British Beauties:
English Gardens for the 21st Century
 “The dewy haze gathers, the gentle river winds,
The snapping turtle ambles, the song thrush pines.
This is my garden, this is my love This is my joy, blessed from above. Take care when you enter
For my heart rests lightly here
Far from rage,
Far from want,
Far from fear. This is my English country garden
My soul’s only sweet true home.
Abode of purest harmony
Where I am never alone.”
For those of us fortunate to have personally experienced the grace and unbounded beauty of a true English garden, there’s not likely to be another sight to match it.
English gardens do have the general reputation for being difficult to maintain as well as demanding on one’s time. In actuality, you – as the gardener – have complete control over the time spent in the garden by what design you prefer and the plants used to complete your design and bring it to life.
Formal or Informal Attire – Put Your Garden on the Best Dressed List
When we think of an “English Garden,” we think of graceful, heavy-blossomed, meandering roses; grass so soft, it’s like cotton padding; and flowers and vines so healthy and moist, they seem almost imitation.
While this dream-like situation of the English garden does, in a few instances, exist, the amount of work required to keep up such perfection is out of reach for most people. And, unless you live in a climate similar to England (rainy, cloudy and cool); you’re going to have to consider plant “substitutions.”
You can still have the elegance and charm of the English garden without having to move to Jolly Ol’ England or hiring a full-time gardener. First, let’s consider what type of garden design you prefer; then, we’ll address the plants that will make your design come to life.
Formal
Structured geometric lines. In a formal garden, form is king. Plants play a secondary role: they are merely supporting actors in our artistic design. Because keeping a formal shape and design can be so time-consuming, most plants used in the fulfillment of a formal design are usually the easiest to care for. Boxwood, viburnum, ivy, etc. Most times, formal English gardens will be “monochromatic,” meaning filled with plants (primarily foliage) of varying shades of the same hue (dark green, light green, silver green). The form, the shapes, the controlled design – these points are the star of the garden. The plants don’t shine here, they merely twinkle.
Informal
Exactly the reverse of the former. The plants take center stage: blowsy borders, cheerful annuals and breezy perennials shout and wave, getting all the attention. Contrasting heights, colors and compositions are the heart and soul of an informal English garden. You can plant profusely and joyfully. Basically, the more the merrier!
Pick the Plant to Suit the Spot
We’ve all heard that old saying “A weed is just a plant in the wrong spot.” A truer statement hasn’t been made. What spells success in any garden? Why, you’ve got to start thinking like a plant, of course. Put yourself in the plant’s position. Do you like rain? Do you like shade? Are you a sun-worshipper? Do you get depressed when it’s cloudy? Well, plants are the same. Your success will be based on your willingness to research your plants BEFORE planting and placing them where they will be happiest.
Below is a list of commonly used “ English Garden” plants and their respective preferred living environments. You’ll have much better success in picking plants that are adaptable and found in your area, than trying to force a plant to thrive in a location it can’t survive. Babies’ Breath in August in Phoenix? Only if you have a greenhouse and humidifying air conditioning system! You can still have varieties of plants that have a corresponding form, style and air to the traditional, but with much more assurance of success.
Annuals
Annuals are plants you plant every year. They are typically heavy blooming and require some maintenance to keep looking their best. Please note: most of these annuals like moist soil. Using a soaker hose will eliminate frequent watering and will also keep the water at the roots, where it is needed most.
 Petunias – Love full sun, well-drained soil. They don’t like to dry out completely.
Snapdragons – A treasured favorite. Full sun, rich, moist soil. Ideal for cutting.
Violas and Pansies – These kissin’ cousins love partial shade. They are low growers and love cool areas. If you live in a hot climate, keep violas and pansies for spring and fall.
Verbena – Colorful, showy hues of red, purple and pink. These add instant warmth to your garden. Well drained, moist soil, in full sun.
Salvia – Vibrant colors, some varieties can grow up to 30” high. Again, moist soil, full sun to partial shade.
Impatiens – We all know impatiens. Bright, beautiful and easy care. Loves shade and moistness. Never let dry out.
Geraniums – Not just for indoors anymore. They love the outdoors and aren’t too picky. Full sun to partial shade, well-drained soil, slightly moist at all times.
Angelonia – For some height, how about these leggy beauties? Spires of blue, pink or white blossoms, growing to 18” high. Moist conditions, loves partial shade.
Larkspur – Loves the sun, but doesn’t like too much humidity. Moist, rich, loamy soil is best. Lots of color here, with red, violet, pink and white flowers in abundance.
Morning Glories – Some people actually believe morning glories are weeds! Remember what I said about a weed: it’s just a plant in the wrong place! Glories love full sun and POOR soil! What could be better than that? If the soil is too rich, you’ll get lots of vine, but not much flower.
Perennials
Easy to maintain, perennials come back year after year. Some multiply and will need splitting and transplanting about every 2-3 years. Once established, you don’t have to bother much with perennials, just the typical feeding, pruning, etc.
Peonies – Need cold weather in the winter, so not suited for tropical areas (zones 8-10). Love full sun, well drained soil. These babies live a long time (up to 40 years or more), so plant them where you will be happy to leave them.
Day Lilies – Likes partial shade with slightly acidic soil. Can dry out, but water thoroughly between drying periods. You can share this old-fashioned traditional favorite with your friends as daylilies need dividing every 3-5 years.
Summer Phlox – One of my personal favorites. Full sun to partial shade. These sweeties should be planted at the back of the garden as some species can grow up to 4’ high! Moist, well drained soil. Don’t let them dry out and don’t plant too close together. They like lots of room.
Dianthus – A sun-worshipper! This bathing beauty needs 4-5 hours of full sun daily with fast draining soil. (Perfect for those dry, sunny areas in the garden). The stems don’t like to be covered, so don’t use mulch.
Hollyhocks – Had to be included because people automatically think of hollyhocks with an English garden; however, their leaves have a tendency to get “buggy.” If you’ve got some time to spray, then you’ll enjoy them. Ideal in the back of the garden, in well-drained, poor to medium soil.
Coneflowers – Drought tolerant, coneflowers can grow up to 4’ high, so plant at the back as a foundational planting. They aren’t too happy in tropical areas, so zones 9 and 10, take notice. Moist, well drained soil in a sunny spot suits them perfectly.
Climbing Roses – Synonymous with English Garden Beauty. All roses love moist soil, full sun and a well-drained location. If you live in zones 9-10, check your local nursery for climbing roses that suit your locale. Available in almost any color imaginable.
So, you see, setting up your English garden can be pretty simple. Just remember to think like a plant: the more you love your plants, the more they’ll love you in return and reward you with years of enduring, healthy beauty.
Research taken from the following sources:
Lennox-Boyd, Arabella and Perry, Clay. “Traditional English Gardens: Published in Association with the National Trust.” Sterling Publishing Company, London, England. 2004.
Hessayon, D.G. “The Easy-Care Gardening Expert.” Sterling Publishing Company, London, England. 1996.
Copyright 2006. www.OutdoorDecor.com
Kay Stone, OutdoorDecor.com Staff Writer
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