Sculpture Garden Style

Just as the name suggests, this garden uses the outdoor garden setting as a platform to love sculpture. A sculpture garden can take on either formal or informal style by including traditional or abstract sculptures. Occassionally hiding a sculpture in a garden setting can add interest and mystery to a garden setting

Woodland Garden Style

Sometimes with an existing canopy, this style has a soft fragile pallet of under story, shade and partial sun loving plants, dispersed randomly in groupings that mimic nature’s distribution in colonies with subtle meandering paths that blanket the forest floor. Typical materials used in the woodland garden are natural like wood and natural stone.

The design of a woodland garden should be nearly undetectable as it is design is to mimic nature’s way of placing plant materials and the use of hardscaping elements such as the foot bridge shown above. The use of a natural appearing contemporary outdoor water feature or stream, complete with rocks and boulders, can enhance the feeling of nature and add to the authentic feel of the woodland garden space.

English Garden Style

English landscape gardening in it is early form was mainly utility in function. Vast deer parks surrounded large estate homes and tiny knot gardens filled with lilies and tulips may be near the house itself. Orchards and kitchen gardens would be planted further away from the home and paths with walls or hedges flanking them.

Later, as the middle class implemented their English garden influence, the style became a more relaxed form of garden craftmanship the removal of some of the boundaries and hedges and working the garden into the natural landscape became the foundation of the English Garden we know today. Other influences in the English Style are the of the Palladian architectural style, the Italian use of Sculptures in the garden setting along with the formal French garden style the uses long lawn vistas. Long lawn views bordered by natural plantings of trees and lush border plantings along natural appearing, but planted trees and shrubs.

Wildflower Garden Style

The random pattern of a meadow of wildflowers can be one of the most breathtaking sites created by mother nature. it is also very attractive to birds and butterfly alike. Planting flowers that attract butterflies and birds is a challenging and rewarding garden type to be enjoyed by the young and young at heart.

Japanese Garden Style

A japanese garden includes what would appear to be elements of an informal garden, but in reality is a rather purposeful spatial arrangement, with its clipped shrubs and trees, meticulously placed rocks and garden elements. Incorporating constantly changing views as one walks from space to space, coupled with thoughtfully placed outdoor water fountains, plants and rocks to convey visual serenity. Oriental gardens are full of deep meanings and symbolism. There are many different variants of Japanese or Oriental gardens, but most use similar elements. Instead of colorful flowers and shrubs, like you may see in a Western garden, most Asian gardeners concentrate on the use of rocks, stones, trees, plants, bridges, water and waterfalls. You’ll sometimes see rocks that surround a pond or stream that are then encased with plants or shrubs. In Japanese ponds or streams, you’ll often find koi a common fish. The gardens purpose is to capture nature and become a quiet place for refection or meditation.

Cottage Garden Style

The cottage garden can be one of the most charming of all the styles because of the unassuming nature and humble origin. It is marked by informal plantings and style. Low picket fences or walls and little walks to the porch setting are some of the elements that the cottage garden employs. A Cottage Garden is just as it sounds, a smaller cozy garden. Because of the limited space, gardeners play up patches of plants, instead of grass or trees. Since these areas are the focus of the yard, gardeners use colorful plants and ground cover. This is the area to be creative; pick a wide selection of plants you like, that compliment each other in the space. Gardeners often surround these colorful spaces with borders of brick or stone walkways. These borders can be in any geometric design if you have the space try some patterns to accentuate the area.

Romantic Garden Style

Who doesn’t love to have fresh flowers on display in your home? It is one of the advantages of a cutting garden, when you fill it with flowers you really like. Roses are a favorite, but you might consider planting other variants of flowers, so you’ll have a longer blossoming season. Roses also need special care and space, so be definitely sure you know roses before you choose them. While the garden will be definitely stunning during the peak season, it won’t last too long, so pick an area of the yard that isn’t the focal point year-round. The results will be well worth it when you have beautiful flowers to display and share with colleagues. Nurture love in a romantic garden and a refreshing sound of outdoor garden fountains. Scented plants, love seats for two or create privacy in a secluded part of the garden. Build a romantic paradise for entertaining your lover. Put plants that have engrossing meanings to you and your love.

Are you looking for quality timber decking at the best possible prices? Do you want the widest choice of Garden Decking that can be delivered direct to your door? Shop at the one stop shop for Garden Decking and buy quality products from the largest supplier of decking in the country. They sell Garden Decking in a variety of kit form ready for immediate installation outside your home.

