Adding Interest to a Small Garden
To maximize the use of small gardens it is essential to plan them carefully. Make a splash in your small garden by incorporating wall gardens, trellis, or planters. This will allow you to save floor space.
In a tiny space it is possible to grow plants, flowers and vegetables. Mix up the seasonal plants to keep your garden fresh all season.
Trees
Trees add color to the garden, provide shade and structure, and make the landscape appear larger. However, their sprawling roots and massive canopy may make them big for small spaces, and they often compete with other plants. To overcome these issues try looking for smaller varieties of your most loved trees that provide the same beauty and functionality on a much smaller scale. There are also fast-growing varieties that allow you to block out undesirable views, add height to your fence, or provide patio shade in no time. These trees are available in a broad range of sizes, flowers, colors and foliage that will provide all year-round interest.
The 'Archer's Dwarf' White Fir is a great choice for a small yard. This evergreen that is compact is an ideal option for smaller spaces due to the fact that it grows very slowly and its thick branches spread out from close to the ground instead of upwards making it easy to plant in small areas. It also produces a very colorful crop of cones in the fall and has dense green foliage that begins close to the ground all season long. This is a robust tree that can thrive from USDA zones 4-7.
If you're looking for an evergreen tree with an interesting look, you should consider the crabapple tree, such as the 'Ebony Flame' variety. flower gardens can grow up to 12 feet in height (3.6 meters), but it is easy to cut back and will be an attractive design feature in your garden throughout summer and into the fall. This is a tough tree that can tolerate all-day sunlight and well-drained ground.
You can also try an ivy leaf magnolia or saucer both of which are slow-growing and can increase the height of your garden without obstructing other plants. They can also be adapted and tolerant of various conditions for growth.
The "Sky Pencil Holly" is a different narrow, fast-growing tree that can reach 6 feet in height and is perfect for spaces with limited space. This holly's slender, upright shape looks great with yellows, blues and shades of pink. It's an evergreen that can provide winter interest through its berries when pollinating male plants are close by.
Corners that are protected Corners
A sheltered corner makes a perfect spot for relaxing with a book or enjoying the view. In small gardens, these are hard to come by, but there are ways to create them. The first thing to think about is the wind - this could be a problem for small gardens, particularly those with exposed areas. It is crucial to determine which direction the wind blows and then plant the plants to frame the view or block the wind. Plants like Fatsia japonica, Aucuba japonica, Tetrapanax papyrifer and Pseudopanax laetus are excellent choices as they can tolerate some shade and can grow tall to screen the view or act as windbreaks.
A wall can be used to create a more secure space by blocking wind. It's not a great idea to close off the entire area if you plan to utilize it in other times. Instead, you can use an slatted wall, a partially fenced trellis or fence that allows light to move through but not the full force of the wind.
A small pond will also make the space seem bigger even if a large one is not feasible. It will not only look amazing, but it will also fill the air with the soothing sound of water rushing through the rocks into the water. The right plants are important in a small garden. The plants should be tolerant of the area, but not grow too big or they'll outgrow it. Canna Lilies and Solanum Crispum, Mophead Hydrangeas, Ornamental Bananas and Oryza Sativa ‘Purple Queen’ are all suitable for a variety of conditions.
One last tip is to make use of pathways and structures that draw the eye upwards and outwards, instead of straight down the garden. Many great gardens employ this technique to make the garden appear bigger than it actually is. This is particularly useful in the case of a small courtyard garden.
Less Is More
You must reduce the big ideas that you see in magazines or on Instagram when you design a small space. The result is a streamlined garden that has more impact and less effort.
For instance, instead of filling up a corner with a maze of climbing plants, put one trellis on a fence or wall and utilize it to grow a vine. That way the plant will have a clear space to climb and it will not be competing with other plants for water or light. Choose a simple color palette of two or three varying shades of green, together with the petal colors, is less visually cluttered than a jelly-bean-like explosion of flowers.
Another trick is to make a garden appear larger by putting an ornamental plant or feature near the end. This will draw your eye across the entire garden and create depth. This technique works best in gardens that are large but short and slope down to the back border.
Other ideas for designing a small garden include using double-duty planting. For instance, a seating area can act as the focal point, an area to display a window box or a space to grow edible flowers and herbs. It is possible to sit and enjoy a drink from the patio table while keeping your eye on other elements of your garden.
In a small garden, it's important to arrange the garden. To avoid overcrowding create clear bed divisions and rotate plants. This means you can plant cucumbers and tomatoes in different beds this year and then switch them out in another few years.
The Less Is More Garden has many ideas that will help you make the most of your little space. Susan Morrison offers savvy tips to make your garden fit your lifestyle, suggests plants that will offer shape and texture through the seasons and provides advice on a range of hardscape materials.
Make the most of vertical Space
Every garden has vertical space, and maximizing them is an important strategy for small-scale garden design. Structures that allow plants to develop, like arbors and trellises, create an appearance that resembles a garden while freeing space on the ground for other plants. Alternatively, planters can be suspended from walls and windows can also be used for plantings like sedums or strawberries. Repurposed items such as shoe racks made of canvas can be used to create plant pockets on the wall. You can also utilize milk jugs and other recycled containers for your garden. You'll require fertilization and watering these plants just like any other container garden.
Playing with perspective is an effective method to make a tiny garden appear larger. This can be done by directing your attention to the entire area instead of focusing on a single point. This works particularly well with long narrow gardens, where the boundaries of the back might be too obvious. It is possible to achieve this by arranging larger elements such as boulders and trees, further back in the garden or making use of a slightly angled design for the paving.
In addition to that, rethinking the design of your garden to take advantage of its vertical space is a great method to plant more plants without occupying any extra space. Treepees and Trellises work well for climbing flowers like fuchsia or lilyturfa as well in vines like cucumbers and tomato. You can also train vegetables such as beans and peas to climb a fence.
A living wall is an alternative. It consists of an assortment of plant areas that are that are attached to a wall or surface. You can grow a variety of herbaceous perennials, grasses, and small shrubs on these, along with aromatic plants and some fruits like squash or cucumbers. They are easy to keep and can be a great focal point in any garden. They can also be a great place to relax and unwind because you will always have a lovely view to enjoy.