If you are a big fan of nature or a keen hiker, you might like the idea of designing a woodland garden to mimic a forest. It’s an informal landscape with trees, shrubs and layered planting that supports wildlife. Such a garden provides a lot of privacy creating your personal zen escape, and here are some ideas to make one.
Plan Your Garden
Consider the conditions you have: light, soil and drainage. A woodland garden typically receives dappled shade or partial sun, so consider what light and how much of it your garden will get during different seasons. Make note of any microclimates that will affect growing conditions.
Draw a rough sketch. Include areas for pathways, hardscape and seating.
The lush forest garden is done with greenery and grasses, with some blue flowers and trees, and though it's a townhouse garden, it looks natural.
Moss as a groundcover is a perfect idea for a forest garden, add ferns and rocks to create a path.
The garden is done with greenery, moss, driftwood, stumps and rocks. The path is made of pebbles.
This soothing space is done with greenery and moss, the pond looks very natural and adds a relaxing feel.
This garden is forest-like, with moss covered rocks, greenery, trees and a bowl with water.
This mossy log is covered with greenery and surrounded with ferns and it can be a cool solution for a forest garden.
The moss covered branch, greenery and ferns make up a cool combo in the garden.
This lush space shows off various kinds of greenery, moss and some flowers.
Pick The Plants
Make a list of plants native to your region, and include a mix of trees, ornamental grasses, shrubs, perennials, ground covers, and bulbs. Non-natives can be included as well if you know that they will survive in these conditions. Include shade-tolerant trees, shrubs, perennials, and ground covers. Hosta, ferns, silver birch, foxglove, astilbe, anemone, primrose, hedera, spleenworts, honeysuckle, dogwood and many other plants are welcome in your woodland-style space.
Pair up ferns and wildflowers to create a lovely garden look with a woodland feel.
Greenery, wildflowers, ferns and a delicate tree make up a beautiful natural landscape.
This lush and natural landscape shows off several layers of planting, blooms and tall grasses and shade created with trees.
Simple flowers, wildflowers will refresh the greenery in your forest scape.
This forest landscape looks turly magical thanks to the light going through the tree branches.
The forest-like garden shows off greenery, purple blooms and some trees. The path is composed of stones for a natural look.
Plant The Garden
A small garden can welcome one or two primary trees and that’s enough. Plant perennials and bulbs under them. Include garden layers: canopy, understory, shrub layer, and ground cover plants for a tapestry of color. Include a mix of trees, flowering shrubs, perennials, and bulbs. Place plants at irregular intervals so the landscape doesn’t appear too symmetrical.
Keep the planting simple, especially in smaller spaces. Feature a few key plants and repeat them throughout the yard to unify the landscape. A design that is too busy will detract from the serene ambiance.
This forest-like garden shows off tall and smaller trees, greenery and bold green plants with eye-catchy leaves.
This lush forest landscape includes not only greenery and ferns but also white and purple blooms that refresh the planting.
Greenery, grasses, ferns are basics for a woodland garden, they will create layered planting.
The woodland garden is done with greenery, ferns, delicate trees that are seen from the dining space.
The staircase is surrounded with ferns and hostas. The corner bench is also accented with ferns to make it more cohesive-looking.
This forest landscape is done with grasses, ferns, blooms and a bit of driftwood.
This shady space is a turly forest-like landscape with greenery, ferns, astilbe and tall trees. Rocks, moss and sand add to the style.
Design Smartly
Select a muted color palette not only for plants you choose but also for furnishings and accessories that blend with the surroundings. Get rustic weathered furniture, stumps and twig pieces to support the chosen style.
Add fragrant plants, a water feature that provides the soothing sound of trickling water (better something informal like a pond, a stream or a lake), and provide a hospitable environment to attract songbirds with their cheerful calls, so you will feel like in real nature and support the wildlife.
Use river pebbles and boulders rather than pavers or bricks and outline paths with rocks or logs. Allow wooden fences and gates to fade for a weathered look. Include a pond, bubbler, or birdbath rather than a formal style fountain.
Create retreats by placing seating areas at inviting spots such as underneath a shade tree, next to a pond, or near a favorite scented plant.
The rock steps are highlighted with ferns to add to the forest-like landscape.
The rock staircase is accented with ferns and a bit of greenery to make it look as natural as possible.
This woodland-style garden is done with only ferns and stone for the path. A couple of large trees adds vertical interest.
This a forest garden with greenery, just a bit of bright wildflowers and birch trees. The hardscaping is done with sand.
Vary the landscape adding a bowl with water and rocks and some astilbe blooming around.
A stream is always a good idea for a forest landscape, it will harmonize the space. (via bhg).
This forest landscape is styled with various types of greenery, fern and trees. Hardscaping is done with sand and mossy rocks. (via gardensillustrated).
This catchy woodland-style garden shows off greenery, dark foliage, astilbe and looks very natural. (via plantglossary).
I love this woodland-like space dotted with flowers! The stream makes it look more natural and adds a relaxing zen feel to the space.
Maintain The Space
Apply organic mulch such as pine needles, shredded leaves or bark in newly planted areas. To suppress weeds, retain moisture, and add nutrients to the soil. Irrigate new plants regularly until established.
The woodland landscape shows off greenery, blooms and a pond clad with stone.
This forest garden features a pond with a bridge over it, lots of native plants for the area and tall trees.
This lovely textural garden shows off various types of shrubs, trees and paths done with gravel. No blooms here but a very natural result.
This bold landscape is done with greenery, ferns and pink blooms. Though the hardscaping isn't natural, the planting looks very natural.
This lush textural landscape is dotted with little blooms, and its shady look soothes at once.
I totally adore the lush and textural landscape with a woodland feel: wildflowers, greenery and ferns compose a fantastic space.
Green and fern plus some blooms are planted in the shade of a large tree.
This forest garden is done with simple shade-loving plants and blooms, rocks and trees. Add a water feature and voila, perfection is done.
This lush greenery is part of a woodland garden with lights and a moss covered old tree.