- 10 Small Garden Design Tips
- 1. By planning to size
- 3. Plants for the small garden
- 5. Vertical Gardening
- 7. Privacy screen in the small garden
- 8. Water in the small garden
- 9. Space-saving garden furniture
- 10. Targeted use of decoration
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Not everyone can boast of a large garden. We show how to get the most out of small gardens and how to make them space-saving.
A large garden where you can let your creativity run free is probably the dream of every garden lover. However, the reality often looks different. Not everyone can fulfill the dream of a huge plot of land and small gardens rarely allow all of their green dreams to be fulfilled. However, if you plan correctly and follow a few tips and tricks, you can get the most out of a small garden and, despite the lack of space, create a plant paradise that can compete with even larger gardens.
10 Small Garden Design Tips
Small gardens present their owners with a special challenge, because every centimeter needs to be used perfectly. You can find out here how to do this and how you can even optically enlarge the garden.
1. By planning to size
Many gardeners make the mistake of investing in large, spacious areas when it comes to their garden - but it is precisely these that ensure that the garden becomes small. A garden only achieves its true size through structuring. If you cleverly use perennial beds, tall grass or natural stone walls as a privacy screen, the viewer cannot see the room directly, which is why it is perceived as larger. In addition, particularly wide gardens can be optically stretched with lines of sight. However, the line of sight should not lead into a void, but refer to a decorative element such as a stone figure or a fountain. This not only sets the scene perfectly for the selected object, but also conveys an impression of spaciousness.
Creating a small garden that is interesting but not overloaded at the same time is a special challenge. But this can be wonderfully solved if you discover a new level for yourself: the height. Different levels of height in the garden create interesting contrasts that do not make the garden too restless. Raised beds or an elevated oneTerrace give the garden more depth. Dry stone walls and stone beds can be decorated with different plants, but also act as privacy screens that visually enlarge the garden. You can find out more about planting dry stone walls in our special article. On the other hand, sunken beds or a garden pond use the depth and thus create particularly interesting combinations.
3. Plants for the small garden
One of the biggest problems small garden owners face is choosing the right plants. In fact, when it comes to plants for smaller gardens, you should pay attention to certain aspects that otherwise only play a minor role. We particularly recommend plants that are evergreen and have a certain ornamental value all year round - for example with beautiful flowers in spring and intensive autumn colors. The pear pear (Amelanchier) or the witch hazel (Hamamelis) are perfect for this purpose, as they impress with their appearance almost all year round. When it comes to shrubs, you should use slow-growing varieties in particular, otherwise there is a risk that the small garden will become overgrown. In addition, there are mainly standard trees, for example boxwood (Buxus), dwarf lilac (Syringa meyeri) or roses (Rosa ), suitable for the small garden, as they optically enlarge it. And you don't even have to do without trees in a small garden: Patio fruit trees that stay small, columnar trees such as the columnar cherry tree (Prunus serrulata 'Amonogawa') or the slow-growing black locust ( Robinia pseudoacacia 'Umbraculifera') are also suitable for small gardens.
In a small garden, it is generally worth paying particular attention to the choice of color for the plants. Above all, planting in similar shades is a good idea, as the garden quickly looks nervous and overloaded with colorful planting. But the choice of colors is also crucial: Many red and orange tones quickly make the garden appear smaller and also bring in a certain amount of unrest. You should also only use dark violet sparingly so as not to make the garden appear too cramped. Light tones in white, cream or lilac shades, on the other hand, make the garden appear spacious and open. In the case of evergreen plants, it is also worthwhile toset different leaf colors. Small-leaved, light-colored plants in the background and dark, large-leaved plants in the foreground create a depth effect that makes the garden appear longer.
