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Home » Gardening Information » Kitchen Gardening

Formal Designs

Formal gardens favor symmetry and straight lines: they usually have a clearly determined central axis or a focal point around which forms and elements are arranged. They achieve symmetrical balance with mirror-like plantings on either side of the axis or around the center, which might contain a small tree, fountain, sculpture, or sundial. The beds usually have class="border"rs made up of tightly clipped plants like boxwood, thyme, or other sub-shrubs. Within the beds, plants are often set in rows or geometric patterns, or dozens of the same plant are installed together creating a carpet effect. Perimeters and walkways are usually laid with brick or other paving materials, making a formal garden a rather expensive proposition.

The classic four-square mentioned above is one of the most common formal herb garden designs. Even more elaborate is the knot garden, a formal design in which plants are arranged to give the illusion that they are woven into knot patterns. Herbs that have naturally rounded shapes or are easily pruned, such as santolina, lavender, thyme, and germander, lend themselves to this design. They are also useful as class="border"rs in small beds, as in the classic parterre associated with palace pleasure gardens, a geometric arrangement of gardens separated by a pattern of walks or grass.

Knot gardens are beautiful and traditional, but they are high-maintenance endeavors and should not be undertaken lightly, as the plants require constant pruning. This is a particular problem in the South, where long, hot summers trigger many plants to take a nap. If woody, shrub-like herbs are hard-pruned when they are dormant in hot weather, they will not sprout new growth and may die. If you garden in the South, choose plants-preferably evergreens-that tolerate light pruning in hot weather. These include boxwood, holly, and other small-leafed, woody landscape plants. Alternately, consider using annuals such as basil or biennial parsley for class="border"rs or knot designs, and replace them at the end of their life cycle.

Knot gardens can include a focal point such as a sundial or sculpture, or the knot itself can be the centerpiece of a larger herb garden. The focal point of a formal herb garden should be located at the center of the design. Try using a small herbal "tree" or standard such as sassafras, vitex, or witch hazel, or a large shrub rose, surrounded by lower-growing herbs of varying flower and foliage color. You can fill in the pattern with other plants, ideally of one variety, or you can cover the ground with gravel in different colors for contrast.

A Four-square Design & Plant List

The basic four-square, the most common formal herb garden design, is easy to maintain and readily adapted to garden spaces of any size. In the design shown above, the squares (each measuring nine feet by nine feet) are planted with herbs from four culinary regions: Western Europe, Asia, southwestern U.S. and Mexico, and Mediterranean. The number of plants you need for each bed depends on the size that you make your garden. Use seasonal annuals to fill in around slower growing perennials. If you live in an area of extreme winter cold or summer heat, consult a local authority, such as your Cooperative Extension office, about varieties suitable for your climate. In warm regions, alternate cool-weather loving herbs with those that like long hot, summers.

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