Characteristics Of Garden Styles

Question 1

Formal

Answer 1

Geometric shapes
Lines and angles
Normally symmetry around 1 or more axis
Plants chosen by ability to form neat shapes and lines
Paths often straight
Paving materials often laid in regular patterns
Ponds geometric shapes
Lawn shapes will complement shapes of planted areas
High quality turf with neat edges
Topiary may be incorporated
Planting simple with restricted colour palette
Garden with a sense of order

Question 2

Knot garden

Answer 2

Very formal style
First established in Tudor period
Formed within a square or geometric shapes frame, usually of clipped buxus or box e.g.. Buxus microphylla or salvia rosmarinus. Must be evergreen, dense foliage and be slow growing, compact in nature with small levels that may be glossy.
Compartments are usually filled with aromatic plants, medicinal plants are sometimes gravel.

Question 3

Fountain garden

Answer 3

Formal garden
Dominated by fountains
Normally civic gardens or grand houses but can be recreated with carefully designed water features.

Question 4

Informal design

Answer 4

Asymmetrical
Shaped areas of the garden overlap to create interesting sub shapes
Free and natural forms provide flowing movement
Paths meander
Hedges less formal with a mix of plants
Vertical surfaces may have climbers, wall shrubs or scramblers.
Individual plants will provide contrasts in terms of shape, colour and habit.

Question 5

Wildlife pond gardens

Answer 5

Informal shape at ground level
Naturalistic planting
Often has a big area incorporated
Usually no fish
Often accompanied by bug hotels, log piles, hedgehog hotels, bird feeders, bird baths and water savig elements such as water butts.

Question 6

Wildflower meadows

Answer 6

Annual or perennial or mix of the 2.
Different colours, textures and heights.
Requires careful planning and management to ensure success.

Question 7

English landscape garden

Answer 7

Palladian bridge
Serpentine lake
Summer house
Naturalistic tree planting
Borrowed landscapes
Temples
Follies
Grottos
Hermitages
Chinese bridges
Pagodas.
Ha-ha - vertical barrier to prevent unwanted access to the garden whilst maintaining views.

Question 8

Cottage gardens

Answer 8

Practical and productive gardens
Veg grown alongside flowers
Minimal hard landscaping except for gravel path edged with bricks.
Mix of different colours, annuals, easy perennials, veg and picket fences

Question 9

Feature

Answer 9

A physically material object e.g. a statue