Gardening through the ages (2024)

Gardening is a hugely popular pastime, with millions of green-fingered people across the globe cultivating plants every day. But who do we have to thank for this hot horticultural hobby?Andy Baxter, managing director of Internet Gardener, takes us through the history of gardening and how to recreate historical styles, from ancient Egypt to the present day.

The history of gardening

Ancient gardening:

The first form of cultivation was forest gardening, a method of food production which involved growing fruit and nut trees, shrubs and herbs in a manner resembling a forest. As civilisations developed, wealthier sections of society began to create gardens for aesthetic purposes.

For example, ancient Egyptians often planted sycamores, fir trees and date palms in rows edged by walls to please their deities, while ancient Romans focussed on vines and hedges as well as ornamental flowers like poppies and roses.

If you would like to bring ancient style to your garden, consider growing plants such as date palms or olive trees. While these plants often require hotter climates, some varieties thrive in the UK, such as the Phoenix canariensis date palm or theArbequina olive tree.

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Medieval gardening:

The art of gardening became rather more practical during the medieval period after the fall of the Roman Empire.

A typical garden of the period was the kitchen garden.These structural gardens were found in monasteries and designed for growing vegetables and medicinal herbs. Did you know that monks created a plaster for wounds by mixing the peel of a poppy stalk with honey? Gardening was primarily a way to sustain their lifestyle, yet it was also a place for relaxation and reflection – much like gardens today.

Anyone inspired to design their garden after these medieval monks should start by planting their own herbs. Basil, chives and mint are versatile herbs that can be used in cooking or for herbal remedies. Bear in mind that high levels of sunlight are important for good herb flavour, so ensure your herbs are not covered by shade and your soil is well drained. Plagues, swords and damsels in distress not required.

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Renaissance gardening:

It wasn’t just art, literature and architecture that experienced a rebirth from the 14th century, gardening also underwent a significant transformation. Wealthy people filled their gardens with beautiful sculptures and fountains, creating spaces designed to amaze and inspire.

The later renaissance period saw gardens become increasingly symmetrical, with geometric planting beds and carefully designed hedgerows. The style became so popular it inspired later gardening movements across Europe, including the labyrinths of the French Renaissance and even the English garden.

For a Renaissance style garden, incorporate symmetry wherever possible. For example, plant some mirror image shrubs or pairs of plants along the side of your garden. You could even buy matching hanging baskets and fill them with your favourite flowers. The more opulent the better!

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18th-century gardening:

The quintessential garden of the 18th century was the English Landscape Garden, a style known for its rolling lawns, tree groves and expansive lakes. The English Landscape Garden was the epitome of class and affluence in 18th-century Europe and people from around the world marvelled at the beauty of Chiswick House and Stourhead.

These gardens were often filled with fragrant rose bushes, large hedges and recreated Gothic ruins and bridges. One of the most influential gardening enthusiasts of the time was Lancelot “Capability” Brown, an English landscape architect famous for creating idyllic landscapes through the incorporation of artificial lakes and rivers.

To recreate an English Landscape Garden on your land, try beautiful water features and a wide variety of flowers, such as roses and lavender, to mimic the natural beauty of the countryside.

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Present day gardening:

Gardening has undergone continual development through history, incorporating new styles with each new generation of horticulture-enthusiasts. The current era is no exception, with modern gardeners generally opting for an absence of symmetry, preferring free-flowing spaces instead.

Today’s gardeners are inspired by a wide range of Western and Eastern styles, meaning that no two gardens are the same. Yet no matter how unique a garden may be, there are always the ghosts of gardening styles from days gone by.

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Gardening has an extremely rich history, and it is exciting to wonder what future developments will be now tech has planted its roots in our green spaces.

For more information on the Internet Gardener, click here.

Click here to read the first in our series of Great Gardening Women. We kick off with Gertrude Jekyll.

Gardening through the ages (2024)

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