Inspiration for an expansive modern backyard full sun formal garden for spring in Austin with a garden path and gravel.

This is an example of an expansive traditional side yard partial sun formal garden for spring in San Diego with a garden path and natural stone pavers.

A Sense of Place

Designscapes Colorado Inc.

A naturally beautiful view down the garden in the evening.
Design ideas for an expansive contemporary backyard partial sun formal garden for summer in Denver with with fireplace and natural stone pavers.

Labyrinth Garden

K. Dakin Design Inc.

Dakin has been working with the owners of this site realize their dream of cultivating a rich and meaningful landscape around their home. Because of their deep engagement with their land and garden, the landscape has guided the entire design process, from architecture to civil engineering to landscape design. All architecture on site is oriented toward the garden, a park-like, multi-use environment that includes a walking labyrinth, restored prairie, a Japanese garden, an orchard, vegetable beds, berry brambles, a croquet lawn and a charred wood outdoor shower. Dakin pays special attention to materials at every turn, selecting an antique sugar bowl for the outdoor fire pit, antique Japanese roof tiles to create blue edging, and stepping stones imported from India. In addition to its diversity of garden types, this permacultural paradise is home to chickens, ducks, and bees. A complex irrigation system was designed to draw alternately from wells and cisterns. 3x5lion.png Dakin has also had the privilege of creating an arboretum of diverse and rare trees that she based on Olmsted’s design for Central Park. Trees were selected to display a variety of seasonally shifting delights: spring blooms, fall berries, winter branch structure. Mature trees onsite were preserved and sometimes moved to new locations.

Nashville Estate

Pro-Land Landscape Construction Inc.

With a lengthy list of ideas about how to transform their backyard, the clients were excited to see what we could do. Existing features on site needed to be updated and in-cooperated within the design. The view from each angle of the property was already outstanding and we didn't want the design to feel out of place. We had to make the grade changes work to our advantage, each separate space had to have a purpose. The client wanted to use the property for charity events, so a large flat turf area was constructed at the back of the property, perfect for setting up tables, chairs and a stage if needed. It also created the perfect look out point into the back of the property, dropping off into a ravine. A lot of focus throughout the project was the plant selection. With a large amount of garden beds, we wanted to maintain a clean and formal look, while still offering seasonal interest. We did this by edging the beds with boxwoods, adding white hydrangeas throughout the beds for constant colour, and subtle pops of purple and yellow. This along with the already breathtaking natural backdrop of the space, is more than enough to make this project stand out. Photographer: Jason Hartog Photography

Curved pergola and benches with focal point

Everett Garden Designs

Melissa Clark Photography
Expansive beach style courtyard full sun formal garden in DC Metro with a garden path and brick pavers for summer.

The Blue Garden

R. P. Marzilli & Company Landscape Contractor

Marianne Lee Photography Reed Hilderbrand Landscape Architects Parker Construction TheBlueGarden.org
Expansive traditional formal garden in Boston for summer.

Arcadia Spanish Colonial | Fountain

Greey Pickett

The landscape of this home honors the formality of Spanish Colonial / Santa Barbara Style early homes in the Arcadia neighborhood of Phoenix. By re-grading the lot and allowing for terraced opportunities, we featured a variety of hardscape stone, brick, and decorative tiles that reinforce the eclectic Spanish Colonial feel. Cantera and La Negra volcanic stone, brick, natural field stone, and handcrafted Spanish decorative tiles are used to establish interest throughout the property. A front courtyard patio includes a hand painted tile fountain and sitting area near the outdoor fire place. This patio features formal Boxwood hedges, Hibiscus, and a rose garden set in pea gravel. The living room of the home opens to an outdoor living area which is raised three feet above the pool. This allowed for opportunity to feature handcrafted Spanish tiles and raised planters. The side courtyard, with stepping stones and Dichondra grass, surrounds a focal Crape Myrtle tree. One focal point of the back patio is a 24-foot hand-hammered wrought iron trellis, anchored with a stone wall water feature. We added a pizza oven and barbecue, bistro lights, and hanging flower baskets to complete the intimate outdoor dining space. Project Details: Landscape Architect: Greey|Pickett Architect: Higgins Architects Landscape Contractor: Premier Environments Photography: Sam Rosenbaum

Northbrook Illinois Shade Garden in June

Van Zelst Inc

Photo by Kirsten Gentry and Terra Jenkins for Van Zelst, Inc.
Photo of an expansive traditional backyard shaded formal garden for spring in Chicago.

