DIY Network

Formal Gardening Formal Gardening From "Syndicated DIY" episode SDIY-301

Formal-Garden Basics

If a couple of flowerbeds don't add up to your idea of a great garden, DIY's gardening expert Walter Reeves advises adding some structure and substance to it. For a more formal-garden look like those seen in public botanical gardens and park settings, large pots, tall plantings, flower-surrounded topiaries and garden statues are just some of the techniques used to give structure to the garden environment. If you like, you can emulate some of these techniques in your own back yard. Here are Walter's tips for some formal plantings.

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	Formal gardens use accessories like statues and large planters to add structure to the garden setting.
	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E
	Tulips are a good selection for plantings in large containers to complement a large evergreen.

• Large containers made from stone or terra cotta are often used in formal gardens for large plantings that combine evergreens with flowers. The problem with these in the home setting is that they are so heavy that they may be hard to manage. Also, in areas that drop below freezing in winter, terra cotta can crack when the soil inside the pot freezes and expands. Imitation terra-cotta pots (figure A) provide a solution. They are made from strong, lightweight foam so they are easy to move, but they look almost like the real thing. If there's not a hole in the bottom of the pot, you'll need to drill one so that excess water can drain properly.

• For an entrance to a formal garden, you may wish to begin with two matched 10-gallon containers (figure B). For year-round height and color, consider planting an evergreen centerpiece such as arbor vitae or skyrocket juniper.

• Plant the evergreen in the center of the pot allowing plenty of room for the root-ball. Fill in around the plant with a perlite and peat mixture. Surround the base of the evergreen with annuals and bulbs (figure C).

• In winter, you can pull out the dead plants, and still have the evergreen to give you color and structure.

• A center evergreen surrounded by flowers such as tulips can be a visually striking element in your garden (figure D). Place the pots throughout your garden to accent certain areas and draw attention to highlights.

Formal-Gardening Recap

• Select the right pots for your plantings.

• Select evergreens and flowers for plantings in large pots

• Place the pots strategically throughout your garden to create focal points (figure E).

RESOURCES :
Taylor's Master Guide to Landscaping
Model: 0618055908
Author: Rita Buchanan

Houghton Mifflin Co.
Boston, MA 02116
Phone: 617-351-5000
Email: tradecustomerservice@hmco.com

Landscaping: Principles and Practices
Model: 082736735X
Author: Jack E. Ingels

Delmar Learning