Tips For Tiny Gardens

Contrary to what you may think it’s probably harder to design a small patch of garden than if you’ve got a couple of rolling acres.

This is especially true if you’re a keen gardener and have a long list of ideas, plants and elements that you want to include. We often get calls from people who have either moved into their first house with a garden or are downsizing to a smaller garden as family leave home. So what are the best tips for starting out on your little area of paradise?

First and foremost, simplify what you need. Prioritise what’s important and consider the absolute necessities first. If you want to entertain then how many people can you reasonably fit in? If you want to garden then how much space can you still give over to people?! Is attracting wildlife with rambling plants and water important or would you rather have a smart, tidy garden with limited maintenance? If you get your priorities right then the different elements will come more easily together.

Then you need to simplify your use of materials. In a small space it’s much better to limit the different materials to make the garden feel larger. A simple regular paving material will create continuity through the garden and a single boundary treatment will also make your space feel more like your own and less the result of three neighbours’ fencing achievements. If you are not a gardener then reduce the amount of planting space in favour of more space for furniture. If you’re a keen gardener then maximise planting and disguise your boundaries.

In small spaces we often want to create more privacy and planting is a great solution; but so is using trellis to define more height without creating a shady space. Small gardens shouldn’t mean small plants. One or two large specimens might be all you need for a dramatic low-maintenance space. Consider a single Maple or Black Bamboo against a painted wall or use lots of evergreen foliage for year round planting. You will get shade in a small garden - you’re almost bound too - but work with it. Lighter colours in paving and other materials will lift any gloom as will cooler flower and foliage colours. In a shaded garden choose white flowers such as in Lily-of-the-Valley or Japanese Anemone varieties like Honorine Jobert and Apollo for longlasting impact. In a sunnier garden you might choose Mediterranean colours such as the grey foliage of Lavender and Convolvulus cneorum with pale blues and purples.

And from what I’ve already said you can see small gardens are primarily about small details. Invest in the best quality materials you can afford. A great York stone is going to cost only a little more than a cheap imported stone in such a small area, but you’ll get much more pleasure from having it. And clever use of spaces and storage will transform the garden for different uses.

And if you’ve still not got enough space for all those different elements and plants then maybe you need a designer to come along and be a little strict with you? Careful planning and an independent eye might help you understand what you really need and focus your sights on a great new small garden.

Visit www.fishertomlin.com or, for a chat about your garden project, call Andrew on 020 8542 0683