Are you one of those homeowners always trekking out to the forests and natural areas around your home, looking for new ideas for your back yard? If so, then a natural garden is probably for you. With a natural garden, you create a space that makes Mother Nature part of your every day life.
A wildflower meadow is a natural-style garden that can be grown in just about any region.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Natural materials like this carved bench blend effortlessly into a wooded area and make for a relaxing place to reflect.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Naturalized daffodils turn a meadow into a sea of gold in early spring.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
The funny thing about home gardens is how they evolved – as enclosed areas designed to prevent nature’s encroachment. Gardeners have labored long and hard to tame nature, but times are changing. As natural areas continue to disappear through urbanization, an increasing number of gardeners are inviting nature into their yards. This movement – called “natural gardening” – has three approaches:
Natural Style
By embracing existing conditions and regional characteristics, natural-style gardens are designed to resemble naturally occurring sites – often nearby natural landscapes. These gardens are produced with regional themes (like meadow, woodland, desert or marsh), which are casual and asymmetrical. Structures and accents often use materials found in local surroundings, such as curved paths made of local gravel or mulch, and borders of fieldstone. While natural-style gardens are…well, a natural for country sites, they can work perfectly in the city and suburbs when designed right, too.
Native plant. These gardens only use plants that are native to a specific region to create beautiful settings that should be easy to maintain. Sometimes this style of gardening is more loosely defined to include cultivars and other plants native to a wider region but that are well-adapted to the specific area’s soil conditions and climate. These gardens often become havens for local birds and butterflies.
Environmentally Friendly
Gardeners who care for their outdoor spaces in an environmentally friendly manner use organic methods rather than synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. It’s important to choose appropriate plants, improve the soil and learn about pests, diseases and their natural remedies in order to create a pesticide-free garden that is healthy for birds, butterflies, children and pets. Any style garden can be maintained this way, whether it’s natural in style, uses native plants or is a more traditional – even formal – landscape.
If you’re looking for inspiration for your new natural garden, there’s no better place to look than the great outdoors – perhaps right out your window or just across the street. Investigate any forests, meadows or wetlands as you pass by in your car. Travel to nearby parks, public gardens and nature preserves – or take special trips to the countryside in search of your gardening muse.
Through observation, you’ll discover the spirit of the land. Look carefully at landforms, habitat, rocks, soil and especially plants. Watch how the scenery changes with the seasons. Observe natural plant combinations and colors. Look at the wildflowers – often native plants – thriving with little care. Chances are that you’ll find some relatives of those natives right at your local garden center – and with the right care, they’ll grow and flourish without much thought once established.
Natural gardening is a whole new way to challenge yourself. Consider how to create a garden that stimulates your imagination, reflects what you’ve learned in your observations on nature and echoes your natural surroundings – urban, suburban or rural. Natural garden themes vary by region, just as our favorite foods and regional accents vary. A cottage garden in New England is very different from one in British Columbia. A Minnesota wetland is distinct from one hugging Oregon’s coast. It’s regional character, climatic conditions, special plants and different people with a desire to learn that makes each garden distinct. Once you find your style, you’re ready to start your natural garden journey.
