In residential design, the four types of landscape are usually given as formal, informal, naturalistic, and modern. Formal landscapes use symmetry, clipped hedges, and straight axes. Informal or cottage landscapes use curved beds and loose, layered planting. Naturalistic landscapes imitate local ecosystems with native plants and few hard edges, and modern landscapes use clean geometry, restrained plant palettes, and strong hardscape.
Geographers use the same phrase differently, grouping terrain into mountains, plains, plateaus, and coastal landscapes, so the answer depends on the context of the question.
For a homeowner the useful version is which design type suits your house: formal flatters traditional architecture, modern suits flat rooflines and stucco. The fastest way to decide is to preview each one on a photo of your own yard with AI landscape design.