Mediterranean style garden. Mediterranean style in landscape design: we design it with our own hands. Objects of small architecture in southern imitations

27.11.2019

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The gorgeous nature of the Mediterranean rarely leaves anyone indifferent. Those who are lucky enough to visit the southern sea coast often want to build something similar on their site. Of course, it makes no sense to plant citrus fruits from trees in our climatic conditions, since they will not be able to take root. However, if you adhere to the principles of the Mediterranean style in landscape design, then using the appropriate attributes, plants and architectural forms, it is quite possible to turn your plans into reality.

The Mediterranean style in landscape design is characterized by an abundance of climbing, hanging and green plants, mixed with stone paths, and forged furniture and accessories.

The Mediterranean style in landscape design is characterized by climbing, green plants, stone paths, and wrought iron furniture. The great advantage of the Mediterranean style in the landscape is the possibility of arranging its modest territory (4-6 acres of land).

A narrow and long area in this case is not considered an obstacle to creating a patio. Terraces give characteristic features to the arrangement of the relief. A whitewashed brick or stone fence will help create a sense of privacy. A tall hedge would also be appropriate for this style.

When paving paths, large massive slabs should be avoided. An alternative to them would be natural stone or terracotta tiles. To fill the gaps between the coating, grass, which is resistant to drought, is suitable. As for the gazebo, a structure made of light wood with clear shapes and strict lines is ideal for Mediterranean landscape design. You can place a lantern in the center of the patio or make a mini-pond: this style is very restrained in the use of water.

Mediterranean design favors an abundance of wrought iron garden furniture and wooden benches. Ceramic vessels are ideal as decorative elements. Flower pots, vases, and amphorae can be used as the latter.

With the onset of warm days, you can install flowerpots in which greenhouse trees are planted on the patio. As a rule, this is oleander, thuja of modest size, laurel. Pots with geraniums and small roses would be appropriate there.

Small architectural forms

When it comes to creating a relief in the Mediterranean style, natural or embankment terraces must be done so that their excavations are not washed away by rain. It is advisable to place them on a reliable, solid foundation. As a rule, it is a layer of compacted gravel and sand on top of it, a flat stone dug into the ground.

If the support is made of wood, its lower part must be treated with a protective agent. If there is a slight difference in height, it is better to make one large terrace rather than dividing it into small segments.

You can decorate your garden with sculptures in antique style. In this case, you need not to go too far with their quantity. When arranging, you will have to adhere to certain proportions. The Mediterranean style is characterized by paved areas that are connected by stone paths, as well as the absence of lawns. The division of the site into zones using trellises and pergolas is approved.

A simple relaxation pavilion can be built from several pergolas and light textile drapery. Metal or self-made lining structures must be positioned so that they form a square or polygon. The area under them is laid with tiles or covered with gravel. If you are building a gazebo, then it is important that there are no walls or any decor. As a rule, this is an ordinary canopy, the main design element of which will be fabric. To protect it from the wind, you can place it near bushes.

If you are the happy owner of a private house or cottage, you have probably thought more than once about how to arrange the space around you with benefit and convenience. The Greeks, who spend most of their free time outdoors, thought of all the elements of garden design several thousand years ago) Want to borrow some of their ideas? Then read on!

Naturally, the features of Greek gardening are dictated primarily by the climatic conditions of the country. In the Mediterranean, summers are hot and dry, and winters, on the contrary, are wet; in many regions the influence of the sea is also strongly felt.

Among the huge variety of plants common in the region, the Greeks for thousands of years selected those that had the honor of “settled” in the flowerbeds and gardens of most local residents. In addition, the appearance and aesthetic appeal of the surrounding space are valued here no less than what exactly will grow on the ground.

So how can you organize a “Greek-style garden” on your property? Read and get inspired by new ideas!

1. Neutral colors of buildings. In the hot Mediterranean climate, the walls surrounding the garden are painted white or another light color close to it. Why? It's easy to guess: it perfectly reflects the sun's rays.

2.Olive trees. The goddess Athena received an entire city after giving the Greeks the first olive tree (or so the legends tell us). It is no wonder that the inhabitants of Hellas carried love and respect for this tree through the centuries. Nowadays it is difficult to imagine a Greek garden without an olive tree! In large farms they are used to obtain fruits and oil (read how exactly the olive harvesting process works in Greece), but it happens that they also perform a purely decorative role.

