The classic style par excellence
The formal English garden is a fairly sober style, with elements such as a small pond, steps, dwarf box hedges, symmetrical design, a lawn, a pergola, a terrace, brick paths, roses and trellises.
Design principles
The key principles emphasise small dimensions and symmetry, inspired by the late Tudor period. English gardeners are obsessed with symmetry.
Essential elements
Essential elements include: a flat area near the house, steps down to the garden, a central path in red brick, symmetrical beds and lawns, hedges of Buxus sempervirens and roses in abundance.
Maintenance and adaptation
This style demands a lot of maintenance: hedge pruning, rose care and constant attention. For smaller properties, decorative brick paths with simple planting schemes can achieve the English-garden effect without the complexity of the full version.