Garden Types & Styles

Basic Types & Garden Styles

2 Basic Types & 5 Popular Garden Styles for Melbourne's Eastern Suburbs.

For many people, understandably, trying to put into words what type or style of garden you’re after is difficult. This page will hopefully make that task easier by explaining the basic types of garden design and the more commonly chosen styles homeowners consider when renovating their outdoor living areas.

When looking at garden types, there are 2 basic layouts or designs.

Formal Garden Design

Structured garden designs that are geometrically ordered are considered formal. Typically, Mediterranean and Resort Style gardens are more formal in their design layout.

The layout could be square or rectangular, with paths and garden beds forming right angles. The layout could also be circular, or triangular.

The elements and plants mirror the formal style by having or are shaped with the same geometry. In formal rectangular shaped gardens, hedges are pruned to mimic the planter boxes with sharp edges.

Round fountains, water features and plants shaped into a ball are often placed within gardens having a circular layout.

Modern designs, especially with small garden spaces tend to be more structured where size can be controlled better. In a smaller garden, the scale and layout of pebbles and pavers should be considered carefully.

Informal Garden Design

Gardens that don’t have any strict geometric shape are considered informal.
That doesn’t mean they lack structured planning, they just don’t resemble a recognisable shape.

They’re more free flowing with rambling paths instead of being straight, or perfectly circular.

Australian, bush and resort or tropical styles are typically examples of an informal garden design, particularly on larger acreage sized blocks, tending to follow the contours of the natural landscape.

Now that we’ve covered the 2 basic types of garden design, let’s look at five popular garden styles for homes across Melbourne’s north-east, east, south-east and outer east to Coldstream.

Australian Garden Style

Australian garden style is often thought of as native gardens using trees, shrubs and plants that are indigenous or native to Australia, or local to a particular area. Many people think having gardens planted out with native plants means they don’t have to be cared for, after all they don’t get cared for in nature, right? Wrong. All plants need to be looked after, especially when they’re young. All plants need water and will grow better if they are placed with good soil conditions and pruned to encourage new growth and flowers. Plants native to a local area may be better suited to its conditions, but each selection still needs to match the specific site. Plant suitability changes with location, soil, drainage and exposure. For projects in Melbourne’s north-east, east, south-east or outer east to Coldstream, selections need to match the actual site. Tony has extensive experience with Australian garden styles and native garden designs featuring locally appropriate plants. They attract a variety of birds and other wildlife, different varieties flower at different times of the year and there’s many different shapes of foliage and coloured flowers to choose from. Design styles may be informal or formal, but most often use curved lines to mimic the natural landscape of the land. Consider incorporating feature rocks, gravel, pebbles and local stone, billabong-style ponds also look part of the overall style instead of placing pre-fabricated concrete water features or fountains. Fire pits within an area the family or friends can come together are also included frequently with the Aussie style makeover. If you’re thinking an Australian or native garden design is what you’d like for your garden makeover, Tony can design a transformation for your site in Melbourne’s north-east, east, south-east or outer east to Coldstream, selecting plants for the available space, soil, drainage and exposure.

Give Tony a call on 0428 289 489 to discuss your project.

Are you looking for a landscape designer across Melbourne's east?

Natural Garden Style

Following on from using natives, natural style gardens include coastal and bush gardens. Similar to Australian style gardens they often contain native plants combined with some exotic species, selected for their aesthetic input into garden bed displays as well as their suitability for the site conditions. Typically informal in design and harmonising with the surrounding landscape, a natural garden style uses curved lines to replicate nature and are inspired by local bush or coastal colours. Often plantings include grasses mixed with exotics such as succulents, wildflowers, proteas and picking flowers great to put in a vase. Consider using natural stone paving and walls, exposed hardwood timbers, decking, shade sails and market umbrellas in neutral colours. Adding elements to match the location can be both attractive to look at and fun for the kids to play on too. During the concept design session, discuss your ideas for a more natural garden style, or ask Tony to create a natural-style garden suited to the available space and site conditions in Melbourne’s north-east, east, south-east or outer east to Coldstream.

Resort Or Tropical Garden Style

Resort style gardens are inspired by tropical garden styles characteristic of Bali or Thailand. When looking at a back garden makeover, many people that have been to tropical islands like to include elements they’ve seen and enjoyed. Even if you haven’t ventured overseas, re-creating that postcard picture is the dream garden for many.

Emphasising relaxation, resort or tropical garden styles often have flowing lines, lounges, bamboo, rattan or timber furniture, market umbrellas, barbecue and entertainment areas. On hot days, shade, water features, pools and spas can help make an outdoor area more comfortable. Consider using design elements such as paving, decking, boardwalks and ropes, pebbling and stone slabs. Typical plantings are close together and include foliage plants, palm trees and bromeliads.

Tony can adapt a resort or tropical-inspired garden to the actual site in Melbourne’s north-east, east, south-east or outer east to Coldstream, including a small garden or courtyard.

Mediterranean Garden Style

Mediterranean style gardens depict many of the popular Mediterranean regions from Spain, southern France, Italy and Greece, and are inspired by the lifestyle and culture. Popular with many that have lived in those countries, having a piece of their history or ancestry is important. Tony designed this style for many clients during his earlier South Australian practice. Provincial style gardens are informal, rustic, and have an aged-farmhouse look using natural stone paving and lime-washed walls. Shaded outdoor areas with pergolas and climbing plants are ideal for alfresco dining. Olive trees and home-grown fruit and vegetables along with picking flowers are characteristic of a Mediterranean Garden Style.

A formal Italian style may include wall-mounted water features, courtyards and piazzas using cobblestone paving, pebbling, mosaics and tiling. Needless to say, custom pizza ovens are a very popular feature.

If re-creating a piece of the Mediterranean is what you’re after for a garden in Melbourne’s north-east, east, south-east or outer east to Coldstream, Tony can customise the design to suit the site and your family requirements.

Are You Ready For A New Garden Style?

Have something in mind? Ask Tony for plans.

After completion of the agreed hardscape and softscape plans, you will have a clearer design to take to relevant contractors and specialists for construction advice and quotations.

Whether you’d like a formal or informal design, Tony can develop ideas for your front garden, courtyard or backyard around your home in Melbourne’s north-east, east, south-east or outer east to Coldstream and lifestyle.

English Garden Style

English style gardens are often confused with cottage gardens, but that’s only one example of quite a few themes within what can be considered an English garden style. Many of the colonial and Georgian architecture style homes across Adelaide, particularly throughout the inner Southern and Eastern suburbs have formal gardens with design principles based on square, rectangular and circular shapes in paths and lawns. The use of axes and symmetry is strong with neat gardens featuring clipped hedges, topiary, coppiced and espaliered trees. There’s a greater emphasis on foliage than flowering plants. Paved areas incorporating urns and fountains are common with a formal English Garden Style. Moving back to the English Cottage Garden Style, they’re examples of informal gardens using curved lines and create elements of curiosity. There is more emphasis on colour and fragrance with flowers, herbs, fruit trees, vegetable gardens and lawns. Arbours and pergolas are popular and attractive features, with white being the predominant colour. While the above list covers five popular garden styles, there are others you may prefer when planning a new landscape design for your home in Melbourne’s north-east, east, south-east or outer east to Coldstream.

Planning a garden project? Call Living Pictures By Tony Stanton today.

Landscape design, garden ideas and practical plans for homes across Greater Melbourne.