Bayside

David R. Lamb, Landscape Architect

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.

Blue & White Garden–Seekonk, MA

Andrew Grossman Landscape Design

Blue & White Garden with azaleas, tree peonies, assorted perennials and flowering shrubs. Display Garden, Seekonk, MA.
Expansive traditional partial sun formal garden in Providence.

A country garden in Palo Alto

User

At the front door, guests are greeted by plantings of Lonicera Nitida in containers from Flora Grubb gardens. Photos-Chris Jacobson, GardenArt Group
Inspiration for an expansive transitional front yard partial sun formal garden for summer in San Francisco with a garden path and natural stone pavers.

Entrance to a beautiful Hall

Kate Paterson Garden Design

Kate Paterson
Expansive traditional full sun formal garden in Cheshire.

Traditional Courtyard Entry - Great Falls VA

Grow Landscapes

Duy Tran Photography
Design ideas for an expansive traditional front yard partial sun formal garden for spring in DC Metro with concrete pavers.

Country House

A J Miller Landscape Architecture PLLC

Inspiration for an expansive traditional backyard full sun formal garden for spring in New York with gravel and a garden path.

Formal Garden Design

www.KarlGercens.com

Formal Garden Design
This is an example of an expansive traditional backyard formal garden in Chicago with natural stone pavers.

Los Angeles

Zucker Design Associates, Inc.

Inspiration for an expansive mediterranean backyard partial sun formal garden in Los Angeles with a water feature and concrete pavers.

Contemporary Masterpiece

Noel Cross+Architects

Strata Landscape Architecture Jacques Saint Dizier Design, Interior Designer Frank Paul Perez, Red Lily Studios Photography
Inspiration for an expansive modern backyard shaded formal garden for summer in San Francisco with a fire feature and concrete pavers.

Dutchess County Contemporary Barn

Wagner Hodgson

Westphalen Photography
Photo of an expansive contemporary formal garden in New York.

River Oaks 2 - Landscape Maintenance & Seasonal Color

Hogue Landscape Services

fench country classical garden meets modern. These are technically two different houses that the client combined into one. VERY different styles, but well done.

Expansive Formal Garden Design Ideas

Get Inspired by Gardens on Houzz

A lot of the time when you get home from a long day at work, all you want to do is wind down. Where better to do this than in your very own garden at home? If you do it right, a great garden design can send you right into holiday mode. But where to start? There’s so many styles to choose from when it comes to garden design. Whether you want to create a tropical, modern, contemporary, beach style or country garden - or something else entirely - the large garden image gallery on Houzz has got you covered. Get inspired and collect your ideas to narrow down your desired garden style and features.

How to Create a Garden for Your Home

Depending on which style you’re going for, be sure to know what makes a garden and if it’s appropriate for your climate. You may want to consider adding a deck or other landscaping features, but the plants you choose will mostly dictate your style and what kind of ongoing maintenance is required. Don’t worry if your backyard isn’t very spacious - there are many plants that can thrive even in a small space and allow you to turn your space into a little paradise of your own, regardless of size.

Decide which plants to use

The greenery you choose is critical to your look. For example, if you’re trying to create a tropical garden palm trees and bamboo are your go-to options. Other popular options are golden cane palm trees and fern for ground cover. From there you can add some colour with bright flowers like frangipani, hibiscus or bromeliads. All these are actually quite hardy plants, so once established, your tropical garden is actually quite easy to maintain. Use this structure and apply it to your style. Research which plants you need to set your base for a garden and go from there.

Add some decor

If the plants don’t quite do it for you yet, or if you want to add some extra wow-factor, consider adding some extra features. Even if you can’t accommodate a swimming pool, hot tub or pond, you could look at smaller water features. Simple rocks can also have a great effect, while statues and gnomes will add some extra character. Don’t forget to add some furniture so you have a nice place to sit and enjoy your garden!

Need some help?

Once you know what you want your garden to look like, it may be hard to make it a reality on your own. If that is the case for you, consider consulting a professional to help you with your garden design. Every photo you find on Houzz will lead you to the local pro that did the job, so you won’t have a problem picking the perfect person to help! Whether you need a gardener in Brisbane, a landscape architect in Melbourne or a fireplace installer in Sydney, you can be sure to find one on Houzz.