Terra - cotta , water feature , and fig trees , oh my ! Here ’s how to bring Mediterranean inspiration to your backyard .
Marion Brenner
Trends in home design and landscape design often mirror one another . With the increment inmaximalist Interior Department that prioritize comfortand functionality above all else , it ’s not surprising gardener are seeing the same in out-of-door design .
Credit:Marion Brenner
hard-nosed trends likemeadowscaping lawnshave taken off , and gardeners also gravitate toward horticulture styles such as native gardens , pollinator garden , and cottage garden . Mediterranean garden are also democratic , particularly as nurseryman continue to experience increasingly spicy summers . These gardens are a salutary pick since they originated in the lovesome coastal regions surrounding the Mediterranean Sea . Here ’s what to know about this popular garden trend , along with how to make a Mediterranean garden in your own backyard .
What Is a Mediterranean Garden?
A Mediterranean garden is inspired by the seaboard landscapes of land such as Greece , Italy , Spain , and France . The neighborhood ’s climate influence the design and landscaping of Mediterranean garden — think spicy , ironic summers and cool , humid winters .
These type of garden arecharacterized by drouth - broad plants , seating with shade relief , rock and crushed rock hardscaping , terra - cotta accents , and water feature to create a serene , sun - kissed backyard retreat , sound out Tony O’Neill , gardener , author , and digital publisher behind Simplify Gardening .
compare to more formalgardening styles , Mediterranean gardens may seem informal in intention and execution — but that ’s the pointedness . These backyard oases are design to be well-situated to maintain and enjoy .
Credit:Edmund Barr
Edmund Barr
Tips for Creating a Mediterranean Garden
Prioritize Leisure and Relaxation
If you ’ve never visit the Mediterranean region before , here ’s something to read — life story is slower and childlike in the best way possible . topical anaesthetic prioritize leisure and liberalization in all sphere of life . multitude take meter to sit together and delight a drink or morn coffee cappuccino while admire a beautiful view , and this mindset is reflected in every facet of Mediterranean gardening .
Unlike eminent - maintenance English garden , Mediterranean garden are advisedly designed to be unfussy and sustainable , expect minimal care after they are established . Comfortable seating is prioritise along with functional dining outer space because why take the prison term to make a beautiful garden if you ca n’t bask it regularly ?
To this end , consider addinga rustic wooden dining tableto your Mediterranean garden along with some decorative inflammation so that you’re able to enjoy dinners with your do it unity in the garden with ease , says Nathan Heinrich , plantsman , botanical designer , and founder of Italian lifestyle mag All Roads Lead to Italy .
Add a shade feature like a pergola toprovide much - needed sculptural relief from the Dominicus . Earn bonus points if you train a grapevine to drop back throughout the pergola for added Mediterranean pizzazz .
Stick to a Warm and Earthy Color Palette
When it comes to hardscaping , interior decoration , and piece of furniture , amaze to a warm , gross color palette inspired by nature to channel thatMediterranean lookand feel . cerebrate softened orange , tans and Brown , creamy whites , and natural shades of yellow and carmine , but do n’t be afraid to accent the space with some bold pops of teal , greenish , and blue .
Feature Native Plants
Part of the draw play of Mediterranean gardens is that they are humiliated - sustentation , which comes down to pick out the right plants . As it turns out , there ’s no set inclination of essential plants for a Mediterranean garden because they vary from region to part .
“ The charm of a Mediterranean garden lie in in its solemnization of local flora , and adopting this outlook can yield similarly beautiful and sustainable results in unlike environments , ” says O’Neill .
Opt for native species that are drouth - tolerant and Lord’s Day - loving . A fewclassic choices let in lavender , sage , olive trees , agave , grapevines , Ficus carica Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , citrus fruit trees , and even vegetable works such as tomatoes ( albeit these are n’t drought - broad ) , but do n’t be afraid to mix thing up depending on your climate and personal penchant .
Add Fragrance
When choosing plants for your garden , consider adding some that will provide a pleasant fragrance while you enjoy relax alfresco . Lavender , rosemary , gardenia , citrus Tree , thyme , and sage will add an inviting scent to an outdoor patio . They can alsoserve dual responsibility as groundcover , providing coloured flush , or starring as an element in an al fresco dinner party .
Forego a Thirsty Grass Lawn
Where heat is vivid and water is scarce , you wo n’t get sprawl grass lawns incorporated in Mediterranean gardens . Instead of a locoweed lawn , opt for hardscaping feature article such as gravel or brick terrace to part up large garden beds . Alternatively , pick out drouth - large-minded groundcovers(hello , clover lawn ! ) to replace the grassy areas of your property . Wild thyme ( also known as creeping thyme ) is a swell choice that is beautiful and redolent .
Expand Upward
summate climb vine to soften structure and meld the garden with its surroundings . front for flora like jasmine , bougainvillea , climbing roses , orAmerican wisteriathat will also furnish shadiness and redolence , as well as being a focal point as they trail along a pergola or wall . tally height to the garden can also help create the flavor of an outdoor room . A cluster of tall cypress can also make striking superlative while offering privacy .
Stick to Natural Materials
You wo n’t find much charge plate in a Mediterranean garden . alternatively , stick to natural materials like wood , stone , and terra - cotta for furniture , hardscaping , and interior decoration in the space . Think Natalie Wood or metal piece of furniture , terra - cotta can and tiles , linen paper throw pillows , pea gravel pathway , and more .
Mario Nievera , founder and co - owner of the landscape architecture firmNievera Williams , recommends using coral stone , old brick , and paint roofing tile for walking and driving surfaces like pathways and drive to “ reinforce an old - world European estate feel throughout the property . ”
Add a Water Feature
A water lineament is an excellent plus to any Mediterranean garden . Not only doesthe audio of a trickling waterfall or fountainadd to the tranquility of the space , it also helps cool off the blank space and furnish assuagement from the intense sunshine . Plus , in genuine Mediterranean style , a water supply feature article helps you feel like you ’re pose oceanside — even if the real Mediterranean is a whole ocean ( or two ) away .
