Martha Stewart says these intricate gardens take 10 years – the stunning view from her terrace proves it's time well spent

Everyone knows that nothing worth having ever comes easy, but what can you achieve in ten years? In Martha Stewart's case, she created an ornate formal garden that's, unsurprisingly, one of the most stunning spaces you will see this season.

When searching for formal garden ideas with an enduring appeal, Martha's project offers the perfect blueprint.

She's combined contrasting evergreen shrubs (boxwood and golden barberry) alongside antique fountains and timeless outdoor furniture (designed by herself, naturally), to create a beautiful garden that's visually beautiful, but primed for cooler weather. As one might expect, however, a garden of this splendor doesn't come easily.

'It takes time to develop formal gardens. When planning, one must consider the type of plants, their size at the time of planting and at maturity, the level of care, the environment, and local weather conditions,' Martha says. 'It can take up to 10 years for a formal garden to be fully established.'

On her blog, Martha shared further details of the design process, and it doesn't get any easier. However, as she remarks, it's worth the time and effort. There's no better time to start than now.

'For the upper parterres, I selected contrasting evergreen shrubs – boxwood, and golden barberry. To provide interest, these shrubs are sheared to different heights, creating a step effect. In the lower parterres, carefully designed and manicured boxwood hedges surround two hand-cast antique fountains,' she says.

'On one side, a low hedge shaped with an inverted V pattern, or chevron. Maintaining all these plantings requires extra maintenance and regular grooming, but I think it’s well worth the effort.'

However, not all elements of her garden need to come with a decade of patience. Her outdoor furniture, from her collection with Polywood (available via the retailer), brings elements of her formal garden to your own yard, and getting her look doesn't involve a decade's wait.

'Have you seen my all-weather furniture by Polywood? These chairs and table are part of my Chinoiserie Collection. These pieces stay out all season long and are designed to withstand storms and strong winds. They are so durable and look perfect year after year,' Martha says. You can shop the pieces from her garden below.