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15 Best English Garden Ideas

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Here's how to create the English-style garden of your dreams.

By Rebekah Lowin

If you love the look and feel of an English garden, you're not alone. The combo of neatly trimmed hedges, intimate little paths, and lush flower beds can make a space look and feel like a hidden little nook of luxury. If you're looking for fresh landscaping ideas for your space, it's worth taking a page or two from this iconic style to make your yard into the English garden of your dreams.

Of course, if you're planning on changing things up in your yard, you might be wondering: What is an English garden, anyway? Here's what you should know: The term isn't easily defined, but it generally refers to a romantic, sweeping landscape design in which the land overflows with plants and lush flowers in an organic-looking sort of way. First developed in 18th-century England, it is thought that the English garden was initially intended to go against the "architectural gardens" of the time, which were far more rigid in structure, pattern, and shaping.

The trick to recreating the style at home: Combine tradition and elegance with a sense of whimsy. Opt for meandering paths, meadow-like florals, twisting ivy, friendly iron gates, and other fairytale-inspired features you'd expect to see in an old-fashioned house in the British countryside. Here are more than a dozen tips and tricks for getting the ideal effect. Looking for more? Check out our big backyard ideas, our small backyard ideas, and some recommended types of flowers all to help your garden grow. Let's get planting!

1

Aim for plenty of variety.

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Tall plants, short plants, pink flowers, white flowers—all of these things can be placed next to one another in an English garden. Of course, you'll have to make some adjustments to ensure that all of your plants have access to sunlight and aren't too crowded, but in general, it's best not to overthink a garden like this one and instead to opt for a free-flowing plan.

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2

Meandering paths are a lovely touch.

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At first glance, a garden path might seem like too much work. But actually, it couldn't be simpler to source and lay the right one for your garden—and the payoff is big. Not only will you give yourself an easy route in and out of the space, but you'll also be afforded the luxury of watering your plants without having to step into tall grasses or get your shoes muddy. It's a win-win!

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3

Add a gate.

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There are few things more magical in an English garden than a simple gateway. They're easy enough to purchase and install, and the visual impact is huge. Don't have a wall into which to install your new structure? You can also buy stand-alone designs that can be surrounded by simple bushes and vines.

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4

Think vertically too.

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It's not just about what's on the ground! Be sure to think about the "y-axis" of your space as well. Consider adding a trellis or simply twisting ivy, draping wisteria, and high-flying vines around a shed or other already-existing structure.

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5

Incorporate seating.

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English gardens are meant to be enjoyed and savored, which is why they often include benches. What better way to sit and take in all the beauty around you? Wooden, stone, and metal structures all work beautifully in these spaces.

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6

Create lush and full garden beds for a cottage look.

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Plant of variety of flowers—roses, lavender, delphinium, and other colorful options—close together to replicate garden you'd find in the countryside. A dense and rich garden with plenty of character is what you're after.

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7

Keep hedges well trimmed.

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Large, well-trimmed bushes work well for dividing spaces, creating paths, acting as walls, and even for separating various parts of the garden. This will give you even more areas to fill with plants to enjoy. If you like, you can even create separate areas for entertaining friends and family.

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8

Use unique shapes and clean lines.

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English gardens aren't just floral masterpieces, they're incredibly architectural, as well. Map out your garden with plenty of squares and circles to create a sense of busy space.

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9

Add roses everywhere.

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When it comes to gardening, nothing's more English than a fragrant rose bush.

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10

Make a bold statement by planting in profusion.

Lisa Hubbard

Avoid the temptation to snap up every variety that catches your eye. You can achieve a lavish look like this with just two types of climbing rose: 'William Baffin' and 'New Dawn.' The bottom line: You only need to plant a few kinds of things, but do it in big sweeps.

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11

Embrace high-contrast combos.

Lisa Hubbard

While citrus-hued daylilies are already pretty splashy on their own, buck conventional wisdom by pairing them with alliums in equally assertive but seemingly contradictory shades of purple—to brilliant result. Color is particularly important where you don't have structure.

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12

Define a garden with horticulture and structure.

Lisa Hubbard

The couple who own the garden pictured initially installed one of these quaint shelters to attract bluebirds, only to see it occupied by swallows. So they tried another...and another...and wound up with an unintended benefit: The line of roosts provides the suggestion of a garden wall.

