Landscaping styles

Basic principles and characteristic features of style trends in landscape design.

Landscaping allows you to harmoniously and stylishly decorate the garden area according to the tastes of its owner. In this article, we will look at the common styles of landscape design of the site and garden, their basic principles and characteristic features of the existing style directions of landscape design.

Variety of styles of landscape design of the site

Currently, a large number of different style directions are used in landscape design, each of which has its own distinctive features that determine the motives and basic principles of organizing the garden space. Despite this diversity, the goal of each direction is to create a cozy and harmonious atmosphere, maintaining a compositional balance in the appearance of the garden. Various styles of landscape design offer to solve this problem with their own methods, with the help of a certain set of decorative materials, accessories, plants. It remains for the gardener to familiarize himself with these features and choose the most suitable option, taking into account the relief of the garden, the climatic conditions of the region and his wishes.

The luxury of the landscapes of England

The landscape style prefers natural naturalness to strict contours. When decorating a garden in the spirit of an English estate, it should be borne in mind that the basis of the style is a harmonious fusion with the surrounding landscape. Therefore, the choice of plants will be limited to the varieties that grow in the area. The basic elements of the landscape direction include:
- natural ponds covered with aquatic plants;
- whimsically winding paths paved with natural stone or wood cuts;
- well-groomed lawn;
- a combination of silver and green tones;
- the presence of objects of vertical gardening;
- lush flower beds;
- decorative varieties of coniferous and deciduous crops.
Despite the seeming simplicity of implementation, English style has pretty tight restrictions. So, to decorate the entire garden space in a landscape style, a rather extensive area will be required - at least 12 acres. If the territory does not meet this requirement, only some landscape motifs can be added to the garden decor. Another important condition for the successful implementation of this project is the constant maintenance of the garden, since untidiness and neglect are the main enemies of modest English luxury.

Geometric classics in landscape design

Regular garden design requires geometrically correct shapes and lines, as well as a symmetrical arrangement of elements on the site. Trees and shrubs need to be trimmed regularly to maintain their perfect shape.This style is also called French, as it owes its origin to the royal gardens of France. Their splendor has long been opposed to natural riot, and conspicuous artificiality is the main principle of direction. The characteristic elements of this direction are:
- strict geometry of flower beds;
- ideally straight axes of the tracks;
- placement in the center of the composition of the reservoir or fountain;
- round pavilions marking the points of intersections of the axes;
- natural materials;
- topiary cultures;
- varied filling of flower beds;
- antique decorative elements;
- forged benches;
- pergolas.
To create a full-fledged regular garden, you will need a vast area of ​​15 acres.

Scandinavian openness

Scandinavian style primarily draws inspiration from natural motives. However, it has a number of features that distinguish it from English style, also based on landscapes created by nature. These are:
- container plants;
- multicolored Moorish lawn;
- various reservoirs;
- heather planting;
- lawns covered with wild flowers;
- green hedges;
- the ultimate openness of the garden space.

Rustic country charm

The most popular in garden design today is the country style. The reason lies in its simplicity, ease and naturalness. Its other name - the rustic style, directly speaks of the foundations of this direction, characterized by the absence of strict rules for landscape design. Country is applicable on an area of ​​any size and does not involve a lot of effort to maintain the garden. Plants, as a rule, are chosen the most unpretentious, materials are purely natural, and even everything that is at hand on the farm is used as accessories. In the village garden, shrubs, fruit trees, medicinal herbaceous crops will be appropriate.
The rustic style welcomes creativity and flight of imagination, so handicraft accessories, figured images of pets, unusual shaped flower beds, wells will organically look in the country garden.

Dear simplicity of modernity

The seeming simplicity and simplicity of the Art Nouveau style is just an illusion. This direction requires particularly careful planning, as well as significant costs. Small architecture objects and accessories come to the fore here, overshadowing the plant component of the composition. All design elements must be ideally combined with each other and always be in perfect condition, i.e. an Art Nouveau garden requires constant maintenance. Moreover, this style is far from strict geometry - its lines are smooth, the shapes are arched, intersections and corners are slightly smoothed. Instead of symmetry - unobtrusive repetitions of patterns of flower beds and paths. The central place is occupied by the house, from which other design elements radiate out like the rays of the sun. Modernity is characterized by the use of natural materials; forging is preferable for furniture. The color palette consists of deep contrasting colors. A fountain or a trickle will help to revive the ensemble.

