Create Formal Style in Your Landscape

Clean and classic, formal landscapes never go out of style. Here's how to get the look in your yard -- even if you garden in shade.

Know the Basics

The first step in developing a formal garden is to know the basics. Formal gardens often feature a simplistic, geometric design, as seen here in Cindy Griffith's Illinois garden. A low boxwood hedge lines a pathway and creates planting pockets for astilbe, hosta, and Annabelle hydrangeas.