Gardening is an art form, and gardens can be as unique as their designers. Some gardens allow gardeners to express their dreams, while others are simple home gardens for backyard enjoyment. Travel to any destination to see many types of gardens suited for different purposes. There are gardens for specific uses, such as vegetable gardens, meditation gardens, and those that honor a national style, like Japanese gardens.
Read on to discover more about types of gardens and their distinct features. Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
- Types of Gardens
- In-Ground Garden
- Hydroponic Gardens
- Wildlife-friendly gardens
- Urban gardens
- Formal gardens
- Vegetable & Herb Garden
- Raised Garden
- Community Gardens
- Contemporary gardens
- Tropical Garden
- Greenhouse Gardens
- English Gardens
- Japanese Gardens
- Mediterranean gardens
- Chinese Gardens
- Therapeutic Gardens
- Rain Gardens
- Moon Garden
Types of Gardens
In-Ground Garden
Backyard in-yard gardens are one of the most common gardens you can find. These gardens are a nice option for anyone with ample outdoor space and easy access to freshwater. In-ground gardens can be used for growing fruits and vegetables but are at the mercy of animals and weather. Keep an eye out for weather changes that you may need to protect plants from. In-ground garden plants can be picky when it comes to where they want to grow. In this type of garden, you will only be able to grow plants that are native to your location.
If you have a problem with street animals sneaking into your garden, research in-ground fencing solutions to match your yard. Wooden fences or mesh wires are common solutions. Also, keep your garden free of weeds, or your plants could suffer.
Hydroponic Gardens
When searching for different types of gardens, hydroponic gardens may seem completely out of your league. But this isn’t always the case! While there are expensive and complex hydroponic gardening systems, there are also cheaper and simpler ways to start this type of garden.
Hydroponic gardens are perfect for anyone who doesn’t have any outdoor space to spare. However, they aren’t maintenance-free and require organic fertilizer that you’ll have to buy separately. You can make this part easier by purchasing all-inclusive fertilizer, but you should always know what you are feeding your hydroponic garden plants. Hydroponic gardens are the most flexible and versatile method of gardening by far. That’s because you can grow whatever you want, as long as you take care of your plant.
Wildlife-friendly gardens
Wildlife-friendly gardens have plants and structures that attract native wildlife, such as small mammals, birds, and beneficial insects. These gardens feature large trees and homes for various creatures. Log piles, bee hotels, and hedgehog boxes help bring wildlife that will help you by keeping down pests such as aphids and slugs. You can also build a garden pond to maintain wildlife-rich habitats.
Urban gardens
Urban gardens have multiple purposes; they provide outdoor space for planting, relaxation, and entertaining. You need a skilled landscape designer to start urban gardens in a relatively small area. These gardens typically feature minimal design and simple plant arrangements for maximum effect.
Most urban gardens become functional spaces or plant-filled havens to help you escape hectic city life. Also, urban gardens are places where you can grow healthy food and reconnect with nature.
Formal gardens
Formal gardens have a clear floor plan and balanced design symmetry. Their hard and soft landscaping has a geometric structure, often around a central feature such as a water fountain or sculpture. This style adapts well to gardens of any size, even small urban spaces.
Vegetable & Herb Garden
Vegetable & herbs garden is also known as vegetable patch or kitchen garden that exists to grow vegetables and other edible plants. Most vegetable gardens are a miniature version of old family farm plots.
When adding vegetables and herbs to gardens, consider the size of each plant and choose the ones that share the same growing requirements. For instance, some plants enjoy the full sun while others prefer partial shade. Some thrive in drought-like conditions, and others may need plenty of water. For best results, mix vegetables and herbs with flowers and plant them in the garden beds sharing the same conditions. The flowers improve nectar production, attracting beneficial insects that protect edible plants in your vegetable & herb garden.
Raised Garden
Raised gardens are built off the ground on raised planting beds. These gardens help deter animals or critters from destroying the garden. Plus, raised gardens can be excellent space savers.
To make a raised garden, you’ll require sod installation to fill the raised bed so that plants grow properly. You can build a raised bed or purchase one online if you want.
Community Gardens
Many communities across North America have started to create community garden areas. These are designated spaces where people can grow vegetables, fruits, herbs, and other plants on community property.
Typically, these community gardens provide fruits and veggies for people who need help. It’s also a great opportunity for people living in apartments that don’t have space for a garden. People in the community can take a certain amount of food from the community garden every month in certain areas. Different communities have different rules for their community gardens, so you’ll need to ensure you’re doing the right things.
Community gardens can be very helpful for people who enjoy gardening. It’s a relaxing hobby that can help reduce stress and improve your focus. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to make new friends while planting trees! These gardens help bring the community closer together, so you can strengthen bonds and friendships within your community.
Contemporary gardens
A contemporary garden has a relaxed and homey feel. It provides an outdoor living space that reflects the owner’s personality and inspires conversations while providing a modern look. When we talk about contemporary gardens, think of sleek but unique landscape design.
