How to landscape a small garden

Just because you have a small garden, that doesn’t mean you can’t have the garden you want. With some expert advice on small garden design ideas, you can have the most petite of gardens looking grandiose and exuberant in no time. 

If you think that you might struggle in the design of your garden, then you should chat to a professional landscaper who can provide you with the best design possible for your garden. Otherwise, these ideas should work a treat.

Add one oversized feature

This may seem contradictory as a small garden idea, but having one oversized feature like a fountain, gazebo, arbour or gate can help act as a focal point to draw attention in and deemphasize the size restrictions of your garden.

Create a living wall

Where ground space is limited, a living wall can help make a big impact. Giving you more room at your disposal to grow plants, they’re also the perfect way to disguise unsightly and plain walls. Choose plants like succulents, ferns, begonias and vegetables like Asian greens, herbs and lettuce as they have shallow root systems.

Choose the right type of trees

Instead of choosing trees that grow big and wide, opt for outstanding upright shrubbery like your Magnolias, Persian Ironwoods, Maples and Pyrus’ to give you shade without taking up a lot of space.

Go for light, neutral colours

Another small garden design idea is to go for light, natural colours as this helps give the illusion of space. Think of using colours like white, beige, grey and muted pastels to make your garden look bigger than it really is.

Add length with a narrow lap pool

Swimming pools don’t have to be just for large gardens. Add length to your small garden with a narrow lap pool for big impact. However, it’s important to remember that small spaces often have more challenges than large areas, as you need to consider each and every square centimetre. Ensure you enlist the pool construction services of a professional who understands your needs and has the experience to achieve your desired outcome.

Consider seating choices

To maximise the most of your small space, consider using built-in seating placed strategically in a corner. This will help your space feel less crowded and leave the rest of your garden looking wide and open, especially if you’re planning on entertaining quite frequently. You could also extend this to your plantings and shrubbery by placing them along the perimeter.

Settle on a curved walkway

Another way to make a big statement with a small garden is to create a curved walkway. Rather than a straight and blunt path, the flowing shape of a curved walkway can give visitors the sense that they’re travelling through a large landscape.

If you’re in Australia and have big ideas for your small garden, the Landart team can help turn your vision into a reality.

Story by: Landart Landscapes