Prices, Promotions, styles, and availability may vary. Our local stores do not honor online pricing. Prices and availability of products and services are subject to change without notice. Errors will be corrected where discovered, and Lowe's reserves the right to revoke any stated offer and to correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions including after an order has been submitted.

Create an English-Style Garden

Valerie Albarda

By Valerie Albarda
Updated May 7, 2024

Is your outdoor space ready for a face-lift? Transform your backyard into an inviting garden retreat with an English garden.

Tools and Materials

Note

Product costs, availability and item numbers may vary online or by market.

English Gardens

An English garden with 4 raised garden beds and a fountain.

Formal English gardens have been around for centuries and often include signature details, such as straight lines, organized flower beds and a place to sit and enjoy it all.

Whether big or small, installing an English garden requires planning along with a bit of a green thumb to do it right. 

The first thing you need to do is pick a location for your garden. English gardens tend to have a lot of sun-friendly plants, so choose a place that gets a lot of sun.

Caution

Before starting any outdoor project that requires digging, call 811 to have underground utilities marked so you can plan around them.

Designing Your Garden

English gardens typically feature boxy, manicured hedges. However, you can get the same look, with less maintenance, with raised garden beds. When drawing your plan, use straight lines and symmetry to guide your design. Install a picket fence around the perimeter to help keep the area defined.

Another signature feature of English gardens is a focal point — either a water feature or a sitting area. Since English gardens are designed to be spaces you walk through and spend time in, include a garden path to enhance your plan. You can use grass for walkways, but that means you’ll need to mow it. For less maintenance, try a natural crushed stone or gravel path, and finish the design with lots of plants.

Instructions

Raised Garden Beds

Raised beds are great because you can fill them with soil that’s probably going to be better for your plants than what’s already in the ground.

Instructions

Building a Fence

A wooden picket fence helps define your garden area. Let’s look at installing a fence using fence panels.

Tip

Building a fence may require a permit so be sure to check with your town’s licensing division.

Instructions

Walkways, Landscape Edging and Gravel

Another component of an English garden is the walkway. The walkway provides access to and through the garden and can be both functional and welcoming.

Instructions

Adding Plants

Now that you have all the gravel in place, it's time to personalize your English garden with colorful plants.

Instructions

Spreading Mulch

Most English garden-friendly plants are meant to fill in over time. However, with new plantings, you’ll want to spread mulch over the soil to lock in moisture and nutrients. Mulch that’s heavily ground will look and perform best.

Instructions