While sprawling backyards were once the norm, inner-city living has slowly, but surely, shrunk our gardens. But small garden design doesn't have to be inspiring. When you take over a small space like a patio, patio balcony, or front yard, there's no need to say goodbye to the lush green havens of our dreams—it's an opportunity to get creative by maximizing the outdoor space you have available.
Space-saving solutions like vertical gardens, statement potted plants and climbing vines are perfect for pushing the boundaries of a small yard. All you need is a little imagination and these small garden design and landscaping ideas can transform a humble area into an urban oasis.
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1. Screening plants
Bamboo is a favorite screening plant, but be careful which species you choose. The bamboo used below is Bambusa textilis 'Gracilis' (Fine Weaver's Bamboo), a non-invasive, cluster variety.
"It grows 6-8m tall and gives you maximum height and screening in tight spaces," says landscape architect Sophie Grave of Think Outside Gardens. "It also has a rapid growth rate - from 1m tall to 6m in 18 months."
Sophie recommends planting a plant between 0.6m and 1m, depending on how thick you want it to be. "Fine weavers have green without yellow foliage in winter, are frost tolerant and drought tolerant once established, but prefer plenty of water in summer to be at their best." The stems can be left bushy for screening purposes or the leaves can be turned into bare stems to allow more light into the space.
2. Use the council edge
The owners of this striking new Perth apartment wanted an equally eye-catching front garden, so they enlisted Tim Davies Landscaping to "add interest to a typically lackluster council verge".
Tim met briefly by creating densely planted 'islands' around a stone path to the front door. Two trees arching over the path – a poinciana and a frangipani – create a shady canopy at the entrance. Plants below include Agave attenuata, Senecio mondraliscae, Japanese box, and Jamia furfurasia.
"It's a vibrant, textured and strikingly lush mix of different textures, repeated in an informal way to create an inviting entryway," says Tim.
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3. Create layers
The owners of this Federation home in Sydney's inner west wanted a semi-formal front garden to complement the home's beautiful traditional facade.
"Mainly, though, they wanted a beautiful space to look at," says landscape designer Julia Levitt of Sticks & Stones Landscape Design, so she planted a layered garden of "soft and delicate" plants with mixed greens.
4. Increase natural light
The most important thing when designing a small yard or small garden is understanding how light works in the space, garden designer Richard Unsworth tells Garden Life.
"Consider the light at different times of the year and at different times of the day," he says. "Choose plants that thrive and adore those conditions."
It's also important to understand how the plant will perform over time: how big will it get? What are its water requirements?
"All plants can fail - they're living things. That's why it's so important to give them what they need and love."
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5. Mix and match
Stacking plants of different heights and leaf sizes creates the illusion of space. Here the bluestone paths of this Melbourne front garden by Jabara are surrounded by beautiful layers of Portuguese laurel, English box, lamb's ears, German iris and seaside daisies.
6. Outdoor rugs
"Outdoor rugs can help give a space extra warmth and introduce another texture," says Richard Unsworth. "We use them more now."
Not only do they add a stylish touch to your outdoor setting, but outdoor rugs are also practical – preventing pavers from overheating in the sun or covering up old or distressed paving.
7. Create a leaf canopy
The journey towards the front door of this newly built house is through a shady green side garden. A vertical canopy of leafy foliage, shades and softens the sun's heat while adding drama to a side space that could have simply been a path.
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