English style in landscape design

English style in landscape design in their homeland replaced the French. It includes a whole group of areas in which palace, landscape, eclectic, castle parks, Victorian gardens are decorated. Separately celebrate the modern stylistic branch - Garden cottage. The art of landscape design in England has developed in two directions: aristocratic parks and rural gardening. If in the first case only aesthetic appeal was important, then in the second there was a practical side. For example, the reservoir in the castle park is intended solely for the enjoyment of the gaze, and in the village grounds it was used to irrigate water. Rural gardens abounded with fruit trees and spices. In the palace parks, emphasis was placed on exotic plants, flower bushes. Over the years, the British began to prefer compact areas with small, cozy houses. Rustic English style in landscape design after the addition of light aristocratic features was transformed into a modern cottage garden (literally translated as "home garden"). Let's get acquainted with the detailed description of the direction and its features.

History: traditions of English style in landscape design

The history of English style in landscape design began long before the holiday plots became a luxurious addition to urban apartments. Initially, the garden was considered as an extremely practical addition. It grew fruits that could be eaten. The first who began to allocate separate sites for trees and shrubs, were monks. In the Middle Ages only very wealthy people could afford a complete garden. They hired special personnel who took care of plantings, ponds and decor, giving them a neat look. Most often, the garden was only part of the castle or palace complex. Then, Protestant-Huguenots fled to England from Holland, who brought with them exotic lyriodendrons (tulip trees), nasturtiums, and bobsterers ("golden rain").

    

Local parks began to decorate unusual plants. Symmetry has come into fashion. In the 17th century, the first botanical gardens appeared in Oxford, and then in Edinburgh. An example of a truly English style in landscape design was the park at Chizwick Manor, which was created by William Kent. Gardener and architect formulated the basic principles of ethnic direction. The result is an almost natural (more often it is called landscape) landscape, which is occasionally diluted with man-made elements. The English garden does not look wild; it is aesthetically beautiful, but at the same time it is noble and aristocratic. The landscape is replete with perennials, spices, "classic" bushes and trees, which are lined up in dense rows of tapeworms. At the same time, the plantations alternate with “voids” in the form of ponds or spacious lawns. Exotic area is diluted moderately.

    

The style absorbed the features of the nation that created it. The British are restrained, slightly arrogant, rigor is not alien to them, and the manifestation of violent emotions, in general, is considered a move. All elements of the English garden are ideally combined with the masonry facades of country houses and rare rock gardens. The landscape of the British Isles is replete with hills and landscape folds, which are diluted by many rivers, lakes and valleys. All this natural magnificence remains untouched, the natural decor is only improved by man-made elements. English garden smoothly into the forest thickets. Well-groomed lawns are narrow paths connected with natural plantings. Thanks to this combination, you get picturesque landscapes, where man-made harmoniously coexists with nature in all its natural beauty.


    

Style features

Landscape designers note a number of features, the combination of which is characteristic only for the English style:

  • The exterior of the house is included in the overall composition and is an integral part of it. The facade must be planted with woven plants (ivy, clematis, grapes). In the old English estates, the walls of the house are not visible at all behind a green curtain.
  • Winding garden paths. When designing, first, objects of the landscape are placed on the plan and only after that they plan the location of the communication lines. Paths go around obstacles and "wag" around ponds, gazebos or green spaces. They are made of stone or loose materials: sand, gravel, crushed stone, pebbles, tree bark.
  • The presence of a well-groomed ground lawn. The wild-growing Moorish version for prim and sleek English style does not fit perfectly.
  • Several large lawns, which are interconnected by garden paths.
  • Landscape ponds. It is desirable, of course, that the site has a natural lake or pond. If there is no reservoir, then it will have to be created artificially, but in such a way that it is as close as possible to the real one.
  • The use of perennials and "weeping" trees in landscaping.
  • The presence of rock gardens and rockeries.
  • In the cottage garden there are necessarily attributes of a careless village life.
  • Strict geometry.

    

Despite the naturalness of the landscape, the location of each object is clearly aligned. Before the embodiment of the design project, the layout of reservoirs, lawns, arbors, carefully adjusted. The main building must be located in the depth of the site, the facade is hidden from the eyes of street passersby crowns of trees. Pergolas are placed at the intersections of garden paths. Bright, variegated flower beds adorn only the courtyard in front of the house. Sculptural compositions are on display, it is desirable to place them near the fence. Green areas are located around the perimeter of the site.

    

Classic English gardens do not look young, that is, all elements must be carefully aged, so that the elusive “spirit of the age” is present in the landscape picture.


    

Color variety

The English garden is less like a palette of colors by an avant-garde artist. It is characterized by an abundance of green. And its numerous gradations are used: silver, salad, mint, malachite, spring, mustard, forest, olive, viridian, chartreuse, classical. To achieve this tint diversity can be achieved by combining various trees and shrubs. About what kinds of plants are planted in English gardens, let's talk a little lower. Of course, the green carpet is diluted with bright spots, but they mostly enliven the exterior of the main building. It is here that there are even, geometrically correct flower beds. While the flower gardens in the rest of the site are mostly made in calm, pastel colors: delicate pink, soft peach, maroon, neat lilac, pale yellow, white.


