A Creek Dream

Gurley's Azalea Garden

Clifton E. Gurley III

Bluestone Naperville

KD Landscape

Walking past the pergola, the dining space is visible off in the distance. Eyebrow beds with Pachysandra and Polygonatum soften the column bases.

Georgian revival

Western DuPage Landscaping, Inc.

The goal of this project was to provide a lush and vast garden for the new owners of this recently remodeled brick Georgian. Located in Wheaton this acre plus property is surrounded by beautiful Oaks. Preserving the Oaks became a particular challenge with the ample front walk and generous entertaining spaces the client desired. Under most of the Oaks the turf was in very poor condition, and most of the property was covered with undesirable overgrown underbrush such as Garlic Mustard weed and Buckthorn. With a recently completed addition, the garages were pushed farther from the front door leaving a large distance between the drive and entry to the home. This prompted the addition of a secondary door off the kitchen. A meandering walk curves past the secondary entry and leads guests through the front garden to the main entry. Off the secondary door a “kitchen patio” complete with a custom gate and Green Mountain Boxwood hedge give the clients a quaint space to enjoy a morning cup of joe. Stepping stone pathways lead around the home and weave through multiple pocket gardens within the vast backyard. The paths extend deep into the property leading to individual and unique gardens with a variety of plantings that are tied together with rustic stonewalls and sinuous turf areas. Closer to the home a large paver patio opens up to the backyard gardens. New stoops were constructed and existing stoops were covered in bluestone and mortared stonewalls were added, complimenting the classic Georgian architecture. The completed project accomplished all the goals of creating a lush and vast garden that fit the remodeled home and lifestyle of its new owners. Through careful planning, all mature Oaks were preserved, undesirables removed and numerous new plantings along with detailed stonework helped to define the new landscape.

Lincoln Park Garden Path

Prassas Landscape Studio LLC

Photography: Stephen Prassas

Finished Concrete

Aztec Decorative Concrete

Traditional Landscape

Milton Residence

a Blade of Grass

Photo by Pete Cadieux

Lake Magic

Christine Karnofsky Garden Design & Consulting

Shade garden, lakefront garden, lawn

Fall Container Plantings

KMS Gardens and Design

A tiny planting bed is enhanced by a pair of complimentary fall planters.

Reclaimed Cobblestone, 5" x 5" and 3x4, Pebble Beach, CA

Monarch Stone International

Antique reclaimed sandstone cobblestone driveway pavers. Authentic 100 - 400 year old cobblestone imported from Europe.

Grass Steps in a Summer Garden

Johnsen Landscapes & Pools

Grass Steps ascend a hillside filled with flowers to create a lovely, shady interlude in the garden. photo by Jan Johnsen

Stone Retaining Wall and Planter

MTM Masonry and Chimney

Woodland shade border, Lexington MA

Cultivar, Inc.

L. McGrath

Cottage Charm

Green View Landscaping

Green View

Green Springs: Growing a New Old Garden

Gentle Gardener Green Design

Northbrook Illinois Shade Garden in June

Van Zelst Inc

Photo by Kirsten Gentry and Terra Jenkins for Van Zelst, Inc.

English Jewel Box

Mariani Landscape

A view through the garden rooms, a gravel path leads through to the many spaces. The path is lined with cushwa brick outlining the spaces. Terra cotta containers are filled with boxwood and petunia; pachysandra and bugleweed ground cover fill the flanking and center beds. A cast iron bench offers an opportunity to sit and enjoy the space, with the fountain creating a pleasant sound. The wall is graced with two standard form lilacs. Photo Credit: Linda Oyama Bryan

Back Yard Renovation

Pickel Landscape Group

Historic Georgian

Scott Mehaffey, landscape architect

Traditional Shaded Garden Design Ideas

Get Inspired by Traditional 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 traditional 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 Traditional Garden for Your Home

Depending on which style you’re going for, be sure to know what makes a traditional 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 traditional 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 traditional 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.