In the Zone: 8 Examples of Zoned Gardens, Large and Small
Applying the principles of zoning to your garden can lead to highlighted features or multi-functional spaces
Gary Winter
30 June 2018
The Gary Winter Story
Gary Winter’s consultation services offer a level on insight well beyond design. With over 25 years experience running a successful landscape construction business in Melbourne’s affluent suburbs, Gary’s landscape knowledge runs deep across the entire process.
Gary is deeply passionate about connecting people to their gardens, creating liveable zones that fulfill lifestyle goals and practical needs. His design approach is first and foremost about providing a functional and well-formed solution for your lifestyle and the space.
With a long and successful career in landscape construction and design, Gary is known for his ability to deftly balance big ideas with the more practical details for residential, community and commercial gardens.
Gary is a people person and...
The Gary Winter Story
Gary Winter’s consultation services offer a level on insight... More
Whether your property is small or large, it doesn’t have to adhere to one design style. Creating areas for different activities makes for an efficient yet engaging use of the total space: you may want areas to sit and relax; entertain friends and family; cultivate edible plants; contain special artwork or structures, as well as areas where your family can enjoy activities together. The concept of creating zones is employed around the world, with gardens designed to suit the weather conditions, local flora and fauna, and enabling families to connect with nature. Here are some great examples.
1. Private space
This small garden in WA encompasses an area that offers adequate shade, diverse foliage, and a private space for the family to relax. Interesting pieces of memorabilia and art show the owner’s personality and add interesting objects that visitors can admire.
This small garden in WA encompasses an area that offers adequate shade, diverse foliage, and a private space for the family to relax. Interesting pieces of memorabilia and art show the owner’s personality and add interesting objects that visitors can admire.
2. Circle of life
This garden area, created by London-based landscape designer KR Garden Design, has plenty of greenery around the focal point, which brings calming vibes to a traditional design. Again, a small space has been transformed into a private area perfect for outdoor living, which shows how you can:
This garden area, created by London-based landscape designer KR Garden Design, has plenty of greenery around the focal point, which brings calming vibes to a traditional design. Again, a small space has been transformed into a private area perfect for outdoor living, which shows how you can:
- Choose a single colour theme using plants such as white hydrangeas.
- Contain flowers and greenery with low garden walls to emphasise the design symmetry.
- Add pots with leafy plants, carefully manicured to mark out the entry to the area.
- Trim trees to outline the gate without crowding the access.
3. Colour coded
Here, designer Vert Anis has marked the transition from one area to another with the delightful experience of colour and aromas. This extends the connection with nature for the family. Who can resist walking through this colourful archway to discover what lies beyond? Hydrangea and ivy line the pathway, while the arch is created by vines trained to match the curve of ivy on a metal structure.
How Do I… Choose Fast-Growing Privacy Plants?
Here, designer Vert Anis has marked the transition from one area to another with the delightful experience of colour and aromas. This extends the connection with nature for the family. Who can resist walking through this colourful archway to discover what lies beyond? Hydrangea and ivy line the pathway, while the arch is created by vines trained to match the curve of ivy on a metal structure.
How Do I… Choose Fast-Growing Privacy Plants?
4. Make an entrance
An inviting entrance to a garden wonderland connecting interior and exterior spaces brings a sense of peace and health to a home. This gateway leads the visitor into a space where they can wander through the greenery.
An inviting entrance to a garden wonderland connecting interior and exterior spaces brings a sense of peace and health to a home. This gateway leads the visitor into a space where they can wander through the greenery.
4. Leading smells
Potted plants add colour and fragrance to these steps on a property in rural Victoria. Upcycled red-gum sleepers form a stairway connecting the upper and lower levels of the garden. Fragrant plants including lavender, ground covers with small white flowers and annual plantings also create a border for an edible garden on the side of the steps.
Potted plants add colour and fragrance to these steps on a property in rural Victoria. Upcycled red-gum sleepers form a stairway connecting the upper and lower levels of the garden. Fragrant plants including lavender, ground covers with small white flowers and annual plantings also create a border for an edible garden on the side of the steps.
5. Space allows
In this Californian garden, a lawn has been sacrificed for the sake of hardscape paving and space created for edible plants, making the most of the available area. The design brings foliage, flowers and paving together to create a space for the family to relax and enjoy the sunshine.
In this Californian garden, a lawn has been sacrificed for the sake of hardscape paving and space created for edible plants, making the most of the available area. The design brings foliage, flowers and paving together to create a space for the family to relax and enjoy the sunshine.
6. Focal point
A water feature defines the space at the entrance of this Australian suburban property, and creates a focal point for the area that changes throughout the day. The designer, Alexandra Malkin, played on the juxtaposition of the surrounding hard-paved surfaces and softer green life. The beauty of this space is enhanced at night by soft lighting creating a welcoming glow.
Why You Should Plant a Sustainable Garden (and How)
A water feature defines the space at the entrance of this Australian suburban property, and creates a focal point for the area that changes throughout the day. The designer, Alexandra Malkin, played on the juxtaposition of the surrounding hard-paved surfaces and softer green life. The beauty of this space is enhanced at night by soft lighting creating a welcoming glow.
Why You Should Plant a Sustainable Garden (and How)
7. Edible planting
Here’s an example of making space for edible plants on a property from the US. This patch is separated from the rest of the garden near the house by a simple fence that doesn’t inhibit the view of the vegetables and fruit growing and blossoming. Simple wooden borders contain the healthy crops.
Here’s an example of making space for edible plants on a property from the US. This patch is separated from the rest of the garden near the house by a simple fence that doesn’t inhibit the view of the vegetables and fruit growing and blossoming. Simple wooden borders contain the healthy crops.
8. Boxed in
This edible garden space in Woodcote, UK also provides fresh produce in a contained area, with stone pathways adding an additional boundary for the vegetable garden. The stones allow the rain to naturally soak into the ground instead of running off hardscape surfaces and away from the area. Lattice fencing creates a boundary as well as a framework for vines and other climbing plants.
This edible garden space in Woodcote, UK also provides fresh produce in a contained area, with stone pathways adding an additional boundary for the vegetable garden. The stones allow the rain to naturally soak into the ground instead of running off hardscape surfaces and away from the area. Lattice fencing creates a boundary as well as a framework for vines and other climbing plants.
Tell us
Have you zoned your garden? If you have, tell us about it and post pictures in the Comments section below. And if you enjoyed this story, don’t forget to like, share or save it. Join the conversation.
More
Find a landscape designer on Houzz
Have you zoned your garden? If you have, tell us about it and post pictures in the Comments section below. And if you enjoyed this story, don’t forget to like, share or save it. Join the conversation.
More
Find a landscape designer on Houzz
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Thank you. This is exactly what I am in the process of creating at home. In a very relaxed way we have a dining/socialising zone
Shaded reading zones facing different ways to enjoy the sun/shade as it moves around the garden. This ones is for colour. We have one for aromatherapy under a rose and camellia arbour that needs some floor work.
We also have a vegie bed and chicken zone - which also doubles as a sports zone when visitors volunteer to help us catch pesky Cabbage Moth Butterflies :-)
I am working on defining the areas a little more with paths and walkways and enjoy reading articles like this for inspiration!!
The edible garden example is what I will be working on this spring/summer. On top of cleaning up the veggie patch it should also allow any manure and other nutrients added to stay in one place rather than being spread into areas where there aren't any plants. I am hoping it will also allow me to raise the height of the garden beds.