Make the most of your small garden

With the homes of today, larger gardens can be hard to find, unless you build in a country area with lots of space. A lot of the new build homes tend to have a smaller garden area. This however should not deter anyone from having a garden they can be proud of. With a bit of thought and creativity, it is possible to make the most of the space you have at your disposal. Chosen properly, all of your garden features such as plants, structural items, furniture, water features etc. can make your garden space appear larger than it actually is. Here we bring you our tips to create your ideal small garden.

1. CHOOSE FURNITURE SIZE CAREFULLY.

A great way to make a small garden space work is to choose the right size Garden Furniture. Look around for a more space friendly furniture set. Perhaps pick a table and chair set that can fold and is easily stored away. This will save your garden from any clutter.

2. MAKE SOME RIPPLES

Water in a small garden adds movement, light and reflections, and can attract wildlife and birds into the space. Water features come in all shapes and sizes, from trickle fountains to ponds in pots and containers.

Look for wide, shallow pots and seal drainage holes with silicone, or recycle an old tin bath lined with plastic. For wildlife, ensure there's a way for creatures to climb out.

3. EMBRACE THE SHADE

Small gardens are often overshadowed by houses, walls or trees. Many plants have adapted to cope with lower light levels, so get to grips with the extent of your shade and choose plants accordingly. Ferns, foxgloves and heucheras are a good choice. Improve your soil with compost or leaf mould when planting.

4. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR SPACE.

Your garden, like your home should have a floor plan. You should allocate your garden into smaller areas by having dedicated space for plants, lounge and paths. This will give structure to your garden and will give it that nice clean look that otherwise would look chaotic and shrink in space.

5. THE RIGHT PATIO OR DECKING.

By having your patio or decking in the right corner of your garden this will give you the best position should you wish to have a small seating area. This will divide your space in an obvious way by leaving the reminder your garden space for other uses.

This will also make the garden easier to look after and you will have an allocated space for your garden furniture.

6. PLANT STRATEGICALLY. Too many plants can shrink your garden. You need to be smart about where and what to plant. If you’re looking at flowers and shrubs make sure to allocate the space for it first. Having a small garden doesn’t mean you can’t have any trees either, but be sure to choose the right kind of trees to ensure that it won’t clutter your garden, but give it nice greenery instead.

Consider trees that grow in height more than width and grow slowly. Scented plants turn a garden into a fragrant oasis, with the effect intensified in a smaller garden. Look for plants with different seasons of fragrance to provide scent all year, and grow them near the door or paths for best effect. Place pots of fragrant herbs next to a bench or around a patio, and squeeze plants that release their scent when crushed, such as thyme, into gaps in paths.

Having a smaller garden doesn’t mean we can’t all have a place to enjoy and relax and ultimately be proud of.

With some proper planning and a bit of creativity you can make the most of what you have and create a lovely garden to spend your days in.

With a little creativity, it's amazing how much you can fit in to a small garden.