Contemplation of Japan

A philosophical spirit permeates every detail in the Japanese garden. Water and earth elements are harmoniously mixed and are embodied in the basic design principles. So, a Japanese garden is unthinkable without ponds, stones and trees. Moreover, all decorative objects should be as diverse as possible and, at the same time, as if merged together. For the decoration of a Japanese-style garden, the area does not play a big role. It is much more important to keep the composition in balance without ruining it with inappropriate accents or bright colors. The palette of the Japanese garden consists of soothing natural colors - white, brown, green, gray.

The ideal harmony of a Japanese-style garden calls for contemplation, this is facilitated by a reservoir that is always present on the territory - a stream, a pond, a fountain. Another essential element is stones placed singly or in groups. Accessories are also made of stone - lanterns, dry streams and ponds. The flora of the Japanese garden includes juniper bushes, ornamental varieties of quince, plum, apple, cherry, pine, as well as ferns, peonies and cereals. Bamboo is a traditional decorative material for the Japanese style. In the absence of the opportunity to plant it on your site, it is enough to place bamboo mats or panels in the recreation area to give the resting corner an authentic flavor.

The naturalness of a Dutch garden

Dutch style has a lot in common country: it is natural, and the splendor of flower beds, and winding paths, and garden tools as accessories. At the same time, the hallmark of this trend is the indispensable presence in the garden of traditional Dutch cultures - first of all, various varieties of tulips, as well as conifers and evergreens. Also, a Dutch garden differs from a country-style garden in a greater degree of well-groomed.

Hilly chinese style silhouettes

Another style of landscape design that came from the East is Chinese. Unlike Japanese brother, he admits the presence of bright colors and a wide variety of plants. The main motives of the Chinese style are hilly terrain and vast bodies of water. Typical objects of small architecture include gazebos, curved bridges, verandas and galleries. The traditional culture of the Chinese garden is evergreen and coniferous trees and shrubs.

Mysterious Moorish style in landscape design

The Moorish style is also distinguished by oriental exoticism, but in a completely different way accentuated than in the Far Eastern directions of landscape design. An indispensable attribute of the Moorish-style garden is the patio patio, lined with carpets and richly decorated with fabrics with Middle Eastern ornaments and patterns, pillows, low sofas and loungers. Arches, pergolas and gazebos entwined with lianas, climbing roses, grapes will look organic. Plants in this case remain in their original form and do not need a curly haircut. More about this style here.

Landscaping in the style of minimalism

As the name suggests, the minimalist style of landscape design involves the use of laconic forms and a limited range of details. The undoubted advantage of the style is the possibility of placing a garden on a very modest territory - 3 acres will be enough. The main principle of garden design in the spirit of minimalism is zoning, it is this that helps to form a stylish ensemble in a small area. Minimalism does not imply strict symmetry and clear geometric shapes, unless we are talking about the design of a reservoir - its contours must be geometrically correct. The garden palette in a minimalistic style is rather restrained and neutral due to the predominance of silver, white, cream, terracotta shades.

Artificial or natural materials are used with equal success for decoration, but the main feature is that only one material should be used in the design of the garden, both for paving paths and for the construction of arches, stairs, podiums. The list of plants allowed in minimalism does not have such restrictions, however, preference is given to vertical gardening and its characteristic crops. An excess of accessories is detrimental to a minimalistic design, so it is recommended to use them with extreme caution. Typical decorative elements are small stones, tree branches and driftwood, mirror surfaces.

Universal high-tech in landscape design

The practicality of the high-tech style makes it one of the most popular areas of landscape design. It is suitable for areas of any size, requires little maintenance and encourages the use of modern synthetic materials. A high-tech garden does not need symmetrical or asymmetrical solutions, but tends to geometric shapes. Straight paths, neatly trimmed shrubs and trees make this trend in common with a regular style. At the same time, unlike French design, high-tech does not recognize bright colors. Plants in such a garden are traditionally placed in geometrically regular containers, paths are covered with gravel, and lighting, often colored, plays the role of the main accessory. Another characteristic decorative element is glass or metal figures of abstract shapes.

