If your garden is on the smaller side, count yourself lucky! You have so much more space than those who don’t have their own plot, as well as the prospect of minimal maintenance.
There are some truly ingenious ways to make the most of even the smallest garden, so here are a few to inspire your summer outdoors.
The first step
Step one is to prioritise. You probably won’t fit everything you want into a small garden, so consider what you want the most. Incorporating large features or trying to cram too much in will make the garden feel even smaller, so focus on what matters most.
Up a level
Varying the levels can make a small garden seem larger. Decking areas are ideal for this, and when you step down off the deck into a new area, this will add to the feeling of space.
Down with the lawn
Some gardening experts recommend losing the lawn if your outdoor patch is small in size. Instead, add different zones using paving, decking, gravel or bark. If you yearn for some green, you could always include a section of astro-turf, as well as some potted evergreens.
Supersize it
It may sound odd, but using only small containers can make an outdoor space feel cramped. Stick to a variety of sizes in the same style and colour scheme to ensure a cohesive look that makes a statement.
Climb up
Any kind of plants that grow vertically can actually give the effect of added space. Grow plants up a wall-mounted trellis, plant trailing plants in hanging baskets or window boxes and opt for tall, narrow trees.
Lighten up
The same rule applies outdoors – lighter shades can make a space feel much larger. Paint walls or fences in light grey, or use paving slabs, gravel and even garden furniture in similar shades for a look that makes the most of a small outside area. The same applies to plants, so go for white or cool toned flowers and foliage.
Hide the divide
Covering a wall or fence with foliage or trailing flowers can make the garden seem larger, because it obscures those constrictive boundaries.
Zone out(doors)
Create secret areas and cosy corners by dividing a small garden into sections. The garden will appear bigger, simply because you can’t see it all at once. To divide it up, use bamboo or ornamental grass screens or a trellis, then furnish and decorate each area differently.
Deep thinking
Clever use of texture can help to create an illusion of depth. Fine-textured plants are best positioned in the background, while bigger, bolder plants draw the eye when placed at the front. This works particularly well in gardens that are narrow or sloping.
A pond in a pot
If you hanker after a pond but think your garden is too small, think again. You can now make a pond in a pot, such as a small tin bath or similarly sized container.
A living wall
It’s possible to create a living wall from specially made kits – a way to truly make the most of a limited space. It can even be used to grow produce such as salad leaves, or be filled with pretty, flowing plug plants.
