How to Create an Italian Style Landscape

An Italian or Mediterranean style landscape is one with an abundance of heat-loving plants that can withstand dry weather, warm colored rocks and unglazed terracotta pots containing brightly colored geraniums, lavenders, bamboo and a host of other fragrant plants. Trees include bay topiary, olives, palms and tree ferns as well as fruit trees like lemons and limes.

Hardscapes can be decorated with mosaic tiles and painted in bright blues to create a contrast to the terracotta, while flowers that are big, bold and brightly beautiful are in order. Sunflowers, coreopsis, blanket flower, sedum, Mexican-bush sage, catmint, blue fescue and feather reed grass and rosemary are just some of the favorites for an Italian style landscape. Mulch should be of gravel to create an authentic look.

Your fence or garden walls can be painted soft pink-beige or even warm terracotta to mimic that Italian look, so your home will fit into the picture regardless of its architectural style. Pavers made of tumbled travertine give the essential look of Tuscany for path and flooring, however decomposed granite or gravel are cheaper alternatives. Wrought iron for outdoor furniture with an elegantly simple fountain for the water feature will also bring the look of old world charm to your landscape design.

Aromatic herb gardens bound by light-colored rock form an important part of many Tuscan gardens and landscapes, along with flowering vines, picturesque evergreens and orchards shimmering in the heat. For a small backyard, one lemon tree, terracotta pots and urns filled with lavender and geraniums, a clump of tall grass and some sunflowers or bougainvillea will do the trick. Remember to use sizzling, bright colors in a glorious mix without worrying about them clashing.

Italian style landscapes are hot and dry, but you can still create one similar in a cold climate by the use of tougher plants, e.g., creeping thymes. Other, tenderer plants can be kept in pots and moved inside for the winter, or grown on a sheltered patio.

Use landscaping rock generously - in two colors for a larger space. It can surround the lawn and gardens and edge the paths and retaining walls. Palms give an exotic look and create dappled shade where necessary for growing shade-loving plants and they also create vertical appeal.

In short, color is the best way to create your illusion of an Italian landscape, particularly blues and terracotta shades, but also bright pinks and hot orange.

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