6 Types of Popular Gardens for Your Backyard Landscaping

Having an outdoor oasis is one of the many luxuries of owning your own home and having outdoor property to turn into a garden. Not all types of gardens work in certain areas. Know which specific garden types are best for your region and the many different herbs, plants, flowers and other garden essentials you can add to it!

English Garden

English Gardens are often lush and colorful. They are filled with varieties of flowers, plants and foliage. The name was coined in the 18th-century in England when landscapers experimented with a looser and more free-form than the rigid and symmetrical garden layouts of the time. English Gardens have meandering paths, twisting ivy plants, bushels of meadow-like flowers and secret spots throughout the garden found through exploration with stone benches and fountains discovered. English Gardens are best in regions with mild sunlight and moderate temperatures during growing seasons.

Zen Garden

Zen gardens are a type of gardening style originating in Japan. Zen gardens take a minimalist approach to outdoor landscaping with very few varieties of plants. In fact, some zen gardens only have sand, rocks and a few trees or plants of the same variety throughout the design. Some of the varieties of plants include conifers, bamboo and Japanese maples. Zen gardens can have a water source such as a shallow pond or small lake incorporated into it. Rock pathways, wood and stone seating and large areas filled with sand create a calm and contemplative garden. Zen gardens are best in regions with low to moderate rainfall and hot dry temperatures because of the sand. They can thrive in high humidity and high heat.

Butterfly Gardens

Butterfly Gardens contain flowers and plants that attract butterflies. Some of these butterfly attracting plants are echinacea, phlox, butterfly bush, lantana, bluestar, black eyed susan, pot marigolds and heliotrope. There are tons more! These can be designed in either a symmetrical or non uniform design for your garden, but they always contain plants that will bring wildlife to it. Although called Butterfly Gardens, you can add plants that attract hummingbirds and other types of birds depending on the region you live in. Adding birdbaths, bird feeders and hummingbird feeders to the design will attract more wildlife. Butterfly Gardens work best in regions where the variety of plants that attract butterflies thrive and in areas where butterflies and birds are abundant.

Herb Gardens

Herb Gardens contain edible herbs to be harvested, pruned and trimmed for their multiple uses. They serve a 3-fold purpose. They make the landscape beautiful, they have a pleasant scent and they can be used for cooking, baking or making essential oils, homemade health products and beauty products. The entirety of the garden does not have to contain herbs only, but you want to be sure you plant specific herbs near plants that will not prevent your herbs from growing. Additionally, different types of animals and critters like specific herbs. They might try to munch on them when you are not around. Certain herbs such as mint can be planted around other herbs to protect them from wildlife. You can keep your herbs safe by planting them in flower beds and outdoor containers. Herbs can be grown in nearly any region of the country, but for areas with high heat and sunlight, be sure they receive plenty of water and additional shading from direct sunlight.

Food Gardens

Food Gardens are exactly what their name implies. They are designed to grow fruits, vegetables and other plants, which may or may not include herbs to be used for cooking or as a source of food. Growing your own food from seed to harvest can be a very rewarding experience. Certain fruits and vegetables need specific care and grow better in tandem with other types of fruits and vegetables. It will require some research on your part to know growing seasons and harvesting seasons for your crops. Nearly every region has specific crops that thrive more in general in specific areas and during certain times of the year. If you are still a beginner at growing a food garden, you can use flower beds, plant beds and containers to grow your food before transferring them into your backyard soil.

Rose Gardens

Rose Gardens primarily contain a variety of roses. There are over 150 different types of roses. In fact, for centuries into present day, horticulturists and rose-loving enthusiasts have experimented with hybridization of roses to create new types. Rose Gardens contain many kinds of roses. They are admired for their lovely appearance and pungent aroma while in the garden or to be cut and placed in vases indoors. Nearly every rose must be watered regularly without too much direct sunlight and high temperatures. Rose gardens do best in regions with moderate temperatures and regular rainfall, but they can survive in other regions with the proper shade and care.

These 6 types of gardens will transform your backyard into an outdoor getaway without having to leave your property. They can provide tranquility, comfort, and other valuable resources such as food, flowers and herbs contributing to your daily life or new found interests. How your home makes you feel on the outside is just as important as how it makes you feel on the inside.