The Mediterranean-style garden is similar to southern cities with their charming small streets lined with pleasantly smelling greenery and beautiful and cozy terraces. All this beauty can be recreated on your own plot, and you won’t need to spend a lot of time maintaining it, because in a Mediterranean garden the main areas are occupied by recreation areas, paved areas, open terraces and potted gardens. Here, as in a mirror, is reflected the way of life and mentality of the Mediterranean people, who love to spend as much time as possible not behind the walls of their homes, but on the street, having friendly conversations in the open air in an atmosphere of warmth and carefree fun.
Basic styles of the Mediterranean garden
There are several trends in the design of green zones of this kind that exist in one country or another. The most common garden is the Italian type, built on the principle of clear zoning, perfectly combining strict geometric lines and a romantic mood. Typical elements will be sculptures made in a classical style, elegant terracotta vases, fountains, climbing plants, potted gardens and a lot of other small elements that together give the garden a unique charm.
The Provençal-type garden features elegant wrought iron furniture and pavilions with metal walls. The colors in this garden are not so bright, the main plant is lavender. It is more common to see very fragrant mixborders than potted gardens.
Mixborders usually contain flowers, essential oils and ornamental plants in various combinations.
Finally, the third type is the Greek garden, which inherited the traditions of gardens of ancient times. It can be difficult to take your eyes off the snow-white walls of buildings, furniture and pergolas, painted in ultramarine tones, modeled on the roofs of ancient Greek temples. The paths are covered with rough stone (mostly rubble); the antique spirit of the garden is given by the presence of amphoras, sculptures and dishes made in the ancient Greek style.
Architectural design elements
The main architectural element of the described landscape gardening style is terraces: there can be several of them or one large, common one. They can be natural, but it is also permissible to make them yourself, stylizing them to resemble the natural formation of the relief. Also, an integral part of such a garden will be all kinds of stones, giving the courtyard a rocky relief.
The easiest way to style a site in a Mediterranean style is to create a full-fledged complex or a small corner from ancient ruins. These could be dilapidated columns or a small fountain, the remains of stylized buildings. It is also ideal to complement it with old broken dishes made from natural clay. At least one zone must have a small sculpture .
Here it is acceptable to use statues of animals, people, or all sorts of combinations thereof. They should be made in the Roman or Greek style or as close as possible to them. Another feature of the Mediterranean style is large or small paved areas made of natural stone or clinker bricks. If there are several such zones in the garden, they are connected by paved narrow paths made of the same material.
Important! The style
under consideration All vegetation should be located as much as possible in hanging flowerpots, floor tubs, ceramic pots, etc.
Main area – terrace
The main area of the Mediterranean garden is the terrace - an ideal place for relaxation, a pleasant pastime and a friendly feast. As a rule, the terrace is located so that it offers a beautiful view of the plant compositions. Equally important is the covering for the terrace area; priority is given to stone, which is sometimes replaced with concrete or paving slabs.
Not often, but you can find terraces lined with wood. But regardless of the material, the coating must have a light color; terracotta and ocher tones are also acceptable.
The site can have several levels if the landscape allows. The potted gardens located here will serve as decoration and outline the boundaries of the zone.
On the sides of the terrace adjacent to the house there should be walls that protect from gusts of wind. Materials reminiscent of sandstone or white marble will best suit the style. However, glazed walls with blinds are also acceptable. If it is not possible to arrange a terrace on the site on the south side of the house, then you can build an external terrace in any other suitable place. To do this, a pergola is built over the platform, tables, chairs, and other pieces of furniture are placed.
Types of patios at a summer cottage
There are several types of patios that can be created in the courtyard of a private home.
- Classical. This option is often arranged close to home. It happens that one of the sides of the recreation area is adjacent to the house. There are two exits to such a space: from the house and from the yard. Traditionally, the design is U-shaped.
- Patio plus barbecue. An original recreation area that will allow you to fry meat or barbecue in the fresh air without leaving the feast. Usually the fireplace itself in the patio is installed in the side part, and furniture is placed around it at some distance for safety purposes.
- Not far from the pond. If the yard is equipped with a small artificial reservoir: a pond with a nearby rock garden, then the patio area can be arranged here. Pleasant design will make you relax while relaxing. But here it is important to plan the space correctly. The pond should not be the main focus.
- Patio with fireplace. One of the stylish options for decorating an outdoor recreation area. The area with a stone fireplace looks gorgeous. But, its design will be expensive. Therefore, you can supply a metal artificial analogue. You can buy it ready-made at a hardware store.
- Patio by the pool. This design can be found in rich houses. The relaxation area can be located in the side of the pool, and sun loungers and wicker tables are used as furniture.
- Round. This type involves installing furniture in a circle, in the center of which there is a table or a frame made of decorative stone, in which you can then build a fire.
