The quintessential English country garden is defined by a healthy blend between structure and wildness. A playful marriage of sandstone hardscaping with climbing vibes, charming flowers, and unmanicured hedges strikes the perfect balance of a beautiful space that feels actually lived in. Amal and George Clooney’s Oxfordshire backyard embodies the look.
A glimpse into the garden of their Oxfordshire country manor, the 17th-century Mill House, reveals a gorgeous interplay between sandstone steps and free-flowing greenery. It captures the English country garden aesthetic with a graceful, heritage feel. Vines climb up the manor walls, euphorbia pops its head over the staircase railing, and pretty pink flowers offer a subtle peek of color.
Whether you actually live in the English countryside or across the pond, the essentials of this look are accessible in any garden.
To dive into George and Amal’s garden design, we spoke with experts on how to create the English garden look at home. Homes & Gardens also curated an edit of all the plants and tools we’d recommend for emulating their style.
Recreate George and Amal’s Look at Home
This beautiful plant appears to the right of George and Amal’s staircase, and is perfect for adding some height and dimension to your garden. Some varieties have touches of red and yellow for an elegant touch.
If you don’t have a sandstone path in your yard, these ridged ones are a great way to add a touch of tan naturalness without the commitment. They’re pretty and easy to grow in.
This timeless ivy brings the lush, layered look of the Clooney’s yard to your space. With its rich green color and natural climbing habit, it’s an easy way to elevate any vertical garden.
These Felco pruning shears feature hardened blades for precise, effortless trimming, making even tough rose pruning feel easy. Our Garden Content Editor swears by them for demanding jobs, calling them the ‘best pruners you can buy.’
Sweet Autumn Clematis Vine Plants
This easy-care plant returns year after year, making it a reliable choice for any garden. Its delicate, small flowers add a subtle pop of color – perfect for brightening up vertical spaces.
If you’re going to plant out your Eglish garden this season, you’re going to need garden gloves, and these ones are guaranteed to last. Perfect for roses or shrubs, they keep hands protected and make it easy to reach into thick foliage or handle prickly stems with confidence.
Amal and George’s backyard provides the perfect blueprint to jump off for creating your own charming space.
Craig Wilson, gardening expert and founder of Gardeners Dream, recommends: ‘Your cottagecore garden should be a space with a cozy, whimsical aesthetic. Plants and flowers will be the huge focal point, and what you choose should be specially selected to achieve the right vibe. You want to add both color and texture, but keep things feeling peaceful rather than chaotic. It should be in between curated and wild, looking slightly undone, but also purposeful.’
English plants are essential for making your space feel authentic like the Clooney’s home. ‘To get a real English country garden feel, you might want to look towards UK-native plants and flowers, such as Columbine, Yarrow, Foxgloves, Geraniums, and Campanulas; not only will these thrive in your garden, but they will also give a traditional British feel to your space,’ advises Craig.
Furthermore, it’s important to keep the look slightly muted, without overwhelming vibrancy. Craig explains: ‘In terms of color, you’ll want to lean towards pastels to create the softness that is often associated with the trend. Plants and flowers such as lavender, hollyhocks, and climbing roses in muted pinks, purples, and blues should be nestled amongst the green of wild-looking grasses and shrubs.’
Though you might not build an entire sandstone patio and stairs like the one at the Clooneys’ estate, there are other ways to bring English-style hardscaping to your backyard to complete the look. Craig states: ‘When you think of a quaint country cottage, you’ll likely envisage stepping stone paths and cobblestones, both of which you can easily add to your garden without spending too much time or money.’
He advises: ‘Stepping stone paths can be added on top of grass or stones to create that typical countryside feel. You’ll want to reach for natural, rugged stones such as limestone or sandstone, as these offer a much more unpolished look, adding texture to your garden.’
‘Another way to get that country feel is to use rocks or cobbles to line borders and section off areas of bedding,’ adds Craig. ‘Veer away from perfection; using odd-shaped stones and laying them in a carefree manner will add rustic charm.’
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