Garden design projects take a lot of time and effort, so they’re one of those things that are often made to last rather than based on short-term fads.
Still, garden design trends do come and go every year, and in 2023 it’s all about the Mediterranean landscape.
Italian style for women is a hot topic right now, so it’s perhaps understandable that those who already own the clothes would want to embrace the home and garden that Italians enjoy.
Italy is famed for its natural style and simple tastefulness, and the same goes for its gardens. Gardens in Italy are rustic and draw on plants and raw stone to create a stunning, unique look that homeowners around the world are trying to emulate right now.
If you’re among the many fashion-conscious homeowners who want to embrace rustic, Italian-style garden design, then keep reading for inventive ideas and inspiration.
Go Wild For Statues
Many great Italian houses are surrounded by stunning statues, usually in white stone like marble or granite. Renaissance images, such as knights on horseback, cherubs and majestic warriors, are all staples from Italian gardens, so if you want to emulate their style, you should add some statues to your outdoor space. When adding statues to your garden, try to space them out and place them amongst your climbing plants to make them look like they belong there. Having your statues covered in leaves will also give your garden a historical feel, even if the landscaping is relatively new.
Consider A Fountain
It’s not just statues that make Italian gardens stand out; fountains are also popular ways to incorporate water into Italian landscapes. So, if you’ve always wanted a water feature and love Italian gardens, then you could consider adding a fountain instead of a traditional English pond. Fountains can be a great focal point for your garden design, so they need to be placed in a central area. If you don’t want a large fountain, then consider adding a small one to the centre of a larger water feature. Again, white stone is the best option for an Italian-style look, but you could also consider light brown stones to give it a natural look.
Add Gabion Baskets For Texture
It’s not just statues and fountains that allow the Italians to introduce the beauty of masonry into their gardens. Stone walls are another staple of Italian architecture, particularly ones with different-shaped stones. To get the look without having to import expensive Italian stone and have a master craftsman build a wall for you, you could consider using Gabion Baskets from Fine Mesh Metals. They offer a range of baskets in different sizes, as well as a selection of stones to fill them, so you can create the perfect look without having to lay a wall. The result will be a stunning Italian-style landscape that’s long-lasting and easy to build.
Train Climbing Plants To Create A Layered Look
Layered foliage and trailing vines are a typical classic from some of the best Italian gardens, particularly small enclosed ones. If you only have a small garden, then using climbing plants can make it feel bigger and allow you to make the most of even traditionally overlooked spaces like fences and trellises. Climbing roses and ivy plants can be a great way to enhance your garden and make it feel more comfortable, and give it an Italian feel. Climbing plants are easy to train by simply using canes and other apparatus to make them grow upwards and cling to the structures in your space. That means you can make them grow in the rough shape you desire and create a beautiful landscape both on and off the ground.
Stagger Plants With Pots
Layered spaces are the key to Italian garden design. Italian gardens are built on various different levels, making the space look more inviting and mysterious. While your Gabion Basket walls and trailing plants will help you to layer your landscape, you also need to consider how you can stagger your plants to ensure that there’s always foliage in every section of your garden. Potted plants are a great choice, as they’re not only ideal for mixing things up, but they’re also convenient when it comes to maintaining and moving your plants. So, if you choose to grow plants or trees that might need to go indoors in the winter to protect them from the cold and frost, then putting them in pots will be a convenient alternative to planting them and then digging them up or covering them when the colder weather sets in. When choosing pots, consider ones made from natural materials like terracotta and in neutral colours to fit in with your Italian design theme.
Plant Citrus Fruits And Mediterranean Herbs
Italians love their food, and many of them grow their own ingredients, including fruits, vegetables and herbs, which is one of the reasons why they’re renowned for being a healthy nation. So, when you enter an Italian garden, the first thing you usually notice is the fresh smell of citrus and fresh herbs. To create your own Italian-style garden paradise, you should think about planting Italian herbs, fruits and vegetables to create an Italian look and feel for your garden. The soil type you have, and the weather in your area, will have an impact, and some plants might not be suitable. However, there are many Mediterranean fruits and vegetables that can grow well in our climate. Some edible Italian plants that you can grow successfully in the UK include:
- Lemon trees
- Basil
- Plum tomatoes
- Oregano
- Cavolo nero
- Courgettes
- Orange trees
- Aubergines
- Fennel
- Thyme
- Sage
- Cherry trees
- Peaches and nectarines
- Olive trees
- Bell peppers
- Fig trees
- Mint leaves
- Parsley
Growing your own food has another benefit: you get tasty homegrown treats! So it’s worth planting some fruiting trees, herbs and vegetables if you love Italian cuisine. Some of these plants might require more care than others, so take the time to work out which ones are best suited for your garden and are easy for you to grow successfully.
Pay Attention To Small Details
One of the great skills that Italian garden designers have mastered is the technique of making their garden design look effortless. So, while most Italian gardens are well-maintained, and their designers spend many hours creating and maintaining a stunning space, they often look like they’ve been thrown together or allowed to grow naturally. When emulating Italian garden design, you shouldn’t overlook even the smallest and most seemingly-insignificant detail. Whether it’s the design of your pots or the type of gravel you choose for your borders, you should try to make sure everything reflects the Italian look you’re going for to create a cohesive Italian garden design.
Italian Garden Ideas: A Quick Summary
For the chance to enjoy a feel like you’re in the Mediterranean without leaving the comfort of your own home, transforming your garden can be a fun project. Italian gardens are revered by visitors from around the world thanks to their stunning combination of man-made stone structures and natural foliage. Using these ideas, you can craft the perfect garden that embraces the beauty of Italian design and combines it with the majesty of English nature. Landscaping your garden in the style of the Italians can be a great way to create something that everyone can appreciate and enjoy in some way. Happy gardening!
