By Leigh Clapp TZ. Take inspiration from Mediterranean gardens to ignite that irresistible summer holiday look all year round. Not only does this style of gardening beautifully convey casual elegance, but it is actually becoming more of a necessity due to the effects of climate change. Extended hot, dry summers can affect the plants that we grow, so making our gardens more resistant to drought is actually becoming crucial. Thankfully, a Mediterranean garden is a look we can lust over.
And with this style of outdoor space, you can have fun and experiment with a few different plants too. Combining brights with different textures, heights and more will make for a layered experience in your outdoor space.
So, whether you're creating just a little corner that conjures up that holiday feeling, or if you're transforming a larger area, our guide can help get you started. Aim for tough and drought tolerant plant choices in Mediterranean gardens, such as silver foliages, phlomis, daisies, sedums, and achilleas, with bright colours that hold up well in the bright sunshine. Mediterranean gardens are all about laid-back outdoor living: lingering over alfresco meals with friends and family, taking a refreshing siesta, and enlivening the senses with intoxicating scents and vibrant colours.
To recreate this style you need to include relaxed, informal spaces brimming with scented, textural combinations, and rustic detailing. It takes some thought and planning to create that artless, weathered atmosphere, with both structure and planting working together to set the scene. It is also one of the most practical small garden ideas , dispensing with the task of maintaining a lawn and instead using gravel or paving as hard landscaping for the basis of the design, softened with ground cover and an assortment of containers.
We spoke with Mr William Mitchell Owner of Sutton Manor Nursery who recommends 'When creating your own Mediterranean garden at home, trees are the easiest way to achieve this. Low-maintenance, UK weather-proof, and most importantly pleasing to the eye, they are numerous plants to choose from. If you've always wanted to grow fruit in your garden, then Citrus Trees are a great choice. Citrus trees are a lovely way to add luscious greenery, a pop of colour and delicious scents to your garden, and once in bloom, you will feel like you are sitting in your favourite holiday spot rather than your own garden.
When it comes to caring for your Citrus Tree, between the months of April and October, most citrus trees will be fine outside, however, as winter approaches, you can use a fleece cover for extra protection or move plant pots into a sheltered greenhouse or conservatory.
One of the brightest, yet still more simple garden ideas around, we've more information on planting up and creating your Mediterranean garden below. Get rid of your lawn and fill your garden with a wild abundance of poppies, irises, borage and salvia, as here, under the dappled shade of olive trees in the atmospheric garden.
Characteristics of a provincial style are informal and rustic � an aged farmhouse look with natural stone paving and limewashed walls. Period Living is the UK's best-selling period homes magazine. Get inspiration, ideas and advice straight to your door every month with a subscription. Gravel and stone - most Mediterranean gardens centre on gravel and warm-toned paving, although terraced levels using stone walls with lawns and clipped forms are also common.
See below for how to create a gravel garden. Climbers scrambling freely over walls, dappled shade from vine-clad rustic pergolas, and terracotta pots filled with zingy flowers all contribute to the mood. Plants are selected for fragrance, colour, year-long interest, drought tolerance and ease of care. Classic choices include:. Architectural plants are used to add height and drama, such as palms, cypress and yuccas.
Water features , although not essential, are a lovely way to add sound, shimmer and to break up the dry landscape. Consider also incorporating mosaics among paving, vertically on steps or walls, or adding colour on decorative birdbaths, fountains or containers.
This can also help to create a Moroccan gardens vibe. For the colour palette , think of the cool blues of the sea, sun-kissed warm earth tones, aged patinas, white-washed walls and splashes of reds or hot pink, backed by soft greys and silver. Many coastal gardens lend themselves to Mediterranean landscaping, as do areas around swimming pools, with blue tones to match the water contrasted with sunny yellows or orange. Lavender, thyme and other mediterranean garden plants set in gravel are a classic choice.
Dramatic succulents, pelargoniums and agaves add interest to this sunny outdoor seating spot, surrounded by ornamental grasses, salvias and tithonias. Ribbons of lavender and thyme set in a gravel path draw the eye to a rustic hut, with olive trees adding to the mediterranean feel.
Trees are the backbone of any garden scheme, adding height, structure and shade from the high summer sun. Bear in mind the mature size potential of any trees that you plant � they look small now but in a few years could overwhelm your garden if not correctly sized. It's also important to avoid positioning larger trees too close to the house, as roots can cause structural issues. A gravel garden is a practical option and low maintenance with no lawn to mow. Select a sunny, well-drained and weed-free area; although any soil type is possible, a sandy or gravelly soil works best.
To avoid plants self-seeding, place landscape fabric over the soil and cut crosses to insert the plants, then add a layer of gravel between 5 to 8cm thick.
The best grave is available in a wide range of colours and sizes, so select a colour that works with other hard surfaces and structures in the garden. Local gravels are generally cheaper. Be vigilant with weeding in the first few years until the plants are large enough to suppress them.
Self-seeding plants will pop up and give the garden a natural look; if they are a bit too promiscuous simply remove some. Good plant choices include herbs, erigeron, stipa, euphorbia and nepeta. Consider incorporating mosaics among paving, vertically on steps or walls. They add a Moroccan gardens flavour. Silver-leafed plants may succumb to wet, cold winters, but many are easy to propagate and will grow quickly for summer displays. Other indicators of drought tolerance include if the plant has small narrow leaves as they transpire less water, and a reflective, glaucous, waxy coating also indicates an adaptation to survive in hot, dry environments.
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More from Period Living. Terracotta pots filled with zingy flowers contribute to the Mediterranean mood. Practical and low maintenance, a gravel garden evokes the feel of the Med. The neon pink Callistemon 'Hot Pink' is a good choice for containers. Kniphofia make striking architectural statements in a Mediterranean garden. How to make compost: 7 steps to make your own at home Learn how to make compost at home in seven easy steps, whether you have a bin or want to create a compost heap.
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