Touches of Grandness for the Garden

There’s more to landscaping than lawns and foundation plantings. Get inspired by formal garden traditions and incorporate a neatly trimmed hedge, striking symmetrical garden or whimsical topiary into your yard design. Here are 12 ideas, from garden rooms and grassy allées to secret hideaways, to spark your imagination.

Verdant lane. Known as an allée in formal garden design terms, a grassy path lined with boxwood hedges and trees makes an enchanting addition to an expansive yard. Crisply trimmed hedges accented with formal statues frames the view here, making the outdoor space seem even more substantial.


Concentric squares. This arrangement of square hedges surrounded by a wide gravel path is striking in its simplicity. Echo the square shape in neatly edged lawns surrounding the garden, and make sure the center of the squares is aligned with the center of the house.


Modern spheres. Who says trimmed shrubs are only for traditional gardens? Bunchy little round shrubs make a welcome addition to a modern garden as well, bringing softness to the horizontal lines.

Discover more garden spheres


Green room. Take the idea of an outdoor room to the next level by planting a tall hedgerow to form the walls and place benches in the room. For a whimsical touch, trim some of the hedges lower in sections to look like additional benches. Add a tree or two to provide shade, making the outdoor space more comfortable.


Garden gate. A row of tall, tightly spaced shrubs or trees planted near the entrance to your garden can take the place of a traditional fence and gate. Soften the look of the tall hedge by planting shorter boxwoods and low-growing plants, like hosta, on either side.

See 9 low-growing hedges


Parterre. This classic, formal garden design is typically made up of hedges grown in symmetrical patterns and separated by gravel paths. A parterre is a brilliant way to add interest to a flat lawn, as shown here. Add a bench so you can enjoy the view.

Learn more about parterre gardens


Dark Planet Garden Sphere Secret knot garden. Knot gardens, precursors to the parterre, were popular in medieval times, and often included fragrant plants and aromatic culinary herbs. This knot garden, with its arched stone entrance and walls, looks like a wonderful place to retreat to after a busy day.


Love seat. This creative garden design began with boxwood planted around a low bench, then the shrubs were carefully trimmed into the shape of a plump love seat. What a charming place to sit a spell!


Cone and ball. Topiary trimmed into fanciful shapes brings an Alice in Wonderland feel to the garden. Try a pair of conical topiaries flanking the front door.

See more topiary designs indoors and out


Pyramid. A three-sided pyramid is another classic shape for trimmed hedges. Either trim a single shrub or create a pyramid set atop a larger base, as shown here.


Trees in a hedge. A neat row of pleached trees interplanted with boxwood creates a crisp, seamless look that’s perfect for both traditional and modern gardens.


Semiformal. An underlying symmetrical plan brings order to the garden — but how it’s maintained will determine how formal it feels. While regular trimming is absolutely necessary to maintain the shape of hedges, you can allow things to get a bit shaggy between clippings to give the garden a wilder air. Easygoing rounded shapes are lower maintenance in a clipped garden than those with crisp, straight lines, and they blend well with bountiful flowers.

Tell us: Do you have hedges or topiary in your garden? Please post a photo in the Comments.

More: Tour a garden with a formal French design

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