Garden or any private outdoor space is precious, even if it is small in size, so it’s worth investing time in any garden area you’re lucky enough to own. There’s a saying – a gardener’s work is never done, as creating and maintaining a beautiful garden requires a lot of time and effort, but it’s all worth it when you can enjoy some time outside in the sunshine, marvelling at the beauty of the space you’ve shaped. However, it can be difficult to decide what to do with a smaller garden, so to lend a helping hand we’ve put together a list of tips for producing the perfect petite garden. Let’s get started…
Curved paths and borders make the space appear bigger, whereas straight, perpendicular lines clearly define the parameters of the space.
As with any area of the home, avoid clutter as much as possible! Gardens – patios and terraces in particular – can become a dumping ground for bins, sports equipment and other items that don’t have an obvious place inside the home. Avoid the temptation and designate a proper place for things like bikes!
Those of us with smaller gardens don’t want to spend all of our time trimming and pruning, so smaller shrubbery can save you the effort. Dwarf shrubs are increasingly popular due to their low-maintenance nature and can stop your small garden looking overcrowded.
Make sure you pick the right planter for the size and shape of your garden. Follow this link for ideas.
If your garden’s short on space then grow upward rather than outward with a vertical garden.
As with interiors, lighter colours on the walls and fences of your garden will increase the feeling of space, as will maximising the exposure to natural light.
A lawn bordering a fence or wall directly looks a little dull, so plant lots of leafy plants around the edges of your garden to give the space a grander feel.
If you have a small garden, then make the most of all the available space! Get creative with your planting and fill all the nooks and crannies.
If you still find yourself short on space then blur the lines between outdoor and indoor space. Bring a little of the garden inside with some indoor garden accessories, like those above by architects, MC3 Architecture.
Finally, add a focal point to your garden with a gate or pergola that will distract from the size by drawing the eye to the edge of the space. If you’d like advice on how to construct the perfect pergola then peruse this guide.