What Makes A Water Gardens Classical?
A classical water garden looks very beautiful and mature. Its design style is based on Greek and Roman palace gardens. The classical water garden can be seen in the homes of Lords in England. Gardens with symmetrical spaces on either side of central walks, formal ponds and wall mask fountains are all based on the idea of classical water gardens.
Design components of the classical water garden
The pond in a classical water garden is positioned right on the center line and all other things are mirror-imaged and symmetrical to the pond. The design components such us urns, containers and statuary all originate from ancient Greece and Rome.
Is this style suitable for my water garden?
*****The main view point in a classical water garden is the pond and you look at its center line. The perfect position for this water garden pattern is one that slopes gently up or down from the back of the house. The idea is to force you to focus your eyes on the pond when you enter the garden.
Design guidelines for success...
- take a look at classical gardens in grand country houses - from magazines, travel brochures and photos that show 18th and 19th century gardens in places such as Italy, Spain, France and England.
- The position must be enclosed with high walls or high clipped hedges.
- Select the position you want to have as the main viewpoint (for example a patio behind the house) and have the center line running off from this point
- Flower beds, containers, pots and statues need to be mirror-imaged along the side
- Use Buxus (box) hedges, Cupressus sempervirens (Italian Cypress), Laurus nobilis (Bay) in containers, Taxus baccata (Yew) and standard roses.
- Areas of lawn inset must be included with geometrical flower borders
Variations you can consider...
*****If you have a level position, then you need to shift the soil so as to create different levels.
How to build a classical water garden...
- Draw up a sketch of the design first - then make a detailed diagram taking into consideration the house, boundaries, structures and large trees. Note all drains in the area.
- Get rid of all unwanted plants
- Run a centre line from the main viewpoint
- Use bricks and a butyl linear to build a raised, split-level pond on the center line
- Fit the pump and filter in the lower level with the delivery pipe running up to the upper level
- Build a red-brick or slab patio at each end of the pond, one on the lower level next to the house and the other
- Build the steps leading up from the lower patio
- Build a brick or wooden pergola over the upper patio so that it is centered on the pond
- Create laws and flower beds
- Position features such as pillars and arrange them on one or both of the levels