Measure your plot, work out how much decking you require and take advantage of the low cost web prices that are being offered online. Create the garden of your dreams with the finest timber decking from the number one nationwide supplier.

Sizes to suit all

Small, medium or large, regardless of how big or how small your garden is, it can benefit from the beauty of the finest Garden Decking. Kits are available starting at 2.4 metres wide rising to 4.8 metres in total. If you have the space and want to create a very special feature in your back garden, its possible to install a huge Garden Decking kit, ready to enjoy the best of the British weather. Even if you have the smallest of gardens, its amazing what you can do with Garden Decking.

Go on. Change the look of your garden and install Garden Decking. Itll provide you with years of pleasure in the future and its not as hard to install as you might imagine.

Beautiful and bespoke

If you want something totally unique the manufacturers of Garden Decking will provide you with a bespoke kit; perfect for your exclusive project. You dont have to make do with square sections of decking either, tailored solutions are supplied and any size or shape of Garden Decking is available ready to give your garden the wow factor.

Think itll be too much of a challenge for you to fit the decking? Dont fret. Installation teams operate all over the country and they fit decking in a host of different surroundings.

Wouldnt your garden look beautiful with bespoke Garden Decking fitted in a prime position outside your property?

In these days, more and more people take gardening as their hobby. Many people regard gardening as a means to improve their quality of life. With a garden, you can eat all the fresh fruits and vegetables you can grow, and maintain a healthy lifestyle. As matter of fact, gardening offers many benefits.

Many researches show that you can lose weight and get into shape while gardening. Through gardening you can get physical activity, which is important to maintain your figure.

Gardening contributes to physical health, since activities such as digging, planting, weeding, and harvesting are all part of three types of physical activity: endurance, flexibility, and strength. Daily physical activity is a prerequisite for good health. Gardening provides a variety of activities to improve the physical health of the gardener.

Gardening is also good for the mind.

Tending the garden can relieve your stress and anxiety by providing a break from the general rush of life. In the harvest season, the gardeners can also feel a sense of accomplishment in a job well done.

Gardening involves creativity. You should use your head and creativity to get a successful garden. Gardening gives us a chance to be creative. You can let your personality shine through in your garden.

Gardening connects you with nature. Gardening requires you to live in garden. Viewing a garden or nature has healthy psychological benefits.

Gardening connects you with other people. In your neighborhood, you can find most people are gardening enthusiasts. Gardening provides a common topic for you all. It’s also a great activity to do with kids. Give them a section of the garden all their own.

You can enjoy what your garden produce.

Eating garden produce is good for you.

Fencing not only provides you with the privacy you need, it also provides security. Good quality fencing surrounding the property may even help towards reducing your home insurance. When considering transforming your outdoor living space, there is plenty to think about, from garden fencing, to trellis work and arches, along with edgings for the lawn, posts and gravel boards. You can soon turn your open garden into a beautiful intimate space, and what better excuse for a get together than to show off your new garden?

There are numerous designs to choose from, from the very basic straight topped panels, to the wavy and extremely detailed panels. The overlap fences are very popular when it comes to providing complete privacy and can be purchased in different heights which make them ideal for securing your property. Willow screening can look fantastic, more so when it is framed by timber. This might be suitable for a garden in the cottage theme as a backdrop to flower borders. If you only want something plain and simple slat fencing may be adequate, or if you prefer lattice panels can be used. Lattice panels can look great when ivy or clematis is grown up them.

When purchasing fencing for your garden bear in mind that you will also need to purchase accessories and posts. Accessories may include the supports for the posts, fixings for the fencing, panel locks if you are erecting panel fencing, and brackets.

When it comes to garden fencing for your borders, again the options and styles are many. Fencing comes in bamboo styling, dome top edging, sleepers, logs and wavy edging. These are a superb and typically inexpensive way to make your garden look stunning. To top off your fencing you may wish to consider lattice trellis work along the top, of course this is only applicable if you have purchased flat topped fencing. Capping rails also finish off fencing, or you may wish to consider arch top trellis. Wickes have the complete range of fencing panels and accessories, so why not order online and have them delivered right to your door.

Are you taking on a new hobby, or starting your own business and need a suitable setting? Have you thought about the garden? Sure it might just be an expense of grass and landscaping at the moment, but a wooden garden studio could blend right in with the surroundings.

