So Your Garden Style Is: Balinese
Recreate the verdant beauty of Bali and other tropical destinations in your garden
Westerners have long been mesmerised by the lush, jungle-like gardens of tropical islands such as Bali. The combination of bold plants, artfully placed statues, deep pools and exotic decorative elements found in Balinese gardens is deeply alluring and the more we visit these places the more we want to introduce their landscaping ideas into our own outdoor spaces.
But before you start planting, make sure your garden is private and sheltered, particularly in colder parts of the country. Once the right microclimate is established it’s amazing how many subtropical plants you can grow, to create your tropical look, even when winter temperatures are low. And surrounding your garden with a protective layer of greenery will also help reduce the intrusive effect of large buildings, very close neighbours or any traffic noise that might disturb the beautiful serenity of your Balinese retreat.
But before you start planting, make sure your garden is private and sheltered, particularly in colder parts of the country. Once the right microclimate is established it’s amazing how many subtropical plants you can grow, to create your tropical look, even when winter temperatures are low. And surrounding your garden with a protective layer of greenery will also help reduce the intrusive effect of large buildings, very close neighbours or any traffic noise that might disturb the beautiful serenity of your Balinese retreat.
Private lives
Use boundary screening to immediately banish all elements that conflict with your idea of a Balinese paradise. Trellis, brushwood and bamboo screens are low-cost and easy to install, keeping your garden private until the planting becomes well established. They also provide support for exotic tropical climbing plants.
Use boundary screening to immediately banish all elements that conflict with your idea of a Balinese paradise. Trellis, brushwood and bamboo screens are low-cost and easy to install, keeping your garden private until the planting becomes well established. They also provide support for exotic tropical climbing plants.
Say it with foliage
Plenty of leafy plants, both green and coloured, is essential in Balinese-style gardens. Vary leaf shapes and sizes to add interest as shown in this Perth garden. Use layers of different height plants – ground covers, mid-level shrubs and perennials, tall trees and climbers – especially in smaller gardens.
Discover more ways to use foliage
Plenty of leafy plants, both green and coloured, is essential in Balinese-style gardens. Vary leaf shapes and sizes to add interest as shown in this Perth garden. Use layers of different height plants – ground covers, mid-level shrubs and perennials, tall trees and climbers – especially in smaller gardens.
Discover more ways to use foliage
Bamboo curtains
Nothing says tropical more than bamboo (except, of course, palms). Plant plenty of both in your Balinese garden for screening, vertical emphasis, shade and leaf texture. The rustling sound of bamboo culms and palm fronds moving in the breeze is an added auditory bonus.
Nothing says tropical more than bamboo (except, of course, palms). Plant plenty of both in your Balinese garden for screening, vertical emphasis, shade and leaf texture. The rustling sound of bamboo culms and palm fronds moving in the breeze is an added auditory bonus.
Bold colour
Add splashes of colour to the predominant green of your Balinese garden. The vibrant pink of this boungainvillea is perfect, especially when its pot works so well with the overall design theme. Consider also hibiscus, Vireya rhododendron and deliciously scented plants including shell ginger, frangipani, Murraya and spider lily.
Add splashes of colour to the predominant green of your Balinese garden. The vibrant pink of this boungainvillea is perfect, especially when its pot works so well with the overall design theme. Consider also hibiscus, Vireya rhododendron and deliciously scented plants including shell ginger, frangipani, Murraya and spider lily.
In the shade
Erect a garden pavilion to provide a shady retreat during the day and a cosy place to linger in the evenings. Add decorative lanterns and a fire pit to increase the exotic ambience. If budget is an issue, there are many DIY-kit garden pavilions now available.
Erect a garden pavilion to provide a shady retreat during the day and a cosy place to linger in the evenings. Add decorative lanterns and a fire pit to increase the exotic ambience. If budget is an issue, there are many DIY-kit garden pavilions now available.
Go natural
Natural as opposed to man-made materials work best in Balinese gardens. Choose timber gates and screens, stone and pebble paving and unglazed pots. Mixing stone slabs and pebbles for paths, as shown in this garden, is ideal for the meandering, relaxed pathways usually found in Bali. The slower the journey around the garden the better.
Natural as opposed to man-made materials work best in Balinese gardens. Choose timber gates and screens, stone and pebble paving and unglazed pots. Mixing stone slabs and pebbles for paths, as shown in this garden, is ideal for the meandering, relaxed pathways usually found in Bali. The slower the journey around the garden the better.
Water world
Water is a vital ingredient of Balinese gardens, with pools and ponds often positioned close to houses so that they cool the air entering the buildings. Water in any garden has magical visual and soothing auditory qualities but, when combined with waterlilies and exotic statues, as shown here, the effect is that of a serene, tropical paradise.
Water is a vital ingredient of Balinese gardens, with pools and ponds often positioned close to houses so that they cool the air entering the buildings. Water in any garden has magical visual and soothing auditory qualities but, when combined with waterlilies and exotic statues, as shown here, the effect is that of a serene, tropical paradise.
Decorative elements
Hindu statues are traditionally found in Balinese gardens, but Buddhist imagery gives a similar sense of reflective tranquillity. Consider other Balinese decorative elements also, such as flags, screens, bowls, lanterns and wind chimes.
Hindu statues are traditionally found in Balinese gardens, but Buddhist imagery gives a similar sense of reflective tranquillity. Consider other Balinese decorative elements also, such as flags, screens, bowls, lanterns and wind chimes.
And so to bed
We so often forget to relax and enjoy our gardens in these frenetic times, so adding any element that encourages that feeling must be a good thing. Day beds, a long-time staple of Balinese gardens, are becoming increasingly popular in the Western world for that very reason. Try to find space for a day bed in your Balinese outdoor retreat so that you can truly savour the peace and tranquillity you have worked so hard to create.
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We so often forget to relax and enjoy our gardens in these frenetic times, so adding any element that encourages that feeling must be a good thing. Day beds, a long-time staple of Balinese gardens, are becoming increasingly popular in the Western world for that very reason. Try to find space for a day bed in your Balinese outdoor retreat so that you can truly savour the peace and tranquillity you have worked so hard to create.
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Difficulty ranking: Once established subtropical garden styles are easy to maintain with most of the maintenance involving feeding and watering. You’ll also need to ensure plants are kept under control with regular cutting back as those best suited to Balinese gardens grow very quickly in the right conditions.
Key plants: bamboo, palms, elephant’s ear (Alocasia), gingers, canna and other lush-leaved plants including frangipani, bougainvillea, hibiscus and Vireya rhododendrons.