Irregularly shaped patio on the local area Source sdelai-lestnicu.ru
On a note! A patio with a fireplace is considered the most popular. But, when designing this, you need to take into account the fact that the area should be not only beautiful and functional, but also safe.
Patio under a canopy with a barbecue Source derevo-s.ru
Plants in a Mediterranean style garden
Of course, plants of southern latitudes do not tolerate our cold weather well, but fortunately, the main elements of the Mediterranean garden are potted and tub plants, while perennials growing in open areas are given a supporting role. Heat-loving plants in pots will perfectly decorate the garden area, and with the onset of cold weather they are simply moved indoors. Therefore, myrtle, evergreen citrus fruits and luxurious palm trees with vines can decorate the garden in warm weather.
There is another method of growing heat-loving crops in our latitudes. To do this, you need to plant plants near a stone niche, which will collect heat during the day in order to warm the plants at night. In such a niche you can plant, for example, yucca, and in open areas sedum, milkweed, and catnip will take root, and although all these plants come from our area, they have a certain southern flavor. A few tropical plants in pots placed nearby will enhance the southern atmosphere.
A collection of southern plants in tubs, of course, will greatly decorate a Mediterranean garden, but if you don’t have such plants, you can replace them with annual crops and herbs planted in pots; their bright flowering will make the color scheme of the garden area even more juicy.
Slender cypresses and coniferous pine trees usually grow in open ground in European gardens. If the climate of the area turns out to be unsuitable for these plants, then you can try to find a replacement for them. Thuja, Lawson cypress, and juniper are perfect. Skillful trimming of these plants can work wonders. Shrubs you can use are jasmine and tamarix. And if we talk about perennial plants for the Mediterranean garden, then we must definitely mention sage, santolina, lavender, various types of ornamental and herbs.
Features of the landscapes of Mediterranean resorts
However, in areas with a temperate climate, not every Mediterranean plant is able to survive and delight others with its unusual beauty.
But there is a way out. A warm coastal atmosphere can be created by using potted Mediterranean plants such as miniature roses or geraniums in your landscape design. Citrus fruits and palm trees in containers will certainly delight vacationers, but in the design it is impossible to do without:
- decorative artificial stones;
- natural boulders, distinguished by their original shape and unusual shade;
- various types of sea pebbles and marble chips.
For a Mediterranean-style landscape, you can choose not heat-loving cypresses, but columnar thujas and junipers. To decorate the site, you can use combinations of decorative elements reminiscent of the art of Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece. All kinds of terraces, stylishly decorated walls and stairs have become widespread. This bright and warm garden will certainly appeal to those who are in the mood for relaxation and enjoyment.
Landscape design trends (video)
The most typical and indispensable object of the garden is a fountain; ideally, it should be made in the style of Roman street fountains, decorated with lion heads, or look like a round bowl standing on a long stem. But don’t limit your imagination; fountains with different designs will also fit perfectly into a Mediterranean garden. The fountain should be surrounded by a potted garden, preferably of herbs and plants in purple and blue tones, easily swaying at the slightest breath. For large fountain forms with several levels, a frame of hanging plants is suitable, which, just like the jets of a fountain, will move from level to level. Large fountains are best placed on terraces, where they will look more impressive.
When creating a Mediterranean garden, pay special attention to detail. All of them must be designed in a certain style, correspond to the overall design and emphasize the southern flavor of the composition. At the same time, you should not be afraid to overdo it with their number; the more there are, the more interesting a walk through the garden will be and the more pleasant discoveries you can make in it.
Mediterranean verandas
Verandas are rooms attached to low-rise buildings; on the south coast they are usually open. Glazed options are also found, but they are used in the construction of residential high-rise buildings. They are not heated and are equipped with protective devices from the bright rays of the sun. A photo of a Mediterranean-style veranda can be seen below.
Semi-open or fully glazed gazebos, which are also considered verandas, are often installed on a personal plot. Their walls are traditionally decorated with wall pots with hanging plants planted in them: begonia, nasturtium or lobelia.
You can plant honeysuckle honeysuckle next to the veranda. The shoots of this woody vine can grow up to 6 m. For about three weeks at the beginning of summer, it will delight everyone with fragrant blooms.
In order to achieve maximum compliance with the Mediterranean style in landscape design, you need to “fence yourself off” from temperate trees growing nearby or nearby. So that they are not so conspicuous and do not destroy the created harmony, you need to install high trellises entwined with vines near them. Vintage grapes or hops—common or yellow-leaved—look especially beautiful as a natural decoration.
Mediterranean style in the garden (20 photos)
Choosing a style
You can choose the style for an outdoor recreation area based on the external design of the courtyard. But, most often they try to give preference to the following exterior directions.
