A garden landscape does not always need to be designed with precise lines and neatly trimmed shrubs to be a beautiful haven. A wild and more natural approach to your outdoor space can be just as visually wonderful and can result in attracting more wildlife. Natural landscaping will connect you more to nature, while requiring less maintenance once established.
Planting for a Natural Landscape
The informal nature of wild and natural landscaping creates relaxing environments where all the elements flow in a natural manner. Evergreen shrubs offer a good foundation point regardless of the overall style when complete. These help provide the structure before other plants such as smaller shrubs and ornamental grasses are added. Fragrant shrubs will not only attract bees and butterflies, but will also enhance your own pleasure as you wander through.
Planting Types
Look to plant species native to your area, those you know should thrive and require little additional maintenance. Trees will offer canopies of shade for your use in the summer months, while exuberant perennials bring colour and add the informality of a natural outdoor space. Ornamental grasses are well suited to a naturalistic design, filling in areas where you may have previously opted for a manicured lawn or by adding a different style to your borders.
Paths Which Complement the Design
Winding paths will add to a more natural feel, while using understated gravel helps keep the eye drawn to the plants. Having plants which grow and billow over the paths will blur the lines further and enhance a wild affect. Any hardscaping required ought to use natural materials such as local stone or recycled wood in keeping with the natural design. It is best to avoid man-made structures, if possible, which can look out of place and detract from the space.
Keep Furniture and Accessories Simple
You want nature to be the star of the show and you want to enjoy the best spots of the garden depending on the different times of the day. By not building a dedicated outdoor seating space you can give more over to nature, instead using portable furniture to enjoy whichever area best takes your fancy on any given day. Simple bird baths or small ponds will add a calming water feature which attracts more wildlife. Any unsightly structures or fences still on show could be covered by planting vines.
Keep Somewhere Completely Wild
A wild, naturalistc landscape can produce a wonderful garden which attracts lots of wildlife. With less gardening maintenance required you will have more time to sit out and enjoy it all too. It can still be a good idea to leave one section of the space completely untended and left to its own wild devices. Beneath trees can be a good spot for this allowing the leaves to fall and become mulch, or perhaps an area where wildflowers become the predominant feature. You will help create another habitat for your outdoor space, further encouraging more species of wildlife for you to enjoy.
Our landscape team at Glorious Gardens is happy to discuss these ideas in planning your garden. If you’re considering a “re-do” of your outdoor space, we invite you to call us. We will brainstorm to find the right blend of elements to suit your tastes, your budget and your space.