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13

Furniture doesn't have to blend into the background.

Lisa Hubbard

Instead of the usual grays, greens, and blacks, choose hot, bold hues for outdoor chairs. The result: a stunning focal point that draws attention to the view beyond.

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14

Don't forget the view from inside.

Lisa Hubbard

Does your bedroom overlook an arbor? Try planting a trumpet vine at each of an arbor structure's six posts. It will look like the vines are floating in the air from a second-story window, plus they bloom from July to the first frost.

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15

Sun and shade can get along just fine.

Lissa Hubbard

Embrace an area with a collision of light and shadows to create a cozy dining area. Hydrangea petiolaris thrives in the shade provided by a north-facing potting shed wall, while desert agaves soak up the bright daytime light.

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30 Elegant English Garden Designs and Ideas

By

Lisa Hallett Taylor

Lisa Hallett Taylor

Lisa Hallett Taylor is an expert in architecture and landscape design who has written more than 1,000 articles about pool, patio, garden, and home improvement over 12 years. She has a bachelor's degree in Environmental Design and is certified in fine and decorative arts appraisal.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 06/22/20

The legendary gardens of England have long influenced residential landscapes worldwide and are admired for their lush, green lawns, hedges, and drifts and borders of breathtaking flowers, grasses, and herbs. With basic design principles and knowledge of plants that grow well in your region but can be integrated into a landscape, you can capture the essence of an English garden.

In the late 1800s, William Robertson's book, The English Flower Garden, fueled an enthusiastic interest in the natural design of herbaceous plants, a movement away from more structured, geometric, and manicured gardens. But it was garden designer/author Gertrude Jekyll, who introduced the concept of single- and color-themed borders, along with planting natural-looking "drifts"—diagonal swaths. 

Of course, you don't have to live in Great Britain to enjoy the pleasures of cottage and English gardens. For inspiration and ideas—wherever you live—enjoy these 30 beautiful English and cottage gardens.

Do-it-yourself English garden at the cottage

The English Garden is designed to look natural, to be a place for reflection and relaxation. This style appreciates naturalness and invites you to stroll through the garden. The English landscape involves maintaining a balance between the traditional formality, even stiffness, of the English, and wildlife, adding elements of mystery and romanticism to the landscape.

Getting the perfect landscape design in the English style is quite real, even if you have never been to England and are thousands of kilometers away. The right use of color, decor elements, materials, plants and fittings will turn any garden into a stylish, well-groomed and impeccable place. It is these characteristics that are associated with everything that is associated with the country of foggy Albion.

Content

Heritage Gardens and Parks of England

Nature was perceived by our ancestors as a dangerous, unfriendly place. The merit of England is that it was this country that completely changed this attitude towards the environment. The world beyond the threshold of the house began to be appreciated, they realized its importance not only practically, but also aesthetically.

The appearance of English gardens was influenced by such areas of science and art as history, philosophy and geometry. The innovative and integrated approach of the British to landscape design has completely changed gardening. Under its influence, the line between the internal and external spaces of the house is blurred.

The English style in landscape design has brought a lot of details that seem already familiar and banal.

So, the classic English manor included:

Style Features

Design in English is old-fashioned, natural materials and colors, romanticism and craving for antiquity. And skillfully selected contrasts give a feeling of the absence of a clear structure and plan. The secret is that there is a plan after all. The English Garden blurs the line between wild nature and modern progress. This accounts for the success of the style as well as its continued popularity.

Neatly trimmed boxwood hedges side by side with lush, bright flower beds. Natural materials such as limestone or straw are combined with brick to combine fluidity with a clear structure.

First of all, the English park is based on geometry that is not conspicuous. Seen from above, the paths converge to a single center, while circles and rectangular shapes fit together to give the landscape a sense of order and completeness.

Must-have elements for a truly English garden:

1. Low hedges and flower walls.

Visually, this differentiation of different zones in the landscape will give the effect of a maze and mystery as you move forward. Avoid wild, overly lush borders.

English landscapes are basic geometric shapes like the oval, circle, rectangle and square. Each part of the space should be clearly organized.