The design concept has crisp, clean lines and features intimate artifacts. Such a plan will include plants, pathways, patios, decks, and other structures in the garden. It may also include outdoor furniture and other decor items. Materials used are natural and timeless such as stone and wood, and water to create reflection, movement, and sound. Even the lighting helps set the tone and feel of a contemporary garden. This all adds up to make a dynamic yet relaxing garden that could be the best antidote to a hectic lifestyle.
Tropical Garden
If you aren’t an advanced gardener, you may find it hard to maintain a tropical garden. But you can easily maintain a tropical garden if you live in a tropical area. Those who attempt to start tropical gardens in places with temperate climates will have a much more difficult time. Tropical plants require plenty of water and high temperatures to thrive.
If you want a successful tropical garden, you’ll need to install an irrigation system. This will help you keep everything watered properly and make gardening a breeze.
Greenhouse Gardens
You’ve probably heard of greenhouse gardens. Setting up a greenhouse garden isn’t going to be simple. It takes special equipment and a good amount of money to get everything right. Serious farmers and extreme gardening aficionados mostly use this gardening method. If you’re passionate about greenhouses, you may want to look into it further.
Mini-greenhouse areas have started popping up across North America. These gardens are perfect when it’s colder outside, helping you keep your plants safe. They’re really easy to use, but they aren’t as complex and rewarding as a large greenhouse is. They’re still useful, so you may want to consider buying one.
English Gardens
English garden style developed in 18th-century England, originating as a revolt against the architectural-style gardening, which relied on sculptures and the unnatural shaping of trees.
The legendary gardens of England influence residential landscapes worldwide and are admired for their lush, green lawns and borders of breathtaking flowers and herbs. You don’t have to live in England to enjoy the pleasures of English gardens. With basic design principles and plants knowledge, you can start an outdoor English garden. Start by creating a romantic English garden filled with flowers and foliage in cool and pastel shades.
Japanese Gardens
Japanese garden style is more relaxed, especially when compared to traditional English gardens. It has distinctive characteristics such as garden waterfalls, bridges of many varieties, and natural stones. Other garden furnishings include decorative stone water basins, stone lanterns and figures, pagodas, and summer houses.
Most Japanese gardens feature simple and minimalist designs to inspire retrospection and meditation. In modern Japanese gardens, evergreen plants are popular, and flowers are few. Evergreens are symbolic of permanence and consistency, making them a focal point of Japanese culture and values.
Mediterranean gardens
These gardens can be formal or informal and take their inspiration from the vegetation of southern France and Spain’s hot, dry climates. These gardens usually have drought-tolerant plants, including olive trees, lavender, and rosemary. This garden style can adapt well to the American climate, but some Mediterranean plants dislike wet winters and need protection in a cooler climate.
Chinese Gardens
Chinese gardens aren’t very difficult to start. Select an outdoor space for your Chinese garden, then make a rough sketch of your plans. Your garden should be compact, asymmetrical, and pleasing to the eye. Remove existing vegetation and create a pond or a stream, which is often the main feature of a Chinese garden. Plant a stand of bamboo, but avoid any invasive varieties that can overtake your carefully planned garden. You can also include other plants that provide color and texture for each season. Additionally, you may include curved walkways and artificial mountains with pavilions.
Therapeutic Gardens
Some people have adopted garden styles that are meant to be therapeutic. People who have stressful lives or who have trouble regulating their emotions can benefit from gardening. Gardening is a relaxing activity that can help ease anxiety, frustration, and even depression. Many people benefit from therapeutic gardening sessions, which is likely to become more prevalent in the future.
Symptoms of anxiety and depression are on the rise worldwide. If you are one of those suffering from these mental health problems, having a therapeutic garden could be a great way for you to relax. It is nice to take your mind off of your problems when you can, and gardening is a perfect outlet for this.
Some treatment centers have garden areas that patients can make use of. Additionally, you can use community gardens for therapeutic gardening purposes in many areas. If you want to learn more about therapeutic gardening, you can look for one in your area. Those who don’t have enough space for a home-grown therapeutic garden should be able to find reliable options.
Rain Gardens
Rain gardens are becoming popular worldwide. It’s a great alternative to more conventional methods of improving yard drainage. This type of garden provides a unique and lovely feature and can also help the environment. Making a rain garden for your yard is not that hard. Once you know how to start a rain garden and select rain garden plants, you can be on your way to having this unique feature in your yard.
Moon Garden
You can enjoy moon gardens by the moonlight at nighttime. There’s nothing as dreamy as walking through a moon garden and experiencing the glow of plants in the moonlight. These gardens include white or light-colored flowers that open at night and plants that release pleasant fragrances at night.
Creating a successful moon garden is all about choosing the right plants with a white or silver color palette. Some examples of excellent white flowers for moon gardens are white tulips, Shasta daisies, white daffodils, and Queen Anne’s lace.
Moon gardens help extend hours of enjoyment and entertainment outdoors. You can invite your friends to show off your moonlit plants and breathe in all the fragrance in your garden.