Landscaping can take on endless possibilities depending on your personal tastes and overall style of your home. In this article we explore three popular landscape styles, their key elements, and ways you can create the look at home.
TRADITIONAL LANDSCAPING
Traditional landscape design is still a popular choice and one that suits various styles of homes and climates. The elements of this style focus on structure, symmetry and a more polished or formal aesthetic. So if you like clean lines and an orderly palette, this style is for you!
A traditional style garden is usually well planned out, simple and highly manicured. It tends to keep in with the style of the home and has a balanced mix of garden beds and paved areas. Plants don’t vary too much in colour and instead stick to shades of green and varying heights.
Key elements to consider:
- Symmetry
- Uncluttered and neat garden beds
- Layers – plants of varying heights
- Hedging
- Lawn Areas
- Paving that creates seating areas
- Lighting
Most of the Viburnum species, Murraya Paniculata, Lilly Pilly are great hedging options that you can prune to your desired height. Border plants are also a key element so opt for smaller species such as Snow Maidens, Pittosporum Miss Muffet and Japanese boxes.
Established trees really help to finish off that traditional look. Some great options include Magnolias, Laurus Nobilus or even Citrus trees. If you want to add a pop of colour in Autumn choose a deciduous species such as Pyrus.
TROPICAL RESORT-STYLE
Want to make every day feel like a holiday? Create a resort-style garden at home and you’ll never want to leave!
To achieve a tropical-inspired garden, opts for plants of varying heights and foliage colours to create depth and texture in your space. The colour palette for this garden is focused around earth tones – green, white, brown and pops of colour.
Layering is important. Start with your tallest canopies; palms such as Kentia and Alexandria are great options. Then you want to choose something in the middle height tier; we love Murraya Paniculate which has a lush glossy lead and fragrant white flower or another classic is the Hibiscus. Bamboo is a great option if you need to create a screen between neighbouring properties. Lastly you want to fill any gaps with smaller plants. Rhoeo, Canna Lilly and Lomandra’s are fantastic underplanting options.
Elements to include:
- Informal pathways using steppers and groundcovers
- Various colours and textures
- Ambient lighting
- Furniture in lighter timbers
- Fragrance – Frangipani or Gardenia are our top picks!
- Curved pools or water features
Just like most gardens, a tropical style garden thrives with a loamy organic soil base, the opposite to what we have here in Perth. So it’s critical to improve the soil quality before you get started. Mulching the garden with Karri and Peat varieties will also be good food for the garden, along with a good quality fertiliser. Remember to regularly trim older leaves and remove wilted flowers to promote new growth and encourage the luscious gardens reminiscent of a tropical destination!
EASY-CARE GARDENS
With our lives busier than ever, low-maintenance gardens are becoming increasingly popular and the best part is, you don’t have to sacrifice on style!
If you’re wanting to achieve an easy-care garden design at home it’s important to get the layout right. Spend some time planning out the areas you want to create and keep it simple – less is more.
Elements of low-maintenance gardens:
- Paved areas or decking
- Built-in furniture
- Good retic design
- Hardy plants
- Good quality soil
When it comes to your hardscaped areas paving and aggregate stones are perfect for creating additional entertaining areas – picture those winter evenings by the fire pit or summer BBQs under the Alfresco. Reducing lawn areas means less work, so opt for decking or steppers to break up the space.
You might like to create a focal point with a feature tree or water fountain – big impact with low maintenance. When landscaping in Perth or the South West, choose plants that require less work and thrive in our drier climate such as natives or succulents. A few of our favourite picks are Lomandra, Blue Chalk, Rhaphiolepis Indica and Banksia.
Soil preparation is the biggest component in reducing maintenance in your garden long term. Speak to your local nursery and ensure you purchase the correct organic matter and liquid feeder to help your garden thrive!
