The Basics of the French Formal Garden
The French Formal Garden has been the benchmark of garden elegance since the heyday of the Versailles. It has a distinct look and feel that exudes class and Old World charm, and is very distinct from the likes of Italian and British landscape design.
In the U.S., the French Formal Garden is a rarity due to how complex it is to establish the perfect look. Read on as PJ Sullivan Construction, your local home improvement contractor, discusses the basics of the French Formal Garden design.
Design Basics
When it comes to this garden design, symmetry and order are at its heart. The thing about many “classic” gardens is that they are meant to be viewed from a distance. As such, form and overall design play a key role in establishing its distinct look.
As a general rule, the French Formal Garden is meant to highlight the centerpiece of your property—your house. Many gardens that incorporate this design have cooler color palettes, with an emphasis on whites, greens, blues and purples as these colors make a good contrast with the house.
Other elements you need to establish in your garden are stucco walls, stonework and some lavender. You don’t have to go all out on the lavender, though; you can think of it as a floral accent that will contrast with the majority of greens and whites in the garden.
Garden Order
The courtyard is the centerpiece of the French Formal Garden and must adhere to strict geometric shapes and lines to establish order and symmetry. These extend to the plants and landscaping, such as neatly trimmed hedges and shrubs with a monochromatic color scheme for the ground and paving.
As your local contractors, we highly recommend you focus more on the ground and gravel work if you’re just starting your French Formal Garden. This will serve as a guide for the more complex additions, such as establishing the center of the courtyard itself.
Geometric Plant Beds
Continuing with the emphasis on geometry, make sure the garden beds follow strict geometric shapes as well. This actually quite simple as you only need to keep them within squares or rectangles. You can further enhance their geometric look by creating a hedge around the beds or lining them with eye-catching stone or gravel work.
As one of your top local home addition companies, PJ Sullivan Construction will help you with your upcoming garden and landscaping project. New Jersey homeowners may reach us at (862) 420-9283. We are a home improvement contractor in Bergen County and Wyckoff, NJ.