Natural Style

Whether it’s the wildflower prairies of the Midwest, the forests of New England, or the starkly beautiful deserts of the Southwest, a natural garden reflects the natural landscape that surrounds it.

One of the goals of a naturalistic garden is to conserve resources and reduce our environmental footprint. As such, this style relies heavily on native plant choices and will vary depending on where you live.  

Gone are the ‘clean’ lines and smooth surfaces. Material choices in natural gardens are rustic to suit the wild and free planting. Unlike the clipped hedging of traditional gardens, a naturalistic garden is rooted in plant selection, taking into account both ecology and design.

Natural design style may look haphazard, but that’s far from the truth. The visual emphasis is placed on structure and form rather than color. The aim is to select proven, long-lived, robust plants that don’t require a lot of maintenance.

Elements of natural gardens

• Rough stone, distressed wood, rusted metal, and coarse mulch look at home in a naturalistic garden.

• Plantings are thoughtfully wild and simulate the organic, irregular forms found in nature.

• An emphasis on native plants means natural gardens serve as an important resource for local animal life.