carved with the old and very unique designs, can be extremely expensive. Prices for theseantique benches may incur thousands of dollars. However, since the value of such expensive benches before paying for their authentication. There are many antiques expert, who wants to offer this service.

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10 Ways to Make Gardening Easier

Making gardening easier doesn't mean there won't always be something to do in the garden. Although most gardeners enjoy the time they spend working in their gardens, there comes a point when garden tasks can get ahead of you, making you can feel like you've bitten off more than you can chew. The following gardening and garden planning tips can put you a little ahead of the game.

Some of these tips are common sense and some may seem like more work in the short term, but they all really will make gardening easier for you. And that way you'll have time to create even more gardens!

1. Feed the Soil You've heard it a thousand times, but do you do it? Start with great soil and you'll wind up with great plants. Healthy plants get less diseases, attract less insect pests and require less water. Plus you won't have to remember to fertilizer every other week.

Start with a good analysis of your existing soil. You can have all the essential nutrients tested or just the pH. Many nurseries provide this service as well as your local Cooperative Extension Service. If your soil is deficient in any minerals or nutrients, amend the soil according to recommendations. Then keep adding organic matter, like compost, regularly.

Slow release, organic fertilizers can help supplement deficient nutrients. But feeding plants with synthetic fertilizers can actually destroy the beneficial organisms and organic matter within soil and only provide a short fix. It's like turning your garden into a drug addict. It will need regular doses of fertilizer and more and more to get the same effect.

2. Group Plants by Their Needs I'm sure you've heard the saying "Right plant for the right spot." That's the beginning of the equation. Of course you're going to want to put sun lovers in the sun and ground covers where they can roam. But consider how efficient it would be if you put all your water hogs together so you could just turn on the sprinklers or drag the hose to one area and be done. The same goes for plants that require a lot of deadheading or vegetables that need to be harvested daily or hourly, like zucchini. You can still mix in different bloom times and variations in color, form and texture. It's just the heavy maintenance chores that should be consolidated.

3. Choose Lower Maintenance Perennials There will always be primadona plants you have to have (although probably less and less of them as you get older), but make the backbone of your garden perennial flowers that can take care of themselves. Plants like Astilbes and Sedums, that look good all season and don't need deadheading, pinching or staking. Here are even more low maintenance perennials.

4. Raised Beds & Containers It's much easier to control your garden if it has definite boundaries. Containers provide the ultimate in control. You control the soil, water, exposure and even limit the growth of the plants in the container. Raised beds separate the garden beds from their surroundings. Ideally, lift the beds up by 6 inches or more. You'll have the benefits of controlling your borders and you'll be saving your back from some bending.

5. Install Drip Irrigation This is one of those suggestions that sounds like it's going to cost a fortune and require a professional to install - and it can. But it doesn't have to. They've reduced drip irrigation to a tinker toy level. Believe me, if I can grasp it, so can you. There is an initial cost, although no where near what you might fear, and you will need to do some measuring. But unless you rely solely on rain to water your gardens, you will actually save money in the long run. Drip irrigation is far more efficient than any other type of watering. Plus it puts all the water right where your plants need it. Add an inexpensive timer and think of all the time you've saved yourself.

6. Mulch Again, this is common sense and something you've been told a thousand times. Yet many gardeners only view mulch as decoration. Mulch does make a garden look more attractive, but it also keeps the soil and plant roots cool, retains moisture so you can water less often, prevents weed seeds from seeing the light of day and sprouting and feeds the soil. Right there you've cut down on watering, weeding and fertilizing time.

7. Time Released Fertilizer and Water Polymers Container gardens are the exception to the Feed the Soil rule above. It's not practical to use compost or garden soil in containers and so some supplemental feeding is necessary to keep the plants going. Containers also dry out more quickly than garden bed soil, especially if the bed is mulched. So start your container gardening season by adding some slow release fertilizer pellets and some polymer crystals that grab, hold and slowly release water to the plant roots. Add both at planting time. Both products are widely available at garden centers.

8. Ergonomic Tools A lot of gardening is repetitive motion and can be very stressful on the joints, especially the wrists and back. Thankfully garden tool companies have been coming out with more and better tools that work with the body, taking some of the bending and squeezing out of garden work. Look around for ratchet pruners, bent rakes, cushioned handles and trowels that don't require you to bend your wrist.

