A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment of nature. The garden can incorporate both natural and man-made materials. The most common form is known as a residential garden.
Gardening is the activity of growing and maintaining the garden. This work is done by an amateur or professional gardener. A gardener might also work in a non-garden setting, such as a park, a roadside embankment, or other public space.
Relating to the garden
A garden can have many purposes— aesthetic, functional and recreative. People develop a relationship with the space. That relationship can take many forms; among these are:
- Cooperation with nature
- Observance of nature
- Relaxation
- Family dinners on the terrace
- Children playing in the yard
- Reading in the hammock
- Maintaining the flowerbeds
- Pottering in the shed
- Basking in warm sunshine
Other similar spaces
Other outdoor spaces that are similar to gardens include:
- A landscape is an outdoor natural space of a larger scale, often considered from a distance.
- A park is a planned outdoor space, usually of a larger size, often for public use.
- An arboretum is a planned outdoor space, usually large, for the display and study of trees.
- A farm or orchard is for the production of food stuff.
- A botanical garden is a type of garden where a wide variety of plants are grown both for scientific purposes and for the enjoyment and education of visitors.
- A zoological garden, or zoo for short, is a place where wild animals are cared for and exhibited to the public.
Garden planning and design
Garden planning and garden design may be undertaken by a professional. A landscape architect is a trained, certified and registered professional who can plan and realise outdoor spaces. A garden designer is usually trained to plan and realise residential gardens.
The planner must give consideration to many factors:
- Purpose
- Existing conditions
- Financial constraints
- Maintenance implications
Elements of a garden
The elements of a garden consist of natural conditions and materials, as well as man-made elements:
Natural conditions and materials:
Man-made elements:
Types of gardens
Gardens may feature a particular plant or plant type:
Gardens may feature a particular style or aesthetic:
Gardens may function in a particular manner:
History of gardens
See history of gardens page.
Gardens in literature
See also
