The Reasons To Focus On Enhancing Small Garden

Adding Interest to a Small Garden

Small gardens require careful planning to maximize usability. Bring some interest to your small garden by incorporating wall gardens, trellis, or planters. This will allow you to save valuable floor space.

It is still possible to grow flowers, herbs, and vegetables in a small garden. Utilize a variety of seasonal plants to create interest throughout the year.

Trees

Trees can make gardens look more attractive, add shade and structure, and make the landscape appear larger. Their expansive roots and towering canopy can make them unsuitable for small spaces and compete with other plants. Find dwarf versions of the trees you love, which have the same beauty and function but are smaller. There are also fast-growing varieties that allow you to screen objectionable views, increase the height of the fence, or even create shade for your patio in a matter of minutes. These trees are available in a wide variety of sizes, colors, flowers and foliage, ensuring year-round interest.

The "Archer's Dwarf" White Fir is an excellent option for a small garden. This compact evergreen is an excellent choice for smaller spaces because it grows slowly and its dense branches extend from close to the ground rather than upward making them easy to plant into narrow areas. It also produces a very colourful crop of cones in the fall, and has a thick green foliage starting close to the ground throughout the year. This is a tough tree that will thrive from USDA zones 4 to 7.

Crabapple trees like the Ebony Flame variety, are a great option for a deciduous tree with a distinctive appearance. It can grow to 12 feet (3.6 meters) tall, however it is easy-to-prune and will be a beautiful focal point in your yard throughout the summer and fall. This is a tough tree that tolerates the sun's full rays and a well-drained soil.

Alternatively, try an ivy-leaf magnolia or saucer, both of which are slow-growing and will increase the height of your garden without obstructing other plants. They are also adaptable and tolerant of an array of growing conditions.

The Sky Pencil Holly is another fast-growing and narrow tree that can grow to 6 feet tall, and is perfect for small spaces. The upright, narrow form of this holly is stunning with shades of blue, yellow and pink. It is an evergreen with berries that offer winter interest when pollinating plants are close by.

Sheltered Corners

A corner that is sheltered is the perfect place to relax with a book or soaking in the view. These are not easy to find in small gardens but they are possible to build. The first thing to take into consideration is the wind - this can be an issue for many smaller gardens, especially those with exposed areas. It is important to determine which direction the wind blows and then choose plants that frame the view or block wind. These plants are suitable for shaded areas and will get tall enough to function as an windbreak or screen for the view.

A wall can be constructed to create a more secure space by blocking the wind. It's not a good idea to block the entire area if you want to make use of the space at different times of the year. Instead, you can use a slatted wall, partial fence or trellis that will allow light to enter and movement, but not the full force of the wind.

If a large-scale garden plant isn't feasible A small pond could also make a space feel bigger. This will not only look stunning, but it will also fill the air with the soothing sound of water rushing across the rocks and into the water. In a small-sized garden the proper selection of plants is equally important. The plants must be tolerant of the site and not overly large or they could overtake their surroundings. Plants like Canna lilies, Solanum crispum, Mophead hydrangeas, Ornamental bananas and Oryza sativa 'Purple Queen' work well in all conditions.

Use structures and paths that draw the eye upwards or outwards rather than straight down in the garden. This is something that most of the gardens that are great do, and tricks the brain into thinking a garden is larger than it actually is. This is particularly helpful in a narrow or courtyard garden.

Less is More

You have to reduce all the big ideas that you see in magazines or on Instagram when you design a small space. The result will be a garden that is more effective with less effort.

For instance, instead of filling a corner with an entanglement of climbing plants, put an individual trellis along a fence or wall and make use of it to cultivate the vine. The plant can climb freely and won't have to compete with other plants for light or water. Then choose a simple color palette - three or two different shades of green, together with petal colors, are less visually cluttered than a jelly-bean-like swarm of flowers.

Another option is to utilize the length of a garden to make it look larger by placing a standout plant or other feature towards the end of the space. This will draw your eye across the entire garden and create depth. This trick is especially efficient in small, but wide gardens that are sloped down to a back boundary.

Other design tricks for small gardens include double-purpose planting. For instance, a seating area can be used as an accent point, a display for windows or a space to grow edible flowers and herbs. This means that you can sit and enjoy a drink from the patio table, while keeping your eye on other garden elements.

It is essential to keep a small garden in order. To avoid overcrowding, create clear lines between your beds and plant your plants in a rotation. You can plant cucumbers and tomatoes in different beds this year, and gardens 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 small space. Susan Morrison gives savvy gardening beginner tips on how to match your garden with your lifestyle. She suggests plants that offer texture and shape throughout the seasons, and provides gardening beginner tips on a range of hardscape materials.

Make the most of vertical Space

Every garden has vertical space, and maximizing the use of these spaces is a crucial factor when designing a small garden. The structures like trellises and arbors that allow plants to grow upwards give an impression of a garden while also freeing space on the ground for planting. Planters can be suspended from the wall and window boxes can even be used to plant strawberries or sedums. Repurposed items, such as canvas shoe holders are great planter pockets that can be placed on the wall or you can use milk jugs and other recycled containers to store plants in your yard. Maintenance for these types of plantings is similar to taking care of any other container garden - you'll require fertilization and watering regularly.

Playing with perspective is a classic way to make a small garden appear bigger. This can be accomplished by directing your eyes to the entire space, rather than just one point. This is particularly effective for long, narrow gardens where the back boundary might be too obvious. You can achieve this by placing larger pieces such as trees and boulders, further back in the garden, or using a slightly angled layout for the paving.

Rethinking your garden's design to maximize its vertical space is an excellent way to add more plants without the need to buy any extra land. Treepees and trellises are ideal for climbing flowers such as lilyturfa and fuchsia and vines, like tomatoes and cucumbers. You can also train a variety of vegetables, including beans and peas to climb a fence or any other structure.

A living wall is an alternative. It consists of an assortment of plant areas that are attached to a wall or surface. You can grow an array of herbaceous perennials, grasses, and smaller shrubs along these, as well as fragrant plants and some vegetables like cucumbers or squash. They are easy to maintain and make a great focal point for any garden. You can also use them as a place to sit and enjoy the views.