Quality Garden Studios are the ideal answer when space is tight within the home. Various designs of Garden Studios are available; with plenty of size options and budgets to suit all pockets.

Supplied and constructed by reliable UK manufacturers, Garden Studios are highly versatile, making them ideal for a variety of purposes. Made from the finest of material, the hardwearing Garden Studios look amazing in a host of outdoor settings.

Why not turn one of the Garden Studios into a home office?

There are a growing number of people working from home these days and Garden Studios provide a sensible work from home solution. If you work from home at the moment you know how distracting it can be on certain days, with people knocking on the door and the home phone forever ringing.

This isnt a problem when Garden Studios are erected. People have a dedicated work area that is separate from the main house. The Garden Studios provide that physical detachment from the main residence and this can be a blessing when you have a stack of work to pile through.

Make enquiries about Garden Studios if you are finding it hard to work from home at the moment, due to continual interruptions in the house.

Workout inside Garden Studios

Want to get fit for the summer? Forget joining a gym, you could create your own workout HQ inside one of the Garden Studios. Top grade Garden Studios are perfect to use for training sessions. Fill one of the Garden Studios with your favourite gym equipment and you can lose pounds and increase your stamina anytime that you like.

People have turned Garden Studios into saunas, weight training centres and places to pound treadmills in the past, and theres nothing like having your very own gym outside your back door.

Of course, once you have invested in one of the Garden Studios you can change its use anytime that you like, thats the beauty of these sturdy outdoor structures.

Designing your garden is most likely a personal statement of style. What one person likes may not be what another likes. For instance, some people like their gardens to be neat and tidy, while others love the adventure of winding paths and exotic plants. Formal, semi-formal, and informal are the three variations on the style for a garden. To properly design your garden, however, you will need to have the basic Garden tools, and perhaps a few extras depending on the look you are going for. You can choose to design your garden to mimic the design of your home, or it does not have to be related to your home whatsoever. It is all about personal choice.

Some people are born with the innate ability to transform space into something that is very pleasing to the eyes; whereas others are not and may not have the first idea about how they should go about designing their outdoor space.

To create a great outdoor space, you must manage the space well and remember that people will be moving around in the space. In other words, creating great patterns and utilizing the space within the pattern is vital. By utilizing geometrical patterns, your garden will achieve a unified feel about it. Which way would you like your patron to move about in your garden? You can achieve your ground pattern by using bricks or paving material. To achieve this you will need to have the appropriate garden tools on hand before you begin so that you do not have to stop in the middle of your project.

If you are seeking to create a formal garden, you want to be sure to incorporate symmetry and geometry, such as repeating patterns with different plants on each side.

The environment is very controlled, overgrowth is clipped and shaped on a regular basis. You can add urns or balustrades to complete the formal look. In other words, formal means that there are no surprises. You always know just what to expect.

An informal design is just the opposite; in fact, the design should be asymmetrical and not regulated. Allow the plants to grow without clipping. Allow it to grow as it may and to self-feed. This design is much softer and thus there is a surprise effect to it creating a great ambiance.

And finally, a semi-formal garden style is a combination of the above garden styles. You will create fine lines with your paths that will be softened by the occasional overgrowth in spots of your alluring plants.

Along with these types, there are also several different garden styles that you can choose from, such as Chinese, contemporary, cottage, or secret garden.

Contemporary is a modernized style that uses your plants to help reflect the surroundings. The texture and form of your foliage is just as important as what flowers you choose. You will weave hard landscapes into geometric buildings, which will then flow into a more open space. You will then use your flowers and other plants to create focal points around your architecture.

When it comes to your garden it is important that you make the most of it. Lots of us don’t use our garden enough and this is simply because we don’t have the right garden furniture to take advantage of it.

There are lots of different types of garden furniture that you can buy to kit your garden out in almost any way that you want too. In fact it doesn’t even matter how big or how small your garden is, because you’ll be able to find furniture to fit in and match.

It takes a lot to beat an evening in your garden in the sunshine with your friends and family. A few drinks and a barbecue can really make a fantastic night and is a great way to enjoy you.

When it comes to choosing garden furniture there are lots choices. You can go for simple table and chairs, benches or even swing chairs. Even if you do know the actual pieces that you want, choosing what you want them made from and even the style that you want can be a hard decision.

