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English Garden
You dream of an English garden, a magical place of association and tradition, formally structured yet overflowing with beautiful plants in jewel-like colour schemes. The emphasis is on a backbone of old stone and evergreens, providing structure and beauty all year round, and giving way to a rich profusion of colour, scent, and the humming of insects in the warm summer months. Plants are chosen for their historical and literary associations, and include scented herbs, delicate old roses, and ancient trees. It's a place to wander quietly and draw strength from the magic and tradition of the past.
The beauty of a classic English country garden is in its contrasting shapes, colours, and textures: the formality of topiary shapes and simple old stone or brick paths combined with a lavish tapestry of sumptuous plants. A box hedge is easy to create at any time of year from bare-root or container grown plants; if your garden is very small choose the diminutive 'Suffruticosa' variety. Topiary shapes can be grown or bought ready clipped: for instant, dramatic effect plant box balls in classically detailed terracotta pots.
The paintbox effect of an English border can be achieved by choosing plants with bright, richly coloured flowers, and excluding white from the palette. Old roses like the crimson Madame Isaac Pereire or warm pink Compte de Chambord exude the most delicious scent, and choose perennials like scarlet Geum 'Mrs Bradshaw', dark blue Iris sibirica and purple and gold Aster frikartii for their stunning colours.
Annual flowers can make a dynamic impact in a formal border if sown in large drifts, and to complement the vivid colour scheme try the blues and purples of 'love in a mist' and the tall, classic daisy heads of pink and white Cosmos.
An English garden wouldn't be complete without the sharp, clear scents of herbs, traditionally grown for their medicinal qualities. Lemon Balm, Rosemary, and Lavender are all essential, and for a scented treat try planting Corsican mint and Thyme in between paving stones to release their aroma as their leaves are gently crushed.
You can start creating your English garden today! Our Design Your Garden pages show how we can help you makeover a whole border in your chosen style, from design and planting plans to buying all the plants you'll need. Like to take a look? Go there now!
There are five other dream garden styles for you
to browse through if this isn't quite what you're after.
Choose from:
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