The possibilities are endless in large gardens, where a wealth of space opens up opportunities to explore landscaping ideas, outdoor seating arrangements, and diverse selections of plants. Just as small gardens can be quite challenging to work with due to spatial limitations, large garden projects can be quite intimidating for inexperienced gardeners and landscapers. It’s important to focus on design ideas that can be sustained in the long term, especially as they may require more financial input and manpower to manage.
Divide the space into sections. These can have their own sets of seasonal plants. Design around a central focal point to create symmetry and balance around the garden.
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Create clear paths in between plots of flower beds. Paths will also help direct the flow of traffic. Moreover, as they serve as dedicated spaces for walking, they should prevent your precious shrubs and herbs from being trampled upon.
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Add a gazebo or a roofed structure to the far end of the garden. This should invite guests to walk the garden’s length. It should also serve as shelter during particularly hot periods or whenever there is unexpected rainfall.
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Border walking corridors with raised shrubs, shaped hedges, and ornamental trees. These should truly set your walkways apart and keep your sights occupied as you take a leisurely morning or afternoon stroll.
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Fill in large, open spaces with turf. These are great for gatherings, where the freshly mown grass can act as a natural carpet in the garden. They’re also fantastic for family sports!
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Add winding gravel or stone paths along the periphery of the garden or through naturalized stands. Walking along these rough paths may provide the illusion that one is up in the mountains or a forest.
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Place an ornamental pond in the center of the garden or along one side. Both its size and shape can be tinkered with to complement the overall appearance and layout of the landscape.
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A wildlife pond, with natural borders, should enhance both the ecological value and visual appeal of a large garden. This should attract all sorts of birds, amphibians, and aquatic insects, thereby increasing the biological diversity of the landscape.
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To aid in the maintenance of seasonal plants, keep a greenhouse, conservatory, or multi-level cold frame. These are also fantastic structures for aiding in the germination of seeds and for propagating tender cuttings. Apart from housing sensitive plants, they can double as sheds for garden tools and amendments.
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Add some visual and auditory interest with an ornate fountain. During particularly warm days, a fountain can help keep the air cool and fresh.
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For a wealth of color and texture, cultivate groundcover plants next to paths, in between shrubs and hedges, or along the base of tall trees. These will typically spread on their own and can be propagated to occupy an extensive area.
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Grow specimen or statement trees for shade and seasonal flair. These can either serve as the focal point of your garden or offset its general layout. For year-round color, opt for evergreen trees. For fall interest, cultivate deciduous cultivars with color-changing foliage.
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Throw in an element of fun and mystery with a garden maze! Just make sure to keep a mental blueprint of the maze so that you don’t get lost in its twists and turns.
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Consider cultivating an array of your own veggies. There’s always space for healthy crops in a large garden. A pumpkin patch coupled with surrounding plots of companion plants should keep everyone in the kitchen happy.
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Create a planted landscape with small hills and raised plots. A large garden need not be flat and plain. The vertical interest provided by sloping curves should give your space a more organic and playful theme.
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Fill out bare patches with a wealth of wildflowers. These should double as wildlife-friendly fragments for pollinators, birds, and small critters.
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Separate the garden area from the walls of your home with an outdoor patio. During particularly cool days, you or your guests can enjoy a panoramic view of your large garden from the comfort of a patio.
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For mid-winter charm, include a raised firepit in your design. Walking through a large garden need not feel like an escape from the comforts of a warm home. In cool regions, family and friends can gather around a controlled fire to keep warm while watching the winter sun dip into the horizon.
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There should easily be room for stones of all sizes. Boulders are a great addition to large gardens as their color, texture, and irregular shapes perfectly contrast patches of plants.
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Use trellises to add visual interest and provide support for climbing plants. Flowering vines need not be restricted to the walls of your home or the fence around a large garden. A trellis should keep them happy right in the middle of a sprawling landscape.
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Allow water to run through your garden in the form of an artificial stream. This should introduce constant yet gentle movement, which can invoke a mood of tranquility and peace.
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For hedges and borders, use practical, evergreen species that tolerate a variety of weather conditions. Boxwood shrubs, for example, are a sustainable option as they last for a long time and can withstand both rainfall and brief dry periods.
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If you have both the budget and the manpower to maintain one, consider adding a natural swimming pool to your design!
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Make your garden truly functional by dedicating a section to bees and their favorite blooms. This way, you’ll have both honey and a bounty of floral herbs. You’ll also be doing your plants and the surrounding environment a favor by supporting populations of these incredibly important pollinators.
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Turn your garden into an outdoor gallery! Add sculptures that blend into the landscape yet command attention. There’s no doubt that these will give it striking character, setting it apart from all other large gardens.
Final Thoughts
When thinking up designs for large gardens, you can let your imagination run wild! Sprawling landscapes offer one a chance to truly concretize creative ideas. Large gardens can easily double as works of living art. They also exemplify the importance of both form and function in green spaces. Though they are principally designed for the human eye, they also act as refuges for wildlife. Spots where we can bask in nature can make one forget about the hustle and bustle of surrounding urban areas.
