Square gardens need not come across as unimaginative, stiff, or plain. The perfect square shape can provide a fantastic outline for accentuating symmetry and style. As many modern-day properties, particularly those in developed regions, have allotted square-shaped spaces as backyards, gardeners may find themselves wishing to incorporate more curves, organic forms, and movement in their design. If you’re in need of some inspiration for creating a beautifully balanced square garden, browse through the ideas below.
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Create a detailed garden plan with designated zones for walkways and planted plots. This may have a multi-dimensional finish incorporating various shapes and natural elements. Keep in mind that square gardens don’t have to be boring! They can be as whimsical and vibrant as you wish them to be.
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A central, turfed space for outdoor gatherings and for playing with kids and pets. If you’re working with a budget, this design is great as plants can be restricted to the garden’s borders. Depending on your capacity for maintenance, either natural or artificial turf can be used.
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Establish rough zones for seating, plots of ornamentals and herbs, garden décor, and walking paths. If you wish to quickly fill out a square garden, you need not maintain clear-cut zones. Embrace the charm of a messy finish by growing plants that pour out of each zone’s boundaries.
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More squares and rectangles to highlight the well-defined look of straight lines. Natural materials, like bricks or stones, can be used to separate one plot from another. This design is ideal if you’re after maximizing space for crops.
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Draw attention away from the borders by adding arches. These can work as standalone features or as a series of fun archways that double as supporting structures for trailing plants.
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Use curves instead of straight lines as clear boundaries for plots of bordering plants. These can provide the illusion that the garden isn’t quite square-shaped at all! They also draw attention, giving the eye a winding path to follow as it surveys the garden.
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Harness both the visual and functional appeal of wildflower diversity to add vertical dimension to central or bordering plots. The varied heights, bloom colors, and leaf forms of multiple species should effectively naturalize any open space.
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An irregularly-shaped pond, tucked along one edge or side of the square, should help soften the garden’s appearance. A bean, teardrop, or semi-circle shape could do the trick!
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Winding stone paths for balance and character. To invite guests to walk through them, these can be bordered with the most vibrant stands of flowering plants. If you have ample time for gardening and would like to explore the growth needs and varied forms of many plants, opt for annual cultivars!
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Include oriental elements to achieve a Zen-like finish. A simple bridge, stone pagoda, neatly pruned bushes, and miniature trees can truly set a square garden apart, making it seem like an escape from the pressures of city life.
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Use symmetry to add visual appeal. Apart from being relaxing to the eye, symmetrical shapes and forms can simplify the design and plant selection process. These are also perfect for square-shaped gardens as they are a clever way to aesthetically fill out spaces.
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Decorate straight walls with arching vines, rounded sculptures, and semi-circular fountains. These should break straight lines and add nuanced complexity to your garden’s perimeter.
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A round, multi-leveled fountain as a central focal point can help lower summer temperatures and provide auditory relaxation in square gardens. Create a symmetrical design around one to intentionally highlight the garden’s shape.
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For a more unusual square garden centerpiece, consider adding a sunken space. The steps and perimeter of the sunken space can either be aligned with the edges of the garden or be oriented at an angle.
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A low maze can be a great way to add structure and tell a story. This may fill out the entire garden or, if the space is too large, be tucked into a corner. Use your creativity to design the center of the maze.
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Circular plots look great in either square or rectangular-shaped gardens because they help balance out their overall appearance. To maximize space, these can be surrounded by plots having both mixed and straight edges.
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Place no limits on the shapes and forms of your pruned bushes! Both rounded and straight lines, along vertical and horizontal planes, should complement the boundaries of a square garden.
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Add an assortment of playful garden lights to bring life to a square garden at night. These can be used to draw attention to straight lines, to highlight the curves of topiary bushes, or to add charm to a deciduous tree’s bare branches.
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Multiple levels and walled archways can break square gardens into smaller sections. These can also be used to break the garden into two rectangular-shaped open areas. Naturalize partitions with lianas, ivy, and pots of seasonal blooms.
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A circular patio in the center or along one side of the garden can serve as an outdoor lounge area. The rounded perimeter should pleasantly contrast the straight lines of a square garden’s fence or walls.
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Construct a pie-shaped patio or platform in one corner of a square garden. Tucked into the corner, this takes up minimal space and, if elevated, can be a great viewpoint from which to look upon the rest of the garden.
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Don’t forget to give some love to your square garden’s walls! A simple fountain, mounted sculptural elements, and wall lights would be enough to add some much-needed character. Try to stick to a singular theme when decorating your walls or fences.
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Functional décor, especially in the form of seating, goes a long way in gardens of all shapes and sizes. In square gardens, chairs and benches with curving backrests complement the straight lines of the perimeter. Place these in partly shaded spaces, where visitors can enjoy garden views in comfort.
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Partitions and screens need not extend across the whole length of a square garden. Adding a simple screen that juts into about a third to ½ of the garden’s length should be enough to add complexity to the overall shape.
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If you could regularly go for a refreshing dip, consider placing an irregularly-shaped pool in the center of the garden! You simply can’t go wrong with a focal point like this one. A bean-shaped, circular, or wave-edged pool should have friends and family members wanting to visit your square garden time and time again.
Final Thoughts
Square gardens are fantastic for exploring shapes, vertical elements, hedge and bush shapes, and more! Contrasting forms should help draw attention and add balance to certain parts of the garden. For best results, aim for a well-planned garden design. This involves sketching up parts of the square garden and determining how best to maximize your space before constructing or planting its major elements.