There are different styles so whatever you choose is down to you.

In order to get a good idea of what is available you should probably start by looking online. As there are different garden furniture websites available you should not struggle to find inspiration on the type of furniture to buy. Websites that are selling these pieces will have photos up which means you can have a look and see what they look like before you go ahead and make your decision. This means that even if you have no idea what type you are looking for, you should be able to easily find inspiration online.

You can then buy online and get whatever it is that you have chosen delivered direct to your house. This also removes the worry of how to get it home from the shop you bought it from, making the whole buying garden furniture process even easier. So why not have a look online and see what is available because you are bound to find something that suits your needs.

The benefits of having Garden lights installed is firstly, it allows you to carry out the lifestyle we have mentioned above, but as well as this, it is a cheap and effective way of creating a beautiful home and generating a comforting ambience. Simple things such as lighting can really improve the aesthetics of a house, and it doesnt have to stop in the back garden. These lights can also be installed in the front garden and provide a welcoming vibe for your guests, or for when you have arrived home from work. Another major benefit is that it is a great safety measure, especially for households with lots of little ones running about who are looking to get up to all kinds of mischief. Another advantage is that you can make the most of your garden in the autumn and winter months when most people tend to neglect their garden and let the grass grow too long. But simply get a patio heater and couple cups of tea on the go and you can still sit outside and enjoy your garden in its full glory, which would be great with Guy Fawkes Night just around the corner.

For you environmentally friendly consumers out there, you will be pleased to know that you can buy a variety energy saving garden lights, such as the ones on offer from Sparks Direct. They offer a variety of energy saving and low voltage bulbs, and you also have the option mains voltage, high voltage and 3 phase. If you do opt for the higher powered bulbs, then simply remember to turn your lights off when they are not being used, and save our environment. If your lights are being powered by a mains socket, then simply purchase a digital timer and AC plug socket, where you will be able to set the time you wish your garden lights to be on and off.

Another great thing to remember is that you, the consumer, have such a great variety to choose from, that you are bound to find the right lights for your home. Some of the fitted lights that are available to you from Sparks Direct their choice of wall lights and walkover/step lights. Also, you can have spike lights scattered around the garden, which is often situated in the flowerbeds, to give your whole garden a beautiful glow. There are also rope lights, flood lights and ceiling lightings, so basically there is a light for every area of your garden. As well as a great range of lights comes a great range of styles. Some of the styles on offer to you are antique, contemporary and traditional and you also have the option of halogen, LED and high IP lights.

Whatever the reasons, make sure you make the most of your garden and give it the lighting it deserves.

If you are hoping that your green fingers ay produce you a stunning garden this spring, full of pretty blooms and colourful sights, then it’s not as much about caring for the plants, and more about making sure the soil is of the best quality.

The soil that you put your plants into needs to have a great richness of minerals and goodness for the plants to thrive, as the garden bed is a fragile ecosystem. It needs to have the right ph balance for everything to thrive, and gardeners are discouraged to dig, leaving the earth worms to take the nutrients deep down to the roots of the plants. It is also advised to steer clear of artificial fertilisers, as it makes the plants unhealthy, much like if you were to take steroids. It will initially enhance the growth, but the plants will not have the same quality.

Look at when in the gardening cycle a plant is due to bloom, and arrange the plants in your garden so they alternate, rather than having dead patches through the year where the flowers have come and gone.

Try peppering non flowering shrubbery into the mix to break up the colour, and keep the garden looking alive.

Another top tip from gardening gurus is to not overwater your soil, asd this can have as much of a negative effect as if you were to not water at all. If the soil becomes waterlogged, the roots can become clogged and unable to soak up nutrients.

If you are planning on speeding to add to your garden this spring, make sure your Home Insurance covers the outdoors of your house too.

- Chung Jae-hoon, Korean Gardens: Where Man and Nature Become One

The Korean garden is more than just a scenic location. For Koreans of old, it was amicrocosm of the universe, an architectural embodiment of the Korean world view. Mans influencing touch is kept to a minimumrocks, streams, ponds, and trees are left as close to their natural state as possible; artificial additions, meanwhile, serve to highlight or complement nature, not dominate it. By tying together the natural and man-made, the garden expresses mans harmony with his natural environment, an ever-present theme in Koreantraditional culture.

