Small garden:10 tips for the perfect small garden

Will Sayner Will Sayner
Jardines, a.s.paisajimo a.s.paisajimo Mediterranean style garden
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 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…

1. Avoid straight lines

 Curved paths and borders make the space appear bigger, whereas straight, perpendicular lines clearly define the parameters of the space.

2. Keep it neat and organised

 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!

3. Plant dwarf shrubs

 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.

4. Pick the right planter

 Make sure you pick the right planter for the size and shape of your garden. Follow this link for ideas.

5. Grow up

 If your garden’s short on space then grow upward rather than outward with a vertical garden.

6. Brighter prospects

 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.

7. Big leaves are better than a bare lawn

 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.

8. Make use of all the space

 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.

9. Bring the garden inside

 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.

10. Put up a pergola

 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.

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