How To Create A Formal Garden
Formal gardens have a long-standing history dating back to 2500 BC. This elevated form of art was a way for the wealthy to create a feeling of grandeur and sophistication and assert their standing in society. These gardens embrace the concepts of structure, symmetry, organization, and the embodiment of a timeless and refined layout.
While cultivating a formal garden may sound initially complicated, the process is actually quite simple. In this blog, we will examine the brief history of formal gardening and then discuss the key practices for designing your own formal garden.
A Brief History of Formal Gardening
The earliest formal gardens we have proof of were designed by the Egyptians. Some of the earliest evidence of gardens designed for ornamental horticulture and landscape design can be found in Egyptian tomb paintings from around 1500 BC. These Egyptian gardens were typically formal and symmetrical, incorporating avenues created by stone columns and supplying food sources like dates, olives, and herbs.
The art of formal gardening was then refined and embraced by the Persian Empire. Persian gardens were designed to coexist with society's cultural, political, and social environment. In the 6th century BC, Cyrus the Great’s palace garden was installed, and the idea of ‘Charbagh Gardens’ became a mainstay in the Person Culture.
Following its Egyptian and Asian origins, the formal garden evolved through the meticulously designed landscapes of Renaissance European gardens. Ancient Greeks and Romans looked to gardens as spaces for relaxation and contemplation. Greek philosophers like Epicurus advocated for simple garden spaces that fostered a state of tranquility. Roman villas featured elaborate gardens incorporating the elements of fountains sculptures and symmetrical layouts.
The garden as a status symbol flourished, and so did one-upmanship among horticulturalists seeking finer and rarer flowers for their ornamental gardens. Roses, lilies, and violets became commonplace. Thus, the idea of the formal garden was born. This concept of simplistic design and classic sophistication has transcended millenniums and is still extremely popular today!
Tips For Creating a Formal Garden
When it comes to designing and planting a formal garden, there are a few tips we recommend you keep in mind.
Use Symmetry To Your Advantage
Unity, balance, and proportion are key to ensuring your formal garden is aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Repeated plantings that mirror each other work to create this unity and balance. Balancing negative space (like manicured lawns and walkways) with symmetrical plant displays is arguably the most critical practice in creating a formal garden.
Incorporate Evergreens
Most formal gardens share one key element: evergreen plants. Their year-round color, low maintenance, and sleek form make this class of landscaping plants ideal for creating a sense of order and formality in the garden.
Opt For Bold Geometric Forms and Clean Edges
Well-defined, recognizable shapes are a significant anchoring element to a formal garden. This is where your sleek, clean-cut hedges and spiraling topiaries come into play. Picture rows of sharp rectangular Yew hedges and Spiral Juniper Topiaries interspersed throughout!
Key Focal Points
Whether it be a fountain, statue, piece of furniture, or mixed planter, your formal garden needs a focal point that immediately draws the onlookers' interest. Water features like ponds and fountains bring a soft and clean feel to your outdoor space.
Use a Refined Color Pallete
The final element you must consider when going formal in the garden is your color palette. While naturalist and cottage gardens emphasize a plethora of bold colors, formal gardens opt for the latter: simple, cohesive, and restricted. Choosing two to three colors to center your garden theme around helps keep things classy and traditional. We recommend opting for green, white, and maybe one other color for a little varied interest!
Plants That Make Up a Formal Garden
While you want to be somewhat reserved in your selection of plants for your formal garden, you can still have fun with it! There are a plethora of garden plants that have become a mainstay in the formal garden layout. A few formal garden fan favorites are as follows:
Boxwood
The number one plant utilized in formal gardens around the world is buxus or Boxwood.
Boxwood is a classic evergreen shrub adored for its versatility and timeless appeal. Its small, dense leaves and neat form make it ideal for clean hedges and borders throughout the garden.
Cherry Laurel
Laurel, specifically the Skip Cherry Laurel, is a classic shrub cherished for its glossy aromatic leaves and elegant appearance. The dense foliage is perfect for instilling privacy and offering a more prominent element of formality to the landscape.
Lavender
Lavender is well-known for its fragrant aroma, which has been said to have calming effects on the body and mind. Its compact, bushy growth allows this popular perennial to be easily shaped into neat hedges or borders, providing clear lines and structure within your formal garden design. A favorite for use in English formal gardens is Hidcote Lavender.
Topiaries
As mentioned earlier, topiaries are an integral piece of the formal garden puzzle. They add a distinct element of structure, order, and artistry and give formal gardens a strong framework to entertain the onlooker. The longtime favorite topiary used generously throughout formal gardens is the juniper topiary. Coming inboth spiral and ball form, juniper topiaries are sleek, beautiful, and easy to maintain!
Shop Formal Garden Essentials Online
The timeless elegance and meticulous design of formal gardens continue to captivate and inspire. These carefully crafted spaces showcase the harmonious relationship between nature and artistry, standing as a testament to human ingenuity. Shop all your formal garden needs online today and enjoy shipment directly to your doorstep!