By the way, it is also worth choosing an olive tree for the garden because it is drought-resistant, durable (in Greece there are trees that “live” for 300 and 500 years!), and its wood is considered durable and valuable.

For those who live in latitudes with a cool climate, it is better to grow ornamental olive trees in pots: in summer they can be placed in any corner of the garden, and in winter the tree can be brought indoors and enjoy a piece of the Mediterranean right at home!

3. Drought-resistant plants. When selecting inhabitants for your “Greek-style garden,” be sure to buy exactly those plants that are familiar to your climate zone. In Greece, hot summers are well tolerated by rosemary, thyme, sage and other perennial herbs. By the way, they also serve as a good bait for pollinators.

4.Bright accents. On the gray-green background of perennial drought-resistant plants and shrubs there must be some bright spot - preferably a flower with a pink or red color (poppies, pelargoniums, etc.).

5. Indoor flowers. According to archaeological research, the ancient Greeks already decorated their homes with decorative flowers. Nowadays, in many small villages (for example, in Crete), many houses do not have garden plots. In such cases, the role of a “garden” is played by a small area near window sills, entrance doors, and on small areas near the house. The housewives carefully decorate these areas with numerous pots with a variety of flowers.

6. Clay pots. Pottery is one of the art forms that the ancient Greeks brought to perfection. It was thanks to the drawings and inscriptions on ancient Greek ceramics that historians learned many facts and details from the life of ancient civilization. But in addition to the cultural component, clay products also have many other benefits that can be used to create the appropriate atmosphere in your garden. Firstly, clay pots retain moisture well, so plants thrive in the scorching sun. Secondly, the flowers in them “breathe”, unlike cheaper plastic pots. Thirdly, clay products look noble!

7.Citrus trees: lemons, limes, oranges, tangerines. The citrus tree, like the olive, is a must-have for the Greek garden. If you live in a Mediterranean climate, planting citrus in your garden will not be difficult. For inhabitants of mid-latitudes, pots for ornamental trees, again, come to the rescue. By the way, citrus fruits also look gorgeous indoors!

8.Symmetry. Even in a small garden you can embody one of the principles of the great ancient Greek architecture. How? Just place two identical benches on either side of the table.

9.Bougainvillea. It is a must-have in any Greek garden (do you remember the point about bright accents?)! This flower looks great both in a pot and on a trellis. In areas where summer temperatures do not drop below 30 degrees, it can grow very quickly, but this problem can be easily eliminated with the help of pruners.

The wondrous natural beauty of the southern seas leaves no one indifferent. The colorful gardens with citrus fruits and conifers, successfully complemented by picturesque ponds and decorated with all kinds of arches, pergolas and grottoes, simply amaze the imagination. But in our latitudes, embodying the Mediterranean style in landscape design is not such an easy task. After all, in order to revive copies of subtropical plants on the site, adapted to our climate, it will take a lot of effort and patience. However, the style is built not only on green spaces. Design tricks and a whole arsenal of attributes will help to maximize the resemblance of the site to gardens on the Mediterranean coast.

A feature of this style is the widespread use of different types of natural and processed stone, marble chips and sea pebbles in the design of the site. This is due to the fact that in natural conditions gardens are located near the coast and are often rocky. The mountainous terrain caused the widespread use of all kinds of retaining walls, stairs and terraced slopes in the design of the territory.

The Mediterranean style, successfully combining elements of ancient Greek, Roman and modern art, is rightfully considered one of the most picturesque styles of landscape design.

The Mediterranean garden is attractive primarily because of its richness of colors, lush plants and abundance of all kinds of architectural decorative elements.

The most popular plants have always been citrus, pistachio, olive trees and palm trees, which, in addition to their decorative function, delighted with fragrant and juicy fruits. It was in such gardens that the art of creating topiary became widespread - giving plants original shapes through special cutting. Hedges with cone-shaped and spherical shrubs are a real “highlight” of the garden.

