If you have read any entry regarding my garden, you will know that my garden is quite small. For this reason, I am interested in all the information related to small gardens, always looking for ways to improve it and make it more pleasant.
A small garden should be simple with a risky structure or ornament but without too many elements to overpower it.
The palettes, materials, and plants must be limited; too much does not achieve harmonious and relaxing results. (And here I add: yes, we like plants, but is it worth having a real sample book or a balanced garden?)
Maintain the proportionality of hard elements, such as paving and soft elements, including planting and lawns. Too many harsh elements can make a garden feel empty and soulless.
Include evergreens to give structure to the garden all year round and try to choose attractive plants for a long season. A tree or shrub can provide flowers, fruit, and color in fall.
The entire space should be seen as part of the garden, including the surrounding elements, so that, in addition to providing privacy, they constitute a backdrop for the rest of the garden.
Each element should be multifunctional, if possible. For example, the seats can become part of the garden structure and can provide useful storage.
Borrow the landscape that surrounds our space. Neighboring trees, for example, can be incorporated as the background of our garden.
Make