Mediterranean
Fresh and popular design. It relaxes you during rest, allows you to calm down and collect your thoughts. Characteristic features: the use of a large amount of white and wooden attributes. For this direction, the use of objects made from birch is encouraged. Garden accessories with soft shades will successfully highlight this setting. Dark and light green striped pillows will serve as an accent.
Patio area near the house with Mediterranean interior style Source potolok42.ru
English
Slightly pretentious, but attractive. The main feature is strict symmetry and unification with harmony and tranquility. For decoration, muted tones are often used, without any special accents. It is mandatory for such an area to have a flooring made of tiled or porcelain tiles. The furniture should be of good quality and massive, but at the same time convenient for movement by hand. Forged chairs and fittings for other furniture will also come in handy. If there is a fireplace, then its grille can also be made of elegant metal rods.
Organization of a patio in the English interior style Source valti.ru
Art Deco
This direction requires a lot of space, as massive wooden furniture with spectacular lush pillows should be used here. An abundance of geometric shapes is welcome: squares, triangles, straight lines. No asymmetry is allowed. They try to use purely contrasting shades so that they stand out against the background of the rest of the landscape design. Bronze, chocolate, and crimson shades will look beautiful.
Patio inside an Art Deco house Source italianskaia-mebel.ru
Provence
In this design, simplicity must be in contact with naivety. It should be borne in mind that grace cannot be excluded. Wooden beams and painted furniture will look gorgeous in such a patio. The set can be metal or wicker. Nearby it would be a good idea to arrange a flower bed with small wildflowers. As for shades, it is preferable to use options from a light palette: beige, straw, cream, coffee, milk. These will harmonize with brick, yellow, and blue. The latter will become a spectacular accent.
Organizing a patio on the veranda of a house in Provence style Source purplesmarttv.com
Japanese
It is considered minimalistic and quite cozy. In this style, the use of curved and wavy lines is not acceptable. Only strict geometry is acceptable. As an exception, only paths are used, since they are allowed to be constructed in any form. The main materials for landscaping are bamboo, natural wood, and stone. The same raw material is welcome for laying paths. A Japanese-style patio can be complemented with an imitation of a pond or stream, which is built of stones. You can add elegant flowerpots to the area. If there is a wall nearby, then you can focus attention on it with the help of a thematic painting.
Japanese-style patio, organized in the courtyard of a private house Source nasha-besedka.ru
Loft
The distinctive features of this direction in the exterior are the absence of a large amount of decor. A brick wall and bare, unfinished surfaces are required. The use of shabby or artificially aged furniture is encouraged. Installation of a modern set is allowed, but it must be in harmony with the industrial design. The colors of the loft-style patio are only dark, barely pronounced. It is advisable to lay the floor with stone or brick. The designated area is not strongly forced; openness and ventilation are encouraged here.
Mauritanian
The main feature in this direction is the use of decorative mosaic or pixel tiles. This design option is ideal for places in the open sun. Patterns and all kinds of ornaments will sparkle and stand out against the general background of the yard. The use of artificial and natural compositions (with the help of small perennials) is encouraged. Low, non-massive sofas will help complete the look of the patio, and stained glass windows and columns with a spectacular colorful design will complement the chosen style.
How to choose plants
In most cases, the limiting factor when creating a Mediterranean style of landscape design on our sites is the difference in climatic conditions. Most trees and heat-loving shrubs thrive in hot summers, but can only withstand mild winters. Therefore, they simply do not take root in our very harsh climate conditions.
However, not only palm trees, but also other plants can bring a little southern flavor and charm to the garden. By the way, the same palm trees can be grown using the container principle, bringing them indoors for the winter. But magnolia, boxwood and viburnum feel great in our climate and fit well into the Mediterranean style.
An excellent way out of the situation would be to place flowering flower beds planted with perennials and roses throughout the area. And at the foot of the trees, herbs such as chicory, mint, lemon balm, steppe onion and sage are perfect places.
Olive or silver oleagin has attractive small foliage and is known for its fragrant flowers that literally dot the branches. In addition, this tree allows you to taste the sweet-tasting olives. A smart solution would also be to plant magnolia, periwinkle, and cotoneaster on the site. Cypresses, which require heat, can be perfectly replaced with columnar thujas and junipers. And to emphasize the Mediterranean atmosphere, plants of blue, purple, orange and red colors can be used, planted in small groups.
It is impossible to imagine a Mediterranean-style garden without vines. These plants are an excellent decoration for gazebos, pergolas, and canopies. You can replace southern analogues with clematis, honeysuckle, and maiden grapes. And to create a topiary on the site, instead of cypresses and hollies, you can use barberry, spirea, and privet, which can also be trimmed to create fancy living decorations.
