Choosing between eco-style and naturgarden, some come to a dead end. They seem to be absolutely identical and are defined by the same principles. In fact, both names mean the same style and are applicable to a natural garden, which recreates the natural forest and field conditions of flora and fauna.
Nature is an outstanding landscape designer! This idea is the main leitmotif in the Naturgarden style. A forest, meadow or savannah can become the prototype of an eco-garden with its own characteristics.
The main characteristics of the natural style:
- Conservation of the natural landscape.
- Natural design. Human intervention should not be felt.
- Creation or use of natural bodies of water that contain fish and other aquatic life.
- Lawns with wildflowers or meadow grass.
- If possible, refusal of any fences. If they are still needed, then it is better to use hedges.
- Driftwood, felled old trees and rotten stumps as decoration.
- Smooth merging of garden zones, of which there may be several, with each other without clear boundaries.
- Feeders for birds and small forest dwellers (squirrels and chipmunks) if they live nearby.
- Blocks of stones around which flowers and herbs grow.
Eco-style in landscape design is complemented by small architectural forms made of natural materials. Rough wooden furniture – sturdy tables, plank benches and wicker seats – will look good in the utility area. Sheds and gazebos, entwined with weaving plants or covered with thin branches, are indispensable in recreation areas.
Garden paths are lined with saw cut trees, sprinkled with bark or gravel. Bridges over a gaily murmuring stream or a small lake are made of branches, planks and logs. In the barbecue area, a brazier or fireplace is laid out of stones to simulate a halt in nature.
Decorating the site, you can create alpine slides with snags and plants living on rocky soil. Wooden sculptures will fit well into the landscape. Wooden swings and hammocks in the recreation area will also look organic in a natural eco-style.
Eco-garden buildings are usually made of wood or stone, and their walls are covered with vegetation. Often, vertical gardening from climbing plants is used for these purposes. Ivy, girlish grapes, bindweed and lianas look spectacular on the walls of the house, gazebo and other structures. Sometimes a thin layer of earth is poured onto the roof of the sheds and mosses and low grass are planted in it.
Of course, all kinds of plants are the main decoration of the landscape in the naturgarden style. These can be coniferous and deciduous trees, shrubs, ferns, flowers and meadow grasses.
For landscape decoration, it is better to choose local plants. For example, in our climatic zone, birches, rowans, oaks, maples, aspens, lindens, hazels, junipers, wild grapes, spruces and pines look especially good in natural gardens.
Fruit and berry crops such as gooseberries, currants, raspberries or honeysuckle can also be placed in the eco-garden, and fragrant wild strawberries can be planted in a mini-garden.
Tall astilbes, ferns of various types, bells, daisies, daisies, lupins, buttercups and cereals are especially popular among perennial flowers and plants. Valerian, sage, oregano, plantain, St. John’s wort and mint and many other medicinal herbs are also frequent guests in eco-gardens.
The landscape natural style is suitable for almost any relief, since there is no need to level the terrain and clean it from snags, stumps and boulders. Primordial gullies and reservoirs will harmoniously fit into the eco-garden, bringing its owner peace and tranquility from closeness to nature.