The relief of Mediterranean gardens

The colorful Mediterranean style of landscape design combines everything that is associated with the southern coast - picturesque bodies of water, pine and citrus crops, palms and olives, hills and slopes. His cheerful palette includes orange, yellow, blue, blue, white. Undoubtedly, in colder climates, it is impossible to grow the thermophilic crops characteristic of the Mediterranean in an open area. Therefore, gardeners who have chosen this style will have to find unpretentious and cold-resistant counterparts for them. Mediterranean garden paths are usually decorated with sea pebbles or other natural stones. Lush flower beds are filled with catchy flowers and herbs, favorably set off by green hedges.

This direction assumes the unevenness of the relief, so a flat area can be equipped with artificial slopes, hills, stairs. Decorative elements of the Mediterranean style include rattan furniture, wooden benches, garden sculptures, antique vases. A body of water of any type will bring the landscape to life.

Eclectic Provence-style landscaping

Provence is an amazing combination of two opposites - the regular French style and the rustic style. This explains the absence of straight lines, which were replaced by geometric fracture, combined with the traditional attributes of the style. country - items of garden tools, old ceramics, handicrafts. Plants in such a garden fill the front garden with bright colored spots, including not only garden crops, but also garden crops such as squash or onions. Stone paths do not have strict contours and directions.

Harmonious Italian style

The Italian style is ideal for garden areas located on a slope: this allows you to place picturesque support walls and terraces on the territory. The main elements of Italian design are water bodies and stone compositions. The garden area is divided by axial paths lined with mosaics, on either side of which there are parterres and flower beds decorated with sculptural images. A flat area can be decorated in the form of an amphitheater with stones laid out in a semicircle. The Italian garden is characterized by the presence of secret corners hidden from prying eyes. More about style here.

Colonial-style freedom

The colonial style is very popular with owners of garden plots equipped with verandas. The vertical gardening method allows you to turn the veranda into a shady corner entwined with greenery, where the coolness will remain on the hottest days. Traditional for the American colonial direction is slight negligence, which does not imply compliance with strict rules and the choice of certain materials. Thanks to this, the choice of plants fades into the background, giving way to their design.So, the spirit of colonial America can be conveyed by placing plants in the garden in wooden or white ceramic containers, wicker furniture, sun loungers, fountains, animal figurines made of wood.

Exclusive landscape design

For those who do not recognize the framework of standards, there is always a way out of their situation in the form of exclusive design solutions. After all, the ultimate goal of any project is to create a comfortable and harmonious space that sets you up for relaxation and evokes positive emotions. Otherwise, any mixing of styles on the territory of the garden plot is allowed, provided this goal is achieved.

Mixed styles of landscaping

The mixed style in the design of the garden allows you to create separate original compositions in one style or another, united by a common area. In this case, one of the directions should still dominate, while the rest can smoothly flow into each other. The task of harmonious mixing is facilitated by the fact that many directions have common features.

The pristine nature of eco-style

Eco-style is the highest manifestation of naturalness in landscape design. Its ultimate goal is to recreate the natural landscape in all its pristine nature without the slightest hint of human involvement. This is the main difficulty of working in this direction. Only natural colors and natural materials are allowed, the plants must correspond to the flora growing in the area. The equipment on the site of the reservoir presupposes its obligatory settlement with typical aquatic inhabitants. Furniture and accessories in such a garden should be rough and massive in shape and resemble a tree trunk, snag, stump.

Forest style landscape design

Close relative eco-style is a forest style that also does not imply traces of human intervention in the natural landscape. The forestry direction is characterized by the use of forest vegetation - wild trees, shrubs, chamomiles, buttercups, bells.

The style of a Russian estate of the 18th century

The style we already know Provence, having penetrated into Russia in the 18th century, gave birth to a separate stylistic trend - the Russian style. From his parent, the style of the Russian estate borrowed the spectacular design of front gardens and roadside areas, vertical gardening and the use of hanging pot compositions. The atmosphere of authenticity is created thanks to the planting of crops traditional for central Russia, such as birch, oak, cedar, maple. The center of the ensemble can be marked with a fountain or a sculptural image. Also for the Russian style, the use of trellises and planting of plants in alleys is traditional.

conclusions

In this article, various styles of landscape design were presented and their basic principles and distinctive features were listed. Obviously, each style of landscaping has its own advantages and contributes to the creation of a unique look of the garden.