This woodland garden uses rocks and native shade plants to give the illusion of a cooler climate.

A woodland garden is easy to design if you live in or near a forest. This will be an easy garden style that will be easy care and low maintenance since your soil and climate will be ideal to support woodland growth. If you live elsewhere, you can still create a woodland landscape while staying in harmony with your ecology. Use some design techniques and plan your garden carefully.

Start by researching plants that grow well in your local climate but have a similar look to those that grow in forests. If you have shade this will probably be easy. There are many versatile plants that will give you the kind of effects you want like ferns, Hostas, Hydrangeas and many other adaptable plants that have the woodland look but will tolerate a wider range of growing conditions. In full sun there are still choices but you will have to select with a bit more care. There are, for example, varieties of the common forest Columbine that will handle sunshine.

A woodland garden is not dependent on plants only. You can create the forest feel with non-living materials too. Wood and stone are basic elements in the forest. Use them in your landscape. Stone retaining walls, flagstone patios and well placed rocks or boulders as focal points can be effective elements in a woodland garden. Recycle tree trunks or stumps that are salvaged elsewhere and turn them into seating, pedestals, slice them for stepping stones or build structures with rough-hewn wood. Build fences with stacked stone or use slabs of stone for flooring.

Create your own shade by planting trees that grow well in your climate. Where you plant gardens, set plants closely to look lush and use bark and wood chips as mulch. With careful design you can build your own woodland garden even if you don’t live near a forested area.

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