Your house, the space you have to work with, soil type, climate, sun—and most importantly—your design aesthetic and interests all come into play when designing your garden. Below are some garden types to consider in your planning stage.
Asian Gardens
Asian Gardens usually include paths throughout so that visitors walk through the environment slowly and take in the nature around them.
Pollinator Gardens
Pollinator Gardens attract bees, butterflies, birds, and other natural pollinators. Plants that do this are usually native to your area and are profuse bloomers.
Bonsai Gardens
Bonsai Gardens are all about the Bonsai trees. Paths of stone take the visitor from one tree to the next. Stones and a water element are usually incorporated into the space giving it a special peace.
Cutting Gardens
Cutting Gardens are for growing plants and flowers to be harvested. Design is not a high priority as these are working gardens where flowers are cut.
Cottage Gardens
Cottage Gardens have an intimate, informal look with many varieties of plants in dense arrangements. Picture a small, charming garden in England filled with ornamental plants and you get the idea.
Xeric Gardens
Xeric Gardens are popular in California because they need little irrigation. This does not necessarily mean a desert look, just care in choosing plants and groundcover that need little irrigation. Xeriscaping is more of a mindset than a look.
Vegetable Gardens
Vegetable Gardens can be just be a few plants in a raised bed or larger gardens with plants in the ground. Choosing the right plants comes down to what you want to eat, amount of sunlight and space requirements.
Specimen Plant
A Specimen Plant is one that makes a bold focal point in the garden. It can be a tree, shrub, succulent, or other type of plant. Specimens can be planted in the ground or in a container.
Mediterranean Gardens
Mediterranean Gardens feature plants, such as lavender or succulents, that thrive in warm, dry climates. Tiles and stone are usually design highlights.
Rock Gardens
Rock Gardens feature small plants that thrive in bright sun and quick-draining soil, such as succulents or alpine plants.
Urban Gardens
Urban Gardens are defined by space limitations and needs of the gardener. They can be ornamental, edible, or include plants in containers.
Woodland Gardens
Woodland Gardens are practical for shaded yards with a large overhead canopy. Plants found in forests and that do well in shaded areas thrive best here.
California Native Gardens
California Native Gardens incorporate plants that grow naturally in our state. Gardens of this type usually do well as they are acclimated to the soil and the local climate.
Coastal Gardens
Coastal Gardens are made up of plants that can tolerate strong winds and salt sprays. There are many hardy, beautiful plants that can be used in this type of environment.
Aquatic Gardens
Aquatic Gardens contain plants able to withstand being submerged in water. Any watertight container can be used to build an aquatic garden.
Tropical Gardens
Tropical Gardens give the impression of an island or jungle locale. Dense, brightly colored plants and dramatic foliage in rich green hues can all contribute to a tropical look.