What's a Sunken Garden And How To Build One
Published: 11/01/2024 | Updated: 15/01/2024
A sunken garden is a beautiful feature to add to your landscape. It can be used as an outdoor seating area or simply something interesting to look at while sitting on the porch.
In this article, we'll outline everything you need to know about creating a sunken garden of your own: from how they're different from regular gardens to how much room they take up at ground level and how deep they go underground.
What is a Sunken Garden?
A sunken garden is a garden that is built below ground level. Sunken gardens are usually filled with water features and surrounded by stones or bricks.
You can build one in any city in large yards, as long as you have access to sunlight and the right soil conditions.
There are many different types of sunken gardens, ranging from simple and modern to elaborate and ornate.
Sunken garden designs can be as simple or complex as you like, depending on your location and your taste.
Examples of Sunken Gardens
Sunken gardens are a great way to add interest to your yard or garden without spending too much money on plants or materials.
You can use them as focal points for your landscape design or as an accent piece that adds color and texture to an otherwise boring area of your yard or garden space.
Here are some examples of historical sunken gardens that you can take inspiration from:
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The Botanical Gardens at St. Petersburg near downtown St.
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The Tyrone Sunken Garden
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Park Williamsburg's Sunken Garden
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Pella's Sunken Gardens Windmill
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Highland Park (which is famous for its outdoor Amphitheater)
You can stroll along winding paths in these places, go on garden tours and take beautiful family photos. Many of these historic gems also offer special events during both the summer and winter seasons. That can be beneficial for future generations.
How is Gardening below Ground Level Different From Regular Gardening?
As a gardener, you may have wondered about the difference between above-ground gardening and sunken garden landscaping.
Above-ground gardening is easier to maintain because you don't have to worry about drainage and soil quality issues. You also don't need special tools or equipment to do it--just seeds and soil!
But if you're interested in building a sunken garden site, it might require much more work. However, several advantages come with this type of landscaping design:
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It can be used for plants that aren't suitable for above-ground gardening (for example, shade-loving flowers).
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You can grow flowers that require more water than normal because they will be able to get all the moisture they need from your underground reservoir.
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Some plants require more sun than others; by placing them at different depths within your container or planter box, you will ensure each gets sufficient light exposure throughout their lifetime.
What to Plant in a Sunken Garden?
A sunken garden is a great place to plant flowers and herbs, trees and shrubs, vegetables and fruits. You can also add grasses or ground cover plants that don't need much maintenance.
Plants that require more sunlight than normal can be planted in your sunken garden. You can also create a white or moon garden in your sunken garden bed.
Here are some examples of sun-loving plants that will work well with your sunken garden beds:
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Wormwood
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Angelface Blue Flowers
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Western Aster
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Snow-In-Summer Flowers
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Dusty Miller
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Spider Flower
What Do You Need to Build a Sunken Garden Bed?
It's important to have the right tools for the job. You'll need a shovel, rake, and fork to dig up your soil and compost.
Many different types of soils can be used in a sunken garden bed.
A good choice is a loam because it's well-drained but still retains moisture well enough to support plant growth.
You'll also need some peat moss or coco coir if you're using an existing lawn area as part of your project; this will help keep new seedlings moist while they establish themselves in their permanent home.
Finally, it wouldn't hurt to get some mulch around each plant so that its roots don't dry out too quickly once planted into place!
How to Build a Sunken Garden?
You'll want to dig a hole that is about 2 feet deep and 3 feet wide. This will allow you to fit a liner in it, which is what will hold up your soil and plants.
After you've dug out the hole, place your liner inside it and then fill it with soil until it's about 6 inches from the top of your liner.
Watering can be tricky because if you water too much or too little, then things won't grow right (or at all). The best way to avoid this issue is by watering regularly.
You can plant whatever type of plant life suits you best!
What are Popular Sunken Garden Ideas?
Here are some sunken garden landscaping ideas for you:
1. Bog Gardens
A bog garden is a type of water garden that mimics the wet, humid conditions found in bogs.
And if you're wondering what's a bog: Bogs are areas where water collects and flows slowly over topsoil and peat moss. Because these plants grow in such an environment, they need less maintenance than other plants.
You don't have to worry about them drying out because they already live in a wet environment!
Bog gardens are also great for showing off your creativity and design skills as well as being an easy way to add interest to any yard.
2. Sunken Waffle Gardens
A sunken waffle garden is a garden bed that is shaped like a waffle. It's a good idea to use a sunken waffle garden if you have a small yard and want to plant flowers or vegetables in it since it will take up less space than other types of gardens.
If you decide to build your sunken waffle garden, here are some tips:
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Make sure to leave about 2 inches between each section so that water can drain easily through the soil.
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Build up all sides with bricks or stones so weeds won't grow through them easily!
3. Planting Pools
Planting pools are a great way to add a beautiful garden feature to your yard.
They make beautiful gardens they're also great for adding a water feature to your yard. You can plant flowers, vegetables, and herbs in the planting pool!
Gardeners can also use the overflow parking of a planting pool as a water feature. You can install an in-ground pump or fountain to make the water flow from one end of the pool to another.
4. Sunken Patio Gardens
A sunken patio garden is a great way to add greenery to your patio. If you already have a patio, then all you need is some space between the edge of your existing surface and the wall of your house.
If not, then this can be done by building a new one that is sunken into the ground with an incline leading away from it so that water drains away from its edges.
The best part about sunken gardens? They require little maintenance!
The soil will hold moisture longer than regular soil without getting soggy. This allows plants in these sunken gardens to grow before they require watering again (which saves both time and water).
Patio flower gardens don't just look beautiful--they also serve as focal points on patios by providing color during the cooler months of spring and summer when most other plants aren't blooming yet!
The Design Considerations of a Sunken Garden
The design of your sunken garden is very important. It should be consistent with the overall landscape and complement other features in your yard.
It should be functional, practical, and aesthetically pleasing. Finally, it needs to be easy to maintain so you can enjoy it for years to come!
Create a Beautiful Sunken Garden Today!
A sunken garden is a beautiful addition to any yard, whether it's in your backyard or front yard.
It can serve many purposes. For example, you could visit sunken gardens and use them as an outdoor seating area or even as a water feature with some plants surrounding it.
We hope that these tips and ideas will help you build your sunken garden. It's a great way to add beauty and functionality to your yard, and it doesn't have to be complicated or expensive!
Finally, check out shrubhub.com to learn more about beautifying your outdoor space and creating dazzling yards!