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Summary:- on this page
- design of small gardens
- The best plants for small gardens
- How to create visual depth
- Other gardening ideas for small spaces
A mini garden doesn't have to be small or tiny. A few simple design tricks can make small gardens seem larger than life. And today's plant selection is designed specifically for smaller and smaller gardens. From garden pots to town squares and patios, landscaping ideas for small spaces will help you get the most out of any garden space.
What to consider when gardening in small spaces
There are a few key considerations when gardening in small spaces. Start by setting your goals. What do you want the space to do for you? From there, you can organize the space and choose the plant material that best suits your needs. When designing your small space garden, don't just think about the floor plan. Use all available surfaces to add color and interest. These are perfect for hanging under nursery windows or growing vines on fences and walls. Finally, careful plant selection will allow layers of color and texture to be incorporated into even the smallest garden.
Choosing plants for a small garden
Gardening in small spaces has been a goal of plant growers for over a decade, resulting in a large selection of compact plants for even the smallest gardener. Look for dwarf or compact varieties of your favorite shrubs, like Baby Kim Lilac (Syringa hybrid 'SMNSDTP'), which packs everything we love about lilacs into a three-foot-tall mound. Use pillars and shrubs as focal points or solid living walls and backdrops. Skyrocket juniper (Juniperus scopulorum) grows only two to three meters wide, adding long-lasting color to the garden. Sweet 'skinny silhouette' (Liquidambar styraciflua) creates a colorful backdrop with vibrant autumn leaves.
How to create visual depth
Take advantage of how colors and textures interact with the human eye to create the illusion of depth in the garden. Cool colors (greens, blues, and purples) tend to recede from view, making objects appear smaller and further away. Use cool colored plants to add visual depth to the back of the planter. Warm colors (red, orange, and yellow) make an object appear larger and closer. Use plants with warm leaves and flowers in the center and front of the garden to move the planting toward the viewer.
The story continues
Plant tissues work the same way. Most plants have foliage of medium texture and should form the main part of garden plants. Use accent with thin, thick plants to create interest and depth. Like cool colors, fine textured foliage is hidden and should be used at the back of the farm. Plants with a rough texture look bold and visually dominant. Use rough plants near the center or carefully before planting.
Other gardening ideas for small spaces
Combine the above principles with the following tips to maximize garden space and create exceptional plantings.
Focus on the paper
Focus on foliage rather than flowers to add color to your garden. Many flowering plants only bloom for a few weeks a year. Foliage provides more consistent color that can be complemented by annuals and perennials.
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Create smooth layers
See a forest with treetops, a layer of shrubs and a ground floor. Now repeat this on the thumbnail. Plant tall trees and shrubs with your favorite compact and perennial shrubs. Then add ground cover or low-growing annuals as a ground cover.
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Use pruning to your advantage
Cut back the lower branches of tall shrubs to make room for growing foliage or flowers. Use fruit trees or ornamental trees as a wall or hedge to enhance the space and create a unique focal point.
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It may seem counterintuitive, but dividing a small garden into smaller rooms can help create the illusion of space. Divide the space into functional areas (bench, outdoor dining, workspace) and then separate them using narrow vertical plant material.
Mix your favorite foods into decorative plants. Herbs such as thyme and oregano provide excellent ground cover, while eggplant and peppers give the plants their unique beauty. Use bushy fruit like 'Little Miss Figgy' (Ficus carica) dwarf fig or 'Golden Sentinel' (Malus domestica) columnar apple as you would any other tree or shrub.
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Surround yourself with leafy plant material by adding vines to fences or walls. Consider building a small tree to add not only vertical structure, but also shade. Use slender profile columnar plants in beds to draw attention upwards. Purple Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) fits the bill perfectly, adding beautiful flowers and foliage to a narrow garden.
Add beauty to your place with colorful dishes. Repeat plant materials or flower bed colors in container planters to tie the space together. If you have a patio or shed, consider using hanging baskets to add more layers of plants. When space permits, place containers on steps and other paved areas. Plant the containers in layers like a garden bed.
