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Large, traditional gardens


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Designing large English country and traditional gardens


Having a large garden gives you the opportunity to let your imagination run wild – but it also brings with it the problem of keeping it looking good all year. The larger the garden, the more work it will need, and a more informal plan might be a practical solution for a garden that looks great but is relatively easy to maintain.

The traditional English country garden is a riot of colour, an organic space that gives the impression that it planted itself. While it can take some initial planning to create this illusion, it will be less work in the long run than, for example, a more formal garden that requires constant weeding and pruning. When we design large gardens we use the same principles as we would for small, it’s just a question of scale. 




Top tips for a large, traditional garden


The traditional English country garden has its origins in the gardens of 15th century England, when families used every inch of space for homegrown fruit and vegetables, and planted flowers to ensure there were enough bees to pollinate the fruit blossoms. Today’s families may not be reliant on home produce, but traditional gardens still pack texture, scent and colour into every corner.
When planning a traditional English country garden, your aim is to avoid giving it a structured or “architectural” look. Instead, the garden’s sweeping lawns and lush colour should look like Mother Nature working at her best. That doesn’t mean you can’t include some more formal features – topiary and trimmed boxwood hedges are an effective way to divide the garden into sections without looking too linear.