Arranging a small garden in 5 steps

16.12.2020

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Good planning and execution of a small garden is quite a challenge. Limited space makes every centimetre count and solutions must be well thought out in order for the garden to be both beautiful and functional. Therefore, before starting to design it is good to answer a few questions:

Who will use this garden? When decorating the living areas of a house we always consider who will be the main occupants and according to this key we choose colours, furniture and accessories, and even the number of electric sockets. The same goes for the garden. Each member of the household has their own needs which must be taken into account.

How do we plan to spend time there? Especially in summer, the garden is often regarded as an "extension" of the house. An additional "room" in which life goes on. Is it intended to be a place of peace and quiet for the members of the household, or rather a meeting place for family and friends? Or maybe both? It is best to start designing a small garden by answering the question of what functions it should fulfil. Some of them seem impossible to combine in a small space at first sight, but knowing a few rules, it often turns out that it is not impossible.

What is our budget? Knowing approximately how much you want to spend on garden design will enable you to choose solutions, materials and plant species for your garden. Before determining your budget, take a moment to look at current prices. We should bear in mind that the expenses related to the garden are not only limited to the arrangement of the space, but also to the regular maintenance.

How much time we are able to devote to caring for the garden? Demanding plants don't do well waiting for you to find time in your busy schedule for fertilising, weeding and watering. With limited time, it's better to opt for species which can cope well if you're away for a while.

How soon do we want to enjoy our patch of green at home? The arrangement of a house usually takes up a lot of our funds, so the garden often has to "wait its turn" until we find enough money for its arrangement in the household budget. It is worth to consider whether you prefer to create the garden in stages or rather to collect the whole amount and only then proceed.

If you know the answers to all or at least most of the questions you can get started!

Create a framewor
Heavy fences and a wide row of tall, evenly trimmed hedges over your head will separate you from unauthorised view but will also visually close off the space. If you don't have too much space, it's better to avoid heavy fences. Choose light, low fences or irregular plantings.

Separate zones
If the garden should combine several functions, it is worth marking out zones and visually separating them from each other. This can be achieved by plantings, low walls, pergolas, flower pots and carefully designed paths. A good way to separate the zone is also to lower or raise a part of the area by, e.g., building a slope. Differentiation of the space will make it seem optically larger. The terrace, the surface of which constitutes a separate zone, will also perform this role perfectly. We can arrange a quiet rest corner here.

Use the surroundings
A similar effect of optical enlargement can be achieved by "borrowing" greenery and trees from the surroundings. To achieve this, leave gaps in the hedge, put up openwork pergolas and vary the height of the fence in order to visually connect your garden with the landscape.

Less is better
A bench in a shady corner, a birdbath in another, a swing next to the terrace and a small greenhouse right next to the house entrance? Plus a multitude of flowers, bushes and trees? It's better to dispense with random purchases. With limited space less is better and well-chosen details are of great importance: type of materials, colours used (bright colours optically enlarge the space), lighting, small architecture and type of plants. In a small garden it's better not to leave anything to chance or you'll soon have to face the chaos.

Choose carefully When choosing plant species for a small garden, opt for uniformity. Remember also that plants have different requirements for soil, sunlight and humidity. Therefore, not all species will "feel right" in your garden. Even when leafing through plant catalogues, it's a good idea to pay attention to the requirements of individual species and make sure that we can meet them. Do not plant them too densely at first and avoid a lot of ornamental species. This will keep the space neat and orderly, and if you're not happy with the final result, you can replenish the planting. This is much easier than rearranging the whole bed or area.

When is it better to use a professional? If you like challenges, if you have time to devote to the art of gardening and architecture (or if you have this knowledge) you can try to arrange a small garden on your own. Otherwise, the sensible choice would be to hire a landscape architect who can help you choose the right plants for your conditions and arrange the space to suit your needs.