Backyard Formal Garden Design Ideas
Refine by:
Budget
Sort by:Popular Today
1 - 20 of 26,794 photos
Item 1 of 3


Very private backyard enclave waterfall
Contemporary backyard partial sun formal garden in DC Metro with with waterfall and natural stone pavers for summer.
Contemporary backyard partial sun formal garden in DC Metro with with waterfall and natural stone pavers for summer.


Nigel Gomme
Photo of a large tropical backyard partial sun formal garden in London with decking and a garden path.
Photo of a large tropical backyard partial sun formal garden in London with decking and a garden path.


Ruth Willmott
Design ideas for a mid-sized modern backyard formal garden in London.
Design ideas for a mid-sized modern backyard formal garden in London.


Inspiration for a small traditional backyard shaded formal garden in London with natural stone pavers and with raised garden bed.


Bainbridge Island Garden | photo: Lore Patterson
Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic backyard shaded formal garden for summer in Seattle with brick pavers.
Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic backyard shaded formal garden for summer in Seattle with brick pavers.


Using a refined palette of quality materials set within a striking and elegant design, the space provides a restful and sophisticated urban garden for a professional couple to be enjoyed both in the daytime and after dark. The use of corten is complimented by the bold treatment of black in the decking, bespoke screen and pergola.


Large country backyard full sun formal garden in Austin with a container garden and mulch.


Within this garden we wanted to create a space which was not only on numerous levels, but also had various points of interest. This garden is on a slope, but is also very wide.
Firstly, we broke up the space by using rustic sleepers to create several raised beds,as well as steps which lead to differennt zones. This helps to give the garden a more traditional, country edge.
The sleepers were also used to create a winding path through out the garden, marrying together the various areas. The path leads up to the impressive sunburst pergola and circular stone patio. This is the perfect spot to view the whole garden.
At the other end of the garden another pergola sits amougnst a bustling flower bed, and will be used to train vining flowers.
Along the back wall of the garden a raised bed is home to a stunning display of wildflower. This plot is not only a fabulous riot of colour and full of rustic charm, but it also attracts a whole host of insects and animals. While wildflowers looks great they are also very low maintenance.
Mixed gravel has been used to create a variety of texture. This surface is intermittently dotted with colour with lemon thyme, red hot pokers and foxgloves.
Stone has been used to create a warm and welcoming patio area. Flower beds at the front of the garden can be used for veg and other leafy plants.
Overall we have created a country style with a very contemporary twist through the use of gravel, modern shape and structural landscaping.


A beautiful escape in your edible garden. Fruit trees create a privacy screen around a cedar pergola and raised vegetable beds.
Design ideas for a country backyard full sun formal garden for summer in Boston with a vegetable garden and gravel.
Design ideas for a country backyard full sun formal garden for summer in Boston with a vegetable garden and gravel.


Mike Crews Photography
This is an example of a traditional backyard formal garden in Chicago with gravel.
This is an example of a traditional backyard formal garden in Chicago with gravel.


Lush back garden planting, with flowering perennials, grasses and evergreen ground covers.
The tree is a mature Amelanchier (Serviceberry). A large boulder that was found on site sits in a bed of Irish Moss (Sagina) and Japanese Acorus Grass.


Foto von Miquel Tres
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary backyard full sun formal garden for summer in Frankfurt with a vertical garden and gravel.
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary backyard full sun formal garden for summer in Frankfurt with a vertical garden and gravel.


Jo Fenton
Small traditional backyard shaded formal garden in London with a garden path and natural stone pavers for spring.
Small traditional backyard shaded formal garden in London with a garden path and natural stone pavers for spring.


Custom horizontal fence design and installation by Dakota Unlimited.
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern backyard partial sun formal garden in Minneapolis with a garden path and natural stone pavers.
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern backyard partial sun formal garden in Minneapolis with a garden path and natural stone pavers.


Design ideas for a large traditional backyard partial sun formal garden in Other with a garden path and gravel.


The transition to several garden rooms, a gravel path leads from the rear terrace to the many spaces. The entry is flanked by the New England fieldstone seat wall, capped in blue stone. The path is lined with cushwa brick outlining the formal garden filled with boxwood, pachysandra ground cover, hydrangea, magnolia, and eastern redbud. Photo Credit: Linda Oyama Bryan


This propery is situated on the south side of Centre Island at the edge of an oak and ash woodlands. orignally, it was three properties having one house and various out buildings. topographically, it more or less continually sloped to the water. Our task was to creat a series of terraces that were to house various functions such as the main house and forecourt, cottage, boat house and utility barns.
The immediate landscape around the main house was largely masonry terraces and flower gardens. The outer landscape was comprised of heavily planted trails and intimate open spaces for the client to preamble through. As the site was largely an oak and ash woods infested with Norway maple and japanese honey suckle we essentially started with tall trees and open ground. Our planting intent was to introduce a variety of understory tree and a heavy shrub and herbaceous layer with an emphisis on planting native material. As a result the feel of the property is one of graciousness with a challenge to explore.


Located in one on the country’s most desirable vacation destinations, this vacation home blends seamlessly into the natural landscape of this unique location. The property includes a crushed stone entry drive with cobble accents, guest house, tennis court, swimming pool with stone deck, pool house with exterior fireplace for those cool summer eves, putting green, lush gardens, and a meandering boardwalk access through the dunes to the beautiful sandy beach.
Photography: Richard Mandelkorn Photography


Formal Garden Design
Design ideas for a traditional backyard formal garden in Chicago.
Design ideas for a traditional backyard formal garden in Chicago.
Backyard Formal Garden Design Ideas


This small tract home backyard was transformed into a lively breathable garden. A new outdoor living room was created, with silver-grey brazilian slate flooring, and a smooth integral pewter colored concrete wall defining and retaining earth around it. A water feature is the backdrop to this outdoor room extending the flooring material (slate) into the vertical plane covering a wall that houses three playful stainless steel spouts that spill water into a large basin. Koi Fish, Gold fish and water plants bring a new mini ecosystem of life, and provide a focal point and meditational environment. The integral colored concrete wall begins at the main water feature and weaves to the south west corner of the yard where water once again emerges out of a 4” stainless steel channel; reinforcing the notion that this garden backs up against a natural spring. The stainless steel channel also provides children with an opportunity to safely play with water by floating toy boats down the channel. At the north eastern end of the integral colored concrete wall, a warm western red cedar bench extends perpendicular out from the water feature on the outside of the slate patio maximizing seating space in the limited size garden. Natural rusting Cor-ten steel fencing adds a layer of interest throughout the garden softening the 6’ high surrounding fencing and helping to carry the users eye from the ground plane up past the fence lines into the horizon; the cor-ten steel also acts as a ribbon, tie-ing the multiple spaces together in this garden. The plant palette uses grasses and rushes to further establish in the subconscious that a natural water source does exist. Planting was performed outside of the wire fence to connect the new landscape to the existing open space; this was successfully done by using perennials and grasses whose foliage matches that of the native hillside, blurring the boundary line of the garden and aesthetically extending the backyard up into the adjacent open space.
1