Mediterranean gardens are built for hot, dry summers, with tough plants, warm materials, and shady spots to sit.
Many of the plants cope well in cooler regions too, as long as the soil drains freely.
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Materials
Use gravel, natural stone, terracotta pots, and rendered walls in warm, earthy colours. A pergola or vine-covered arbour provides shade over a dining area.
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Plants
- ✿Olive trees (hardy in milder areas or in pots)
- ✿Lavender, rosemary, sage, and thyme
- ✿Cistus, euphorbia, and phlomis
- ✿Agapanthus and alliums for summer colour
- ✿Cypress or upright junipers for vertical accents
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Drainage is crucial
Most Mediterranean plants hate sitting wet in winter. Improve heavy soil with grit, plant on slight mounds, or use raised beds and containers. A gravel mulch keeps the base of plants dry and reflects heat.
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Low maintenance
Once established, these gardens need little watering or feeding. Trim herbs after flowering to keep them compact, and replace woody lavender every few years.
This is general landscaping and garden information, not professional advice. Costs, regulations, and plant suitability vary by location. Call before you dig to locate buried utilities, and consult a licensed landscaper or engineer for retaining walls, drainage, and structural work.