2. Several basic plant species.

Monoconcept when choosing flowers for a flower bed is one of the key features of the English style. Do not try to plant everything in a row, it is better to focus on two or three types, but use their various shades. There should be a contrast between the variety of colors and the subtle calmness of the environment.

3. The same elements in the decoration of the house and the surrounding area.

Reusing materials such as stone or brick in garden walls, columns, pools and fountains will help bring home and garden together. Emphasize on a skillfully chosen combination of different textures so that the garden becomes an inseparable part of the living space, and the house itself is an extension of the external space.

4. Abundant flowering of annuals.

They can bloom for five months, something that not every perennial or shrub can boast of. Use annuals in symmetrical plantings, paths, in the center of the flower bed or at the edges. An English-style garden is characterized by a few bright elements against a neutral background.

Furnishings and decorations

An English park near the house and the exterior itself has several characteristic features - wrought iron gates and gratings, a high chimney, dark wood panels on the walls. Let's take a closer look at what else can be brought in and adapted to our conditions.

English style landscape design and details:

The traditional English landscape is, above all, a skillful imitation of nature. For decoration use simple natural materials. If this is a hedge, then it should be low (about 1 meter), woven from willow branches or turf. Hive-shaped straw baskets with opening lids give the garden a rustic feel, plus they are comfortable and roomy.


The British do not like to throw away old things, instead, after a little restoration, they find interesting design solutions for them. For example, an English garden, which easily fits into the general view of a grandmother's wheelbarrow or large tin cans, especially if they are stylized antique. By the way, flowers will look original if you plant them in such a tin instead of a regular pot.

Structures

England, having become the center of garden fashion, proposed to combine seemingly incompatible things in gardens and parks - greenery and stones. Huge antique vases on a pedestal, standing in the middle of a perfectly mowed lawn, statues of beautiful boys and girls, brick arches over the gates - all this is a tribute to the past.

The entrance to the house is a special place, like a visiting card of the owners. Branched roses, under which a brick arch above the entrance is almost invisible, deliver not only aesthetic pleasure. They declare that already from the threshold begins the garden in the English style, with powerful supports of the arched vault, entwined with delicate and fragrant flowers.

The English know how to honor their traditions and ancestors, so symbolic ruins of columns, castles and fortresses are often found in their gardens. English landscapes provide such historical flavor in abundance. And on our soil, it will be replaced by large blocks of unhewn stone, cobblestones and bricks as part of an unfinished wall. The main thing is to measure the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe site with the size and number of design elements on it.


The grotto as an imitation of a natural cave is undeservedly considered a relic of the Romantic era. It was the gardens of England that became an example in the creation of artificial grottoes on a limited plot of land. Internal voids, small in area and equipped, are perfect for secluded relaxation, pleasant memories and contemplation of the landscape. Especially on hot summer days when you really want to cool! However, remember that English landscape design requires a thoughtful approach, so it is better to entrust the process of building a grotto to construction professionals in order to think through all the technical details and guarantee safety.

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Tracks

It is difficult to imagine an English garden without paths that run through the entire garden and, bizarrely meandering, return to the house. The materials for them are simple and are in every household: gravel, tiles, cobblestones, bricks. The paths can be single or parallel to each other, then the lawns and ridges planted between them will be harmonious. An important rule is to narrow the path if it leads to a cozy and secluded place, and make it wider if it comes to an open space where people gather.

Gravel path

The design in English is a gravel path, it is inexpensive and the easiest to make. Although it looks casual, a stone or limestone border will give it a finished and regular look and allow it to fit perfectly into an English garden. Another practical fencing option is metal and aluminum.

Use a shovel to clear the area by selecting the appropriate width and spacing. Deepening by 10-15 cm, install a fence around the edges. Then fill in the gravel, evenly distributing it so that the curb protrudes at least 3-4 cm above the surface. It is advisable to choose a light and calm color.

The main task is to keep the gravel inside and prevent it from spilling. The English garden requires constant care, and for this it is necessary to periodically level the path with a rake and pull out the weeds. Renew the mix every few years with a few shovels of new gravel. The smaller the stones, the more pleasant it is to walk on them. But larger fractions will not be washed away even by a heavy downpour.

