The Knot Garden

This ancient style is characterized by an appealing tension between the symmetry of the overall design and the looseness of the plantings. Some “knots,” however, are rigidly designed and maintained, with carefully clipped, diminutive evergreen hedges or intricately patterned beds of flowers. A popular use of the knot-garden style today is for the growing of herbs. Scents, many shades of green, and variety in texture lend particular charm and interest to this loose form of the knot.

A knot may be incorporated into a larger garden as a “room,” sunken below the level of adjacent areas or separated by walls or hedges. This is often the ideal style for a small, flat urban plot that is viewed from windows or a terrace above.