    

Decor and decoration

In English parks and gardens, there is little man-made decor. However, those decorations that are still present in the landscape of the landscape automatically become accent zones, precisely because they are in the minority and lose much of the greenery in numbers. The location of important decorative details should be thought out in advance. The decorator is armed with a sheet of paper for a sketch and a pencil, sprinkles a plan of the site, then puts existing buildings on the drawing. Now, when it is easier to navigate the terrain, you can draw a rough layout of the decor. From the rich range of decorations for the landscape, you should choose only typical English or antique details. The latter are used to design certain nooks of possession.


    

Decorative buildings

In the design of English plots two types of material prevail: wood and stone. The first is used for the manufacture of benches, fences, gates. Stone trim the lower part of the facades of buildings, erect monumental fences from it, pave paths. The fence can be made of brown brick, but it must be supplemented with wrought iron elements so that the structure does not look faceless. Pergolas, arbors, benches, sculptural compositions, scaffolds up to half a meter high belong to decorative structures. The relief of the site is underlined by stone stairs. Their steps are decorated with moss, and on the sides are planted a wildly growing mixborder. As a rule, each garden has its own corner for privacy. It is settled near the reservoir or on the border of the site away from the noisy courtyard.

In the center of such a platform, surrounded by benches, a gazebo or a statue depicting a person or an animal is placed. Decorate the area with green spaces or a low fence. By the way, benches are located under trees, along garden paths or near reservoirs. Pergolas are usually placed right on the road, that is, the supporting pillars are instilled at its sides. In the summer heat, this zone will give so desired shadow to those walking around the site. Garden furniture is made of wood with elements of forging. It is desirable that the items belong to the Baroque, modern or Empire style. The peculiarities of the English landscape include such an unusual decoration as the “wooded theater”. It is made in the most remote part of the site. In the center of wild trees equip a small area. It is decorated with statues, columns, a fountain, trimmed bushes, benches. Thanks to these elements of the ancient style, it seems as if there once stood a full-fledged building, from which only beautiful ruins remained. Lighting choose classic: black lights on thin high legs, decorated with openwork shades that emit a soft, diffused light.

In the cottage garden often areas are decorated with pavilions or greenhouses. These are compact structures, most of which are occupied by windows. Inside grow delicate exotic plants, place the furniture (chairs, sofa, table). They rest in the pavilions, hold tea ceremonies, greet guests, read books and do handicrafts.


    

Tracks

Tracks, as a rule, are decorated with two types of materials. Those closer to home pave a stone, as people walk more often in the courtyard, and therefore the load increases to cover. The “streaks” of moss that fill the voids between the fragments of the paved surface will look beautiful. Then the path will get a careless and slightly "abandoned" look. The stone is well combined with picturesque, dilapidated brick walls, the failures of which are twined with hops or ivy. Paths hidden in the depth of the site, sprinkled with gravel, rubble, sand or crushed bark. If conifers grow in the garden, the passage under them can be filled with cones. This option looks very original.


    

Reservoirs

English-style reservoirs have an irregular shape that mimics the natural shape. The sloping shore is decorated with plants. In the center of the reservoir is placed a small fountain or sculpture. The water surface is decorated with water lilies, lilies, duckweed. If the dimensions of the reservoir allow, then a bridge with wrought iron railings is thrown over its middle. Near the water must put one or two benches. I partially decorate the coast with stone steps that smoothly turn into rock garden, large cobblestones.


    

Selection of plants: flowers, shrubs and trees

Hops, clematis, ivy and girlish grapes will be the green background on which flower beds and rock gardens are located. Weaving plants literally wither the walls not only of the main building, but also of adjacent buildings. Spices are flourishing in English gardens. From variety choose tarragon, laurel, turmeric, saffron, basil, rosemary, wild garlic, cloves, coriander and parsnip. The edge of the reservoirs is decorated with a bathing suit, cattail, marigold, forget-me-nots, irises and sedge. Among the trees, preference is given to chestnut, mountain ash, larch, birch, oak, thuja and hazel (hazel).

    

Along the perimeter of the site planted bushes of euonymus, turf, Chubushnik, lilac, elder and jasmine. Among the variety of perennials, the choice is stopped on roses, phloxes, common wormwood, giant onions, ferns, Badane, rhubarb, drainage area, hosts, rogers. In the cottage garden they use spireas, daisies, crocuses, galantus, lilies of the valley, elecampane, delphiniums, peonies, primula, asters. From flower beds, preference is given to slightly sloppy mixborders. Neat single beds near the house itself are placed in stone vases, bowls on high, thin legs.

Do not forget about rockeries and rock gardens. They are an important part of the English garden, as they emphasize its natural beauty.

    

Conclusion

The garden in English is suitable for both luxury cottages and unpretentious country cottages. The main thing is to follow the general rules and feel the "British spirit". The English garden will be a great option for lazy owners, as the philosophy of the direction says: the surrounding beauty is created for contemplation, not for slave labor. Of course, you still have to take care of possessions, but systematically and “unobtrusively”. Sometimes you need to trim the bushes, water the trees and plants during dry periods, clean the beds of weeds. By the way, the British have quivering feelings for topiary. Trimmed bushes are necessarily present at each site. For the classic English style, you need scope, as the palaces and castles were surrounded by spacious land holdings. For the garden cottage it is enough to have a couple of acres on the plot to give them a careless natural beauty.

Watch the video: English Style Manor House Garden Design (March 2024).

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