One of the best things about an English Garden is that you can adapt its style to suit your particular space.
Whatever size of garden or part of your garden you wish to plant, you can take an English Garden element and incorporate it or go for the whole look.

I have listed what in my opinion are the six main elements so you can take your pick.
But first to get you in the mood

Think soft glowing colours, strong fiery blooms, evening scents wafted on a gentle breeze, masses of planting filling the garden.
Garden paths, arbours- covered in trailing fragrant blossoms in which to contemplate your garden and rustic touches – such as wooden fences or trellis, wooden seating, metal watering cans and clay plant pots.

• The strongest element is a marvellous mixture of plants, with perennials, herbs, roses and climbers all planted in a relaxed style.
• If you so desire you can add touches of formality by adding topiary, small box hedges or clipped potted plants.
  
  
• English Gardens can be a complete mixture of foliage, textures and colour or you can create little rooms of individual colours, such as Gertrude Jekyll's white garden room.
• It is your personal choice of perennials that will create your own distinctive English Garden style.
  
  
• Annuals can help fill in any gaps whilst your perennials are starting off and are very pleasant to have anyway.
  
  
• Fruit and vegetables are very much part of an English garden, but only grow them if you have the inclination and time.
  It is marvellous though to wander down the garden path and find a tempting bush of currants or clump of strawberries or pick peas fresh from the vine – you don’t need many but just a surprise to come upon!

Lawns are very much part of an English Garden whether small or large.
They do need quite a lot of care and attention, so decide how much space you want to give over to sitting in and having “cup of tea” or even “afternoon tea”.

Remember to make your lawns in circles or curved shapes and try to avoid harsh rectangles or squares.
Offset them to one side of your garden and make them interesting but not too difficult to mow shapes; unless really necessary do try to avoid a central lawn.

Whether you are making a single path or several, please think of them as paths to walk along and contemplate your garden, make them interesting, meandering and wide enough to walk comfortably.
Add an arch or pergola and drape them with colourful climbers to create a bit of mystery.

Use materials such as pavers, bricks, gravel or a combination of materials that you like – make the path at the same level as the lawn so you can cut it easily.

Plant smaller scented plants beside the path so you brush against them as you walk by and can breathe in their fragrance.

• The borders beside your lawn should be almost overflowing with plants.
  
• A general rule is that the larger your garden then the larger your borders can be.
  Again this really is a personal thing and if you have a small plot and want big borders, go for it!
  
  
• To create the best effect in your beds and borders, plant randomly, never in straight lines.
• Group plants in threes or fives or sevens.
  
  
• Smaller plants need bigger groupings otherwise they will get lost in the overall scheme of things.

English Gardens are well known for their cascades of climbing roses and you will need to find a space for a backdrop of flowering climbers.
Have you any fences or trees or sheds that could be planted with climbers?
An English Garden often has one or two rambling roses growing through shrubs or apple trees or a honeysuckle.
There are many arbours, trellis work and arches you can buy to provide this added interest – don’t forget to add a seat!

Bulbs such as daffodils, snowdrops and bluebells can be used to prolong the flowering period in your English Garden and create winter interest.

Enjoy your garden!