However, gravel also has disadvantages:

English landscaping also favors stone paths or paving slabs. These materials are more durable than gravel and do not require additional maintenance. The shape should preferably be square or rectangular. Stones can be laid out both close to each other, and at some distance in order to plant grass or ground cover plants in the gaps. The installation technology itself is simple - heavy stones are alternately laid out on a layer of sand, choosing the right size. The result is a road folded like a puzzle that will serve several generations of the family.

Paving slabs are very decorative and will become an organic addition to an English park. Its service life is several decades, while it can withstand heavy loads. On the marked area, sand or fine gravel is compacted, then a curb is placed and the tiles are nailed with a hammer.

Remember that artificial material that you put under your feet (for example, embossed concrete, large tiles or glass) should have a lot of greenery on the sides. Bushes, arches of climbing roses and vines, mixborders along the length of the paths are features of the English style.

Reservoirs

It is hard to imagine English style landscape design without water. The gardens of England organically include this element. Here you can see a small pond in the depths of the garden, with natural outlines of the banks and benches around. The reservoir should not be deep, and it is advisable to put a hedge near it or plant a number of tall shrubs and perennials that will hide the corner from prying eyes.

A classic English park is a place for calm relaxation, so it is not characterized by noisy waterfalls and rapid streams of water. The blue sky is reflected in the mirror surface of a pond or pool, creating a feeling of peace and quiet. You can adapt a vase or statue under a small fountain, as in the photo, and put it in the center of a green lawn. Lay out the pedestal with plates, bring one path to it, and break the mixborder along the edges. It remains only to sit comfortably on a bench and enjoy the murmur of water, contemplating the English landscapes.


A channel can be dug around the perimeter of the flower bed and filled with water, leaving one side connected to the main part of the garden by a small bridge or passage.

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Garden flowers, shrubs and trees

Plant in layers to create an English-style casual landscape effect. That is, the tallest should be at the back, lower - take place in the middle, and place the smallest on the edge. Stick to the color scheme. Choose primary colors either only in cold shades (blue, purple, white, cold pink), or warm (red, orange, yellow). So create a single concept of the garden.

David Austin Roses



The British prefer romantic, old-fashioned flowers. If you live in a dry climate, make sure they have enough water. The gardens of England cannot be imagined without such plants as: roses (especially popular varieties of the English breeder David Austin), mallow (Malva sylvestris), daylily (Hemerocallis), delphinium (Delphinium consolida), peonies (Paeonia), charming flower kosmeya (Cosmos), foxglove (Digitalis), snapdragon (Antirrhinum).

Lavender (Lavandula), catnip (Nepeta cataria) and hosta (Hosta) will take the middle level. Thanks to soft shades, they will create a perfect contrast with the saturation of annual and perennial flowers.


An English park is also trees. For a hedge, yew (Taxus), hornbeam (Carpinus), eastern thuja or flathead (Platycladus orientalis), boxwood (Buxus), magnolia (Magnolia) are suitable. They tolerate shearing and shaping well, and are suitable for creating topiary figures. The fence will be hidden by evergreen spruces (Picea abies, Picea orientalis), junipers (Juniperus communis, Juniperus virginiana), pines (Pinus sylvestris).

How to create a stylish garden with your own hands

With the help of 6 simple steps, you can bring English style in landscape design to any suburban area.

1.Plant 2-3 kinds of flowers, only in large quantities.

For example, the varieties of roses William Baffin and New Dawn, which, due to their volume, can decorate fairly large areas of the garden.

Rose "New Dawn"
Rose "William Baffin"

2.

Use combinations of contrasting shades.

A true English garden requires the right use of color. Yellow and lemon daylilies harmonize well with purple and purple alliums. And red peonies with pink foxglove.

3. Set the boundary.

It can be not only a hedge or a path, but also a house for pigeons, a bird feeder. They organically fit into the space, creating the integrity of the composition. Wrought iron railings and fences will separate one section of the garden from another without completely blocking the view.

4. Highlight the garden furniture.

The English style in design offers instead of the usual colors - gray, green, brown - to paint the furniture in bright, bold shades that attract attention. A red table, an orange bench will not let the eye get bored, even when nothing is blooming in the garden. And do not forget about the old days - the older things look, the better.