Comfortable garden furniture is effectively set off against the backdrop of variegated colors of flowering plants. Forged and wooden benches and tables are conducive to a pleasant pastime and relaxation

Among the attributes, the most popular are ceramic amphorae, pots and all kinds of shapes for planting flowers. They are placed around the garden, placed horizontally on lawns and even buried halfway into the ground. Touches of “antiquity” are given by garden figures in the form of ancient vessels and broken amphorae, decorated with decorative foliage plants.

We design the site in the same style

Despite the large number of admirers of the Mediterranean style, the limiting factor in choosing it for the design of a suburban area is the difference in climatic conditions. Many heat-loving shrubs and trees that feel comfortable in hot summers and calmly endure mild, snowy winters do not take root in our climate zone.

Not only palm trees can fill a garden with southern charm and convey the spirit of warm countries; by the way, they can also be grown as container crops, hidden indoors in winter.

Evergreen emerald conifers: yew, juniper, pine, thuja, spruce can create a unique atmosphere of a Mediterranean garden

Ornamental deciduous plants will be protected from the scorching sun by branches on a hot afternoon: viburnum, magnolia, boxwood.

A worthy frame for elegant trees and shrubs will be those planted with fragrant and variegated roses. At the foot of the trees, lawns made of herbs will look great: lemon balm, chicory, steppe onion, mint, sage.

The sunny and hot climate of the Mediterranean suggests the presence of drought-resistant plants.

Drought-resistant trees, as if protecting themselves from scorching rays, camouflage themselves by painting their foliage in silvery shades

A successful addition to the picturesque landscape will be the willow pear and various types of oleaster shrubs, which are often popularly called “olive.” For example: the silver oleagin is attractive because of its small foliage and fragrant flowers that dot the branches, in the place of which olives that are quite edible and sweetish in taste are later formed.

Periwinkle, mahonia, and cotoneaster are perfect to match the design with pearlescent foliage. And instead of heat-loving cypresses, you can plant junipers and columnar thujas, which are less demanding of light and heat.

Plants of purple, blue, red and orange colors planted in small groups will help create a Mediterranean atmosphere.

Lavender is an ideal option for decorating open meadows on a site. But if climatic conditions do not allow growing this heat-loving beauty, speedwell or scepter-shaped mullein can be a worthy alternative.

Well, what would a garden be without? These graceful climbing plants decorate,. Sun-loving southern vines can be replaced with honeysuckle, clematis or virgin grapes.

To create on the site, instead of traditional hollies and cypress trees, you can plant spirea, barberry, and privet. They also easily tolerate cutting, allowing you to form original “living” decorations from the crown.

Architectural landscape elements

It is convenient to enjoy the contemplation of a picturesque picture, sitting in a cozy gazebo or near one, entwined with a beautiful flowering vine. An appropriate addition to the design will be living vaults from tree crowns, canvas awnings and wooden trellises.

Beautifully paved paths with lush greenery breaking through them lead to the garden, inviting you to relax in the fresh air and enjoy the enchanting beauty of the created corner of nature.

All sorts of things will add special features to the arrangement of the relief. Dividing the area into separate zones and creating an atmosphere of detachment and privacy will help. Low stone fences that form an ideal background are best made with an uneven surface, decorating them with purple clematis varieties or painting them “to look like stonework.”

A significant element of the Mediterranean garden are water features: streams, cascades and fountains. Spreading drops of life-giving moisture throughout the garden and filling it with the sounds of rushing water, they make the suburban area truly a paradise.

Springs gushing out of the ground, decorative ponds and pools bring “sea” notes to the picturesque Mediterranean garden

A small fountain in the Roman style, decorated with animal figures and framed with flowerpots, is an ideal option that will give a unique look to the site. A wall fountain in the form of a lion’s head with an agape mouth will look no less colorful.

The decoration of the suburban area will be “antique” sculptures in the antique style and clay ceramics in light colors

Patio as a Key Design Element

A cozy interior is a fairly popular element of landscape design used when decorating a garden in a Mediterranean style. It is built on a southern slope, protected from the cold north wind. Ideally, the site should have a view of the sea. In the absence of such, it is advisable to provide for it to offer beautiful views of the emerald green, garden, hills...

The feeling of the proximity of the sea will be given by the stylization of the patio, decorated in white, like foam, azure blue and blue shades

An association with the sea will be caused by pieces of furniture decorated with fabric covers with white and blue stripes, and flower pots painted in this color scheme.