9. Wheels Watch a child with a new wagon. They can't find enough things to put in it or enough places to go. Now think about how long you've put off moving that cement bird bath or how many plants are still sitting in pots on your driveway because you didn't want to make one more trip. This is why man invented the wheel. Get yourself at least one good garden cart or wheelbarrow and don't go out into the garden without it. You can tote your tools, move plants, harvest, toss weeds right into it and glide down to the compost heap. No matter how small your plot is, you'll get more done with wheels. If you have a very large plot, consider wheels with a motor.

10. Child Labor Show your children and grandkids early in life how much fun and how exciting gardening is. They may never enjoy deadheading the petunias, I know I don't, but planting, harvesting, learning what's a weed, collecting insects - these are all activities that will get them out into the garden. All right, maybe it won't lessen the work load, but good companionship can make it seem so.

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Garden Fence Ideas For Your Home

A garden fence around your flower or vegetable garden is the perfect addition to when you are needing privacy from your neighbors, protection from the animals that may want to "visit" your lawn, or from a child who may wander into the garden and to do his/her own "gardening".

The whole idea for a garden fence can become a daunting task. There are so many different styles and materials to choose from, but that also means that you are sure to find something to fit your specific needs and tastes. You also have to consider the monetary side of the fencing. You will need to stay within your budget to help make your garden fencing dream come true.

Before you start putting up a fence, make sure you know exactly where you want to put it. It is not a good idea to buy materials and just start putting one up without knowing the total area of material you are going to need. You will also need to know the shape of the fencing. It is not uncommon for people to go a different route and have an oval-shaped, or round, or even a triangle-shaped fence erected from the standard square or rectangular shape. Adding a different shape adds a unique style to your lawn.

You will have to think if you are just wanting to keep people and animals out of your garden, or do you want to have fencing that provides some privacy from prying eyes. Some people just don't like to be bothered while working in their lawn since that is some of their "private" or "quiet" time. Wooden fences are an excellent choice for this purpose as they are very hard to see through and offer a large degree of privacy.

You may want your garden fence to be more of a welcoming gesture to your area or neighbors. This can bring a sense of sharing or of being neighborly rather than that of someone who likes total privacy.

For protection of your garden from wildlife that may like to "sample" your wares, a solid fence, other than a chain-link one is an absolute necessity. It would be a good idea to recess the bottom of the fencing into the ground as animals do like to dig to reach the food they want to get to. For this type of fence, metal would be a great idea. Plastic fences, much less expensive than metal or steel fences, also offer a sense of strength and protection against wildlife. They are easily erected as well.

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Apartment Patio Garden Design Ideas

You can have a beautiful garden while living even in the smallest apartment. If you would love to have a peaceful garden to relax in, but all you have is an apartment patio or balcony, you can still enjoy the benefits of a garden.

Turn your small patio into a beautiful mini-garden with our garden design ideas. Get started right away using these great tips.

1. If you can't go wide, go tall. Hang some beautiful flowers from an overhang or place a hook in any spot you can find. Some great ones are ivy or other plants and flowers that vine. Their beauty will flow and hang down, filling your space with such beauty.

2. Stick a cool chair in the corner or the patio and place a flowerpot on it. Since you probably will not have room for a larger swing or seating arrangement, just find a small and simple place for you to enjoy your new garden.

You can't go wrong with wrought iron in your garden design, this is a great choice. A small wrought iron chair with a fluffy cushion would be a perfect addition.

3. Purchase some tall plant holders and place them at the back of the patio. These can be filled with colorful flowers or greenery. You can then step down from tall to medium and short in order to have a great design and to fill in the small spaces.

4. Every garden needs a fountain, you can purchase a small one for the outdoors. It can be a tiny battery operated one, it doesn't matter.It doesn't matter if it is one you plug in or just runs on batteries. Just one that you can tuck between greenery to create beauty and the peaceful sound of trickling water.

Creating a garden for a small space is perfectly simple. Whether you have an acre to work with, or a couple of square feet, you too can enjoy a wonderful garden.

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