Forged metal swing, made by hand or ordered from the master, will add individuality and romantic touches to the garden. It is better to place them in a shady corner of the garden.

5. Pay attention to the inside view.

Secure climbing plants around posts and columns. This will create the effect as if they are floating in the air on their own. It would also be appropriate to place statues and stylized ruins in your English garden.

6. The sun and shadow are perfectly combined with each other.

An English-style garden perfectly combines a shade-loving hydrangea planted near the north wall and succulents that prefer bright sunlight. Thus, a cozy area for relaxing and eating is ready.

Walk in the garden in England.

English garden in landscape design, photo, selection of plants

An English garden will be an excellent place for reflection and peace. Its naturalness and naturalness beckons to take a walk along the winding paths. The name partially reflects the main concept - stiffness, accuracy and traditionalism. Nevertheless, there remains a place for wildlife with its mystery, liveliness and romance. To create such an ideal landscape, you do not need to be an Englishman or live in foggy Albion. More precisely following the rules of design, selection of colors, decor elements, garden plantings and creating individuality will help turn a typical suburban area into an original, stylish, immaculate place.

Many garden owners around the world strive to bring the garden as close as possible to the urban look. Trees are cut down, everything is poured with concrete, and furniture and decor items are used exclusively from plastic and other artificial materials. Such a garden completely loses its naturalness and turns into a typical "stone jungle". The English garden radically changes the idea of ​​human interaction with nature, revives naturalness and love for the environment. The British taught the whole world to appreciate the aesthetics of natural beauty. The basic concept of their landscaping changed traditional gardening forever.

The English garden is based on knowledge of history, geometry and philosophy. An important feature is the importance of style and naturalness both inside and outside the house. What is a typical English garden that has already become a classic:

Features of the English garden

In the English garden, designers adhere to traditional, sometimes even old-fashioned principles. They trace the reflection of antiquity, notes of romanticism, naturalness and aristocracy. Such a garden cannot be called ancient, but modern achievements are not put on display in it either. This is an amazing tandem of two eras, blurring the boundaries between past and present. Creating much-needed contrasts helps to consider the plan and clear structure of an English garden. And although at first glance it seems that the landscape was formed in a natural way and the human hand did not touch it, in fact it is not. It is this unique feature that can explain the demand for style all over the world.

In the garden of foggy Albion, you can replace the successful combination of many materials, shapes and textures. Straw and brick, wood and stone are in perfect harmony here. Fences are subject to mandatory shearing and shaping. Their perfect shape skillfully emphasizes the bright colors of the lush flower beds growing nearby. The foundation of a garden is the inconspicuous observance of geometric rules that are invisible to the naked eye. But if you look from the highest point of the landscape, you can see the combination of rectangular shapes with round ones, the convergence of all paths at one point. All this gives the landscape neatness, order and completeness of the image.

Like any mechanism, an English garden cannot exist without obligatory attributes — details. The most important rules:

  1. lush bright flowering annuals. Annuals are used everywhere: in flower beds, as a frame for paths, in the center or along the edges of a mixborder, as an element of symmetrical plantings. Choosing the right crops for the duration and duration of flowering, you can create a flower garden with flowering throughout the season. As a rule, the restrained English style is successfully diluted with such bright “spots” on a calm background.
  2. Neatly trimmed low hedges and borders . This is a great solution for zoning the site. Beautiful fences made of living plants do not spoil the landscape and do not close the garden, perfectly letting in the sun's rays and opening up the opportunity to enjoy the view of all the important elements. The clear geometric arrangement of the hedges and the border resembles a labyrinth, where ordinary walks take on a shade of mystery and mystery. Borders should be neat, trimmed and not too lush.
  3. One architectural style for all buildings on the estate . Home and garden are indivisible. That is why the same materials and textures are used in the decoration of all buildings. After all, the English garden blurs the line between the outside world and the internal arrangement of housing. They are like an extension of each other. Designers focus on the combination of the same textures.
  4. Monoconcept for flowerbeds and beds . The key concept of the English garden involves a very subtle combination of plants. The catchy mixing of a large number of garden plantings is not welcome, where flowers and shades interrupt each other, and turn into an inappropriate stain. Primary colors are used a little - 2-3. For greater content, their shades are allowed.

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