When decorating the site and arranging the roof of the gazebo, only simple materials are used: straw, reeds and soft tiles. No pretentiousness, the main thing is convenience. But, focusing on northern conditions, it is advisable to provide for the construction of walls that will protect the site from snow and rain.

The site is often covered with stone masonry, which can be successfully replaced with wooden flooring or terracotta tiles if desired.

Wooden stairs and umbrellas also successfully complement the design of the recreation area. Rough furniture in warm colors will also fit organically into the overall style. To decorate the outdoor area, use container plants planted in large beautiful containers: thuja, laurel, oleander.

Finally, we offer you a few more ideas for decorating your site in this style.

All details of the garden should be successfully combined with each other and together and at the same time emphasize the temperament of the Mediterranean garden.

It’s easy and simple to create a unique style for your own garden or yard in the modern world. To do this, you need to choose from the existing options the one that you want to see and observe every day in your yard. The style of a garden or yard can be selected in completely different options.

The Mediterranean style in landscape design is a picturesque and vibrant style. It will highlight the wondrous beauty of overseas countries. This style will carry fresh citrus and pine scents. Using the sunny Mediterranean style is easy. Just follow our instructions.

Features of the Mediterranean type of design

Each style has its own specific features and characteristics. The main feature of the Mediterranean style is the use of various types of earth and stones. They can be treated to smooth out corners on stones.

It is known that all the stones are located near the sea, on the shore, and most of them are subject to private washing. Therefore, their shapes acquire a smooth and even appearance.

Greek and Roman themed elements

In the Mediterranean style, you can highlight many elements that will make up the overall look. Elements of Greek and Roman art are often found. These are different architectural sculptures. Each of them attracts attention with a riot of colors, splendor of plants and, of course, a large abundance of plants and decorative elements.

What plants are used in Mediterranean landscape design?

The most popular plants for decorating a Mediterranean style are trees. pistachios, olives and some citrus varieties plants.

You can see a palm tree. They are more often used to give a seaside feel. They are even used to create topiaries. This art is very common. It can be done easily. It is enough to decorate plants and trees with original haircuts. Indeed, in a Mediterranean garden, beautifully trimmed trees are considered the main objects of decoration.

Mediterranean areas are known to have a hot climate. The bright sun shines there constantly. Therefore, you can find a large number of plants that are accustomed to drought, as well as evergreen trees and shrubs.

Plants such as: boxwood, magnolia, thuja, varieties pine trees. Moreover, these plants will give you the feeling of being in the Mediterranean region.

Garden furniture

In a garden with a Mediterranean style, you can safely place wicker furniture. It will highlight the beauty and brightness of the garden. These can be modern versions of forged or wooden furniture.

With its help, you can decorate a place to relax by placing beautiful vases and various containers for planting flowers around.

Pools, fountains and ponds in the Mediterranean style

When designing any style in landscape design, it is necessary to use the main characteristics that distinguish one type of style from another. This is what happens with the Mediterranean style.

The most important features in it are considered to be reservoirs, streams, or more precisely, water. Organizing babbling streams or a cascading pond in your garden is not entirely easy, but there are many options and ideas for this.

And after all this, you can begin to design the desired decorative part. A fountain or waterfall can be made from stones, planted with moss and other moisture-resistant plants. Place sculptures around a fountain or pond that will evoke the atmosphere of the sea in their own way.

How to Create a DIY Mediterranean Patio

A sophisticated patio option can be the key. This is practically the most popular element when recreating the Mediterranean style. The patio is arranged on the south side, since it is an open area and does not tolerate strong winds. This site offers an incredibly beautiful view of the sea, which can be seen all the way to the horizon.

You can plant your lawn with beautiful emerald-colored grass. Organize a garden with plants that will distinguish the Mediterranean style. You can also create the atmosphere and feeling of the sea nearby with the help of furniture and various attributes.

Light fabrics in blue and white colors can be draped over garden furniture. They will create a feeling of the surface of the sea, and the murmur of a stream and waterfall will help you hear the sound of the sea.

The Mediterranean style of landscape design unites many countries that, despite their geographical proximity, differ in culture and history. This includes the romantic garden architecture of France, Greek terraces, Italian classical style, and exotic Spain.

