The sunken garden is back. For those of us who make gardening a part of our lifestyle - to expand our living space, to relax and unwind, to enjoy fresh air and plants - dedicated gardens open up new possibilities for our garden ideas. Think of it as a conversation hole in the living room located behind the back door.
Partially sunken or fully enclosed, a sunken garden adds focus and intimacy to any area and can be an eye-catching addition to your garden landscaping ideas.
“The garden gives you the feeling of entering a new place, something that takes you outside of your daily routine,” says Sam Proctor, designer at Chiltern Gardens.
There are many reasons to strive for a protected garden, from creating a protected seating area to creating a microclimate for growing plants that cannot grow. "The differences in soil, moisture and shade make it easier for moisture-loving plants to grow," advises James Scott, managing director of The Garden. Bath
To learn how to plan a garden, we have told you about how to plan a garden and the pitfalls to be aware of when designing your garden.
1. Study your garden before you start digging
Digging your garden can certainly be a challenge. You can avoid some of them by familiarizing yourself with your site first.
“Know the geology of your site,” says garden designer Marlene Lento. "When you're digging, if you find something like sandstone, it can quickly ruin your plans and hit your budget." Be sure to get an offer and see how much you will pay for your landscaping expenses. Sunken garden ideas.
2. Choose a place that receives sunlight
Because the sunken garden is smaller than your outdoor space, you need to make sure there isn't too much shade to enjoy. A sunken garden might not be a good idea for a north-facing garden that doesn't get much light, but it might be a good idea for a south-facing garden where the sun is sometimes too strong.
“If you're choosing a landscaped garden, pay attention to sunlight,” says Marlene Lento. “Even a small recess will affect how much shade you can create for your seating or planting area. Think about the time of day you will be using your sunken garden and act accordingly. Recessed gardens with sun loungers are best used in the evening when they receive their last light.
3. Name the landscape
The sunken garden is one of those features that requires professional planning, at the very least water will be a problem. "It's important not to have a pond if you don't want it!" says Sam Proctor of Chilton Garden Design. "Think about drainage: use a combination of linear gutters and gutters, and a suspended substrate like gravel."
"The wall must be strong enough to support the earth behind it, and not only the pressure of the earth, but also the pressure of the water that may accumulate behind it." However, drainage is key.” You can always paint the exterior walls of your sunken garden to further enhance your outdoor space.
4. Don't go too far
"There's a fine line between being carefree and attractive," says Oliver Bond of Bond Landscape Design. “The deeper the sunken terrace, the higher the inner wall. This affects the static requirements of the walls and their visual effect in the room. The lower towers let in more light.
5. Easy access to the sunken garden
The more you open up your deeper environment, the more complex it becomes. “You have to consider how many flights of stairs you need to climb to get there in comfort,” says designer and gardener Melissa Morton. "Make sure he's easily available for socializing or solitude for this one-of-a-kind event so it doesn't happen again."
6. Work with others in your garden
The materials and plants you use in your hanging garden will depend on whether it is hidden or not. The space visible from the garden or the rest of the house should be repeatedly associated with plants and reflective materials of the architecture.
If your sunken garden is completely enclosed, there may be room for testing.
“The sunken garden provides an opportunity to create a garden, an oasis of its own, that can be treated very differently from the rest of the garden in terms of materials and planting,” says garden designer Marlene Lento.
"Especially when creating a space for socializing or gathering, you can use colorful outdoor surfaces or patterns and focus on details that can't be made or bought on a larger scale." This is an opportunity to create the gem you want.
7. Make sure the sunken garden is comfortable
Recessed gardens make for a comfortable seating or dining area, so decorate them like you would any other interior to create a really interesting space. Consider choosing outdoor furniture to make the most of space and needs, create an outdoor seating area, a romantic outdoor dining area, or even an open-air cinema in your thirsty garden.
8. Add to a hot oven or stove
“Clients often like to place fire pits or fireplace tables in damp areas because it's easier to heat in sheltered areas,” says garden designer Sam Proctor.
He spoke a word of warning. "Be careful when using a propane fire table in a wet garden as it poses a safety hazard." Since propane sinks and does not spread over the pool in the event of a spill, natural gas pipes are a safer option.”
To really create the feel of an outdoor living room, you can install an open fireplace in your terraced garden.
9. Don't forget limited garden lighting.
When it comes to lighting ideas for your garden, Marlene Lento recommends focusing on atmosphere.
“The subdued side lighting creates a sense of magic, gently delimiting the space. If your garden has a special feature, like a water feature or sculpture, add drama by lighting it well. And if the flooded garden is not adjacent to the house and for cozy evenings, consider installing low-level lights along the paths.
10. Choose fragrant plants for underwater gardens
With heavy landscaping in a dry garden, plants play an important role in changing the layout of the space to make it comfortable.
“Yard-loving plants soften the sharp edges of your retaining wall,” says Sam Proctor. He recommends Helianthus , Campanula portenshlageana , and sage rosemary for sunny areas, and periwinkle or Hakonechloa macra for shady areas.
Immigrant gardens allow you to see plants from a different perspective. “There are many types of aromatic plants, as well as species that attract butterflies, bees and other insects,” says James Scott. “Sitting at eye level with vibrant colors, listening to the chirping of insects, and inhaling the scents that are on offer, you enhance the multi-sensory experience of being in a thirsty garden.”
How to create an ice garden?
To create a deep garden, you need to dig up the area outside the house to create a low level. You should also build walls around fenced areas to hold the ground, and install a ladder or slope for easy access to the garden. Because they dig underground, water can accumulate in sunken gardens if you integrate gutters and downspouts into the moisture channel.
What are the benefits of a sunken garden?
Flooded gardens allow you to create a "garden within a garden" with its own atmosphere, microclimate and purpose. For the gardener, plants that do not withstand other conditions on the site and moisture-loving plants can be kept in the shade. For those who love to entertain, the sunken garden can be the perfect place to relax in the great outdoors. It can also be a closed and private outdoor area for relaxing and watching movies in an open-air cinema.
How deep is the sunken garden?
The depth of the garden should correspond to the size and shape of the outdoor area, but a depth of more than 120 cm is not recommended; The low, sunken garden is expensive for the soil and may be too dark and damp to enjoy. In fact, you don't need to go down at all. Going down a step or two will give you a deeper sense of the garden.