Characteristics of Korean gardens
Kim Yong-duk, former president of the Traditional Garden Society and himself the owner of the beautiful Haksajae home and a tale of Seoul Korean Gardens Simple and natural, Korean gardens embody the traditional view of the cosmos Written and photographed by Robert Koehler garden on the island of Ganghwa-do, explains that the traditional gardens of Korea, China, and Japan share four common characteristics: water, rocks, plants, and structures. The differences, however, are in the details. In a Korean garden, for instance, the Korean red pine features prominently, while in Japanese gardens, cherry blossoms are more prominent, and in Chinese gardens, juniper trees. Kim says it takes some time to get the feeling of each nations garden, but there are more general philosophical differences. Japanese gardens are more manicured, while Chinese gardens tend to be overwhelming in all aspects. Korean gardens, however, stress naturalizationthere is a less human approach. Korean gardens will typically feature a pond, trees, and rocks, left in their natural state or placed in a manner approximating nature. Overlooking the scene, usually on a hill or by the side of the pond, a simple pavilion will be built to provide a panoramic view of the scenery. In larger gardens, such as the famed Huwon Garden of Changdeokgung Palace, several pavilions will be built, each offering its own unique view of the landscape.

Philosophical background
Underpinning the Korean traditional garden is a Korean world view, indigenous to the country and reinforced by imported ideologies such as Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, that reveres nature and seeks harmony of man in his natural environment. In Korean Gardens: Where Man and Nature Become One, Chung Jae-hoon, Professor of Traditional Landscape Architecture at Korean National University of Cultural Heritage, writes:In particular, Song Confucianism’s view of nature strongly influenced Joseon gardens. It was through these influences that Joseon art was created, with its naturalistic style untouched by artifice, while a worldly, practical lifestyle flourished, based on
moderation and diligence. Indeed, this led to the development of a highly humanistic and straightforwardly naturalistic culture.

To see the epitome of this philosophy, head to the Juhamnu Pavilion in Changdeokgung Palace. Set atop a terraced hill overlooking Buyongji Pond, the two-story pavilion and pleasure pond is a favorite of former Traditional Garden Society president Kim. It is particularly typical of the neo-Confucian idea of harmonizing humans, and nature, such as the shape of the island and pond, he explains.

Seen from the pavilion, Buyongji Pond is a square, representing the earth, while the circular island in the middle, with its beautiful solitary pine tree, represents heaven. The Juhamnu was the kings personal library and is located close to the palace, at the highest point in the garden. Below the Juhamnu are several other pavilions, each with its own function and meaning.

Beautiful Korean gardens near Seoul
These are several gardens in and around Seould where visitors can get a better appreciation of the beauty of Korean landscaping.

Changdeokgung Huwon: Generally considered the apex of Korean traditional gardening, this royal pleasure palace behind Changdeokgung Palacedesignateda UNESCO World Heritage Siteconsists of several ponds and associated pavilions, the most famous of which is Buyongji Pond. Each season presents a different and uniquely beautiful view.

Hours: Guided tours of the garden are given between 10am and 4:30pm (closed Mondays).
Admission: 5,000 won, plus 3,000 won to get into Changdeokgung Palace itself.
Getting there: A short walk from Exit 3 of Anguk Station, Line 3.

Seongnagwon: This retreat garden in Seongbuk-dong consists of three separate areas, an entrance, inner garden, and rear garden. One of the few remaining examples of Joseon-era villa architecture left in Seoul, it is a remarkably tranquil place where you can relax to the sounds of chirping birds and running water. The garden is currently undergoing restoration, which is scheduled for completion in the second half of 2010.

Hours: To be decided
Admission: To be decided
Getting there: Take a taxi from Hanseong UniversityStation, Line 4.

Hee Won Garden: Located on the grounds of the Ho-Am Art Museum in the Seoul suburb of Yongin, this spectacular piece of Korean traditional gardening was built by Samsung in 1997. The extensive grounds are home to a lotus pond, pavilions, Korean stone walls, pagodas and other stone ornaments, and even a rare peacock.

Hours: 10am5pm (closed Mondays)
Admission: 4,000 won
Getting there: Take bus No. 1113 (Gangbyeon
Station, Line 2), 1500 (Hanguk Univ. of Education,Line 3), 1500-2 (Sadang Station, Line 2), 5002,or 5800 (Gangnam Station, Line 2) and get off atEverland. Shuttle buses to the garden depart from Everlands entrance.