But we associate all these countries with hot sunny summers, blue seas and herbs, so a Mediterranean-style garden is suitable for lovers of the south who prefer a relaxing holiday surrounded by fragrant herbs and flowering bushes.

This garden architectural style is an excellent proposal for small areas, as it does not require a large amount of lush greenery and lawns.

Site selection

To create a Mediterranean landscape, it is necessary to take into account several main factors, and the most important of them are good illumination of the site and its protection from strong winds. A small garden surrounded by a stone wall or hedge is ideal. An uneven landscape has its advantages, as it allows you to create terraces characteristic of a given style.

Color palette combination

In Mediterranean regions, the color scheme plays a big role, so when creating a design, first of all, it is necessary to take into account the harmonious combination of color and space.

It should be dominated by natural warm tones of pink, yellow, brown, which boldly contrast with areas of blue, violet, lilac and light blue.

You can also opt for a more subtle version, reminiscent of French Provence, choosing a palette of white, blue and pastel colors without bright accents.

What plants to plant in a Mediterranean garden?

The vegetation of the Mediterranean climate is rich in colors, shapes and smells. But when choosing plants for this style, it is necessary to take into account certain restrictions associated with the climate of the middle zone, since many southern crops do not tolerate frost well, and some simply do not survive the winter.

However, many of the plants that grow in our climate are ideal for this style, and some varieties of heat-loving species have adapted well to cool conditions. For good growth of crops that are predominantly drought-resistant, it is very important that the soil has good water permeability.

The southern nature of the garden is emphasized by such evergreen shrubs as: boxwood, rhododendron, privet, and representatives of coniferous crops. To achieve a southern oasis landscape, also use columnar plantings, such as Blue Arrow juniper, cypress trees, pyramidal arborvitae, and yew varieties. In warmer regions, you can try planting pine or dwarf pine.

An important element of this garden design are flowering shrubs and vines. The favorites here are buddleia, hibiscus, rhododendron, yucca, honeysuckle, wisteria, and ivy. A bright accent is created by multi-colored hydrangea bushes in large terracotta pots that can be placed in partial shade. Here http://elki-vtapkah.ru/listvennye_kustarniki/gortenzia/ you can buy any variety of hydrangea to decorate your garden.

It is impossible to imagine a southern garden without herbs, which give Mediterranean design a unique atmosphere and aroma.
Lavender, sage, rosemary, thyme, basil, and oregano are irreplaceable crops of the southern landscape that give Mediterranean design a unique flavor.

Don't forget also about plants such as sunflowers, catnip, yarrow, santolina, nasturtium, pelargonium, sedum, young, and cereals. Hanging flowers in hanging baskets add additional bright accents.

Place a layer of fine gravel around the plantings. Rock mulch perfectly reveals the beauty and individuality of crops. Plant ground cover plants such as maus, erinus or thyme between stones on paths and in the stonework of fences.

Materials and small architecture

The landscape style of the southern regions involves the use of natural materials such as sandstone, limestone, light gravel, stones, concrete pavements, terracotta, and mosaic fragments. You won't find polished or shiny elements here. This style is characterized by artificially aged, matte surfaces and rough stonework.

The Mediterranean style design provides a place to relax. Usually this is a small wrought-iron table with elegant chairs or gazebos entwined with ivy, roses or covered with white canvas, patios with various canopies. The bench in the garden should be small, preferably stone with bright colorful cushions.

An important addition is a variety of vases, jugs, small pots or boxes for herbs and flowers, preferably made of clay, terracotta, ceramic or wood. Clay pots with colorful floral arrangements are placed freely on stairs, terraces or at the back of the garden to create a slightly cluttered appearance. Small fountains are also typical elements of small architecture for this type of garden.

Mediterranean style garden care

To maintain the decorative appearance of the site, it is enough to care for the plants depending on their requirements. The main difficulty is maintaining comfortable conditions for southern cultures. In this case, it is preferable to grow them in a container and bring them indoors in the fall.

Bushes sensitive to frost, especially flowering ones, are covered with agrofibre for the winter and mulched with a thick layer of soil, which protects the root ball from damage. Perennial grasses, especially taller ones, also require shelter for the winter. Their stems are cut and then covered with leaves or spruce branches.