5. Vertical Gardening
Plants need space - and unfortunately the small garden is only sparsely blessed with this. It is therefore all the more important to make perfect use of every centimeter so that all your favorite plants find a place. A great tip for creating extra space in a small garden is to use not only the horizontal but also the vertical axis: climbing plants such as the clematis (Clematis) or the wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) green unused areas on the facade or the garden shed and thus ensure an unexpected abundance of flowers. But vegetables or strawberries (Fragaria) can also be grown in a space-saving way: With vertical gardening, the plants are planted in long containers like rain gutters and then hung one on top of the other. This way, you can nibble extensively even in small gardens.
Tip: When planting the containers, make sure you use high-quality, peat-free organic soil such as our Plantura organic tomato & vegetable soil for vertically grown vegetables.
6. Planning garden paths correctlyPaved paths in the garden are not only practical, they can also have a great impact on the look. While particularly fast, straight paths are preferred on large plots of land, owners of small gardens should tend towards slightly winding garden paths. These strolling paths ensure that the garden appears more spacious overall and invites more to explore and admire. If the path tapers towards the end, the optical illusion becomes perfect and the garden appears much more spacious. But the floor covering also has a lasting effect, because dark coverings quickly make the garden appear cramped, while light stones or white gravel bring light into the garden. In addition, the paths should be equipped as uniformly as possible and with large-format floor coverings - small-scale or different floor coverings visually overload the property and make it appear smaller.
7. Privacy screen in the small garden
In the case of small gardens, it is advisable not to use a screen at all, as the view of the area behind it optically enlarges the garden. If you still want to protect yourself from prying eyes, you should make your choicePay particular attention to your privacy screen: High stone walls or dark hedges not only make the garden look smaller, they also make it appear oppressive and gloomy. Airy fences that can be converted into privacy screens with the help of climbing plants are more suitable. The evergreen ivy (Hedera helix) is particularly suitable for this purpose, but the Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) also impresses with its impressive autumn colours . If you like it colorful, you can look forward to flowering climbing plants such as clematis (Clemantis), firethorn (Pyracantha hybrid) or morning glory ( Ipomoea tricolor). A half-height bamboo element also gives the garden more privacy without being overwhelming.
8. Water in the small garden
A stream or a pond is an absolute dream for many gardeners - unfortunately, owners of small gardens in particular do not dare to realize this because they think it will take up too much space. In fact, streams, water features and even ponds can also be created to save space. The water feature in particular can be easily implemented in a small garden: the different levels not only create lively splashing, but also take up less space. You can easily build the water feature a little higher and steeper and thus not stretch it as much. Streams can be integrated into the small garden by planning them in such a way that they fill in unused corners and meander through narrow gaps. Garden ponds, on the other hand, can be built in almost any size and shape and beautified with pond plants, so that they can also fit perfectly into the small garden. Don't be afraid to use unusual shapes to make the most of the space. You can save additional space by letting your terrace protrude a little over the garden pond - similar to a wooden walkway.
9. Space-saving garden furniture
In order to be able to really enjoy your garden, you should of course equip it with the right furniture. However, many garden owners insist on a large seating area that takes up a considerable part of the garden. However, it is better for small gardens to have several small seats placed in different areas - this not only visually increases the space, but also gives the garden a special touchalso more comfort. However, you should avoid using materials that are too different, as this will quickly make your own green oasis appear nervous. Functional furniture is also particularly suitable for the small garden: folding chairs and tables can be easily stowed away when they are not needed, thus creating space. But lounge furniture with integrated storage space or multifunctional garden furniture that can also be used as a chair, table or sofa are not only practical, they also save valuable space.
10. Targeted use of decoration
Decoration is almost as important in gardens as choosing the right plants. But it is a true art, especially in small areas, to stage decoration stylishly - all too quickly the small garden looks restless and overcrowded. Therefore, it is better to limit yourself to a few pieces when decorating. You don't need to shy away from large objects, because they often appear much tidier and calmer. High and narrow decorative elements also create width, as they emphasize the height and not the width of the garden - this effect can be used particularly cleverly if you place old electric fence posts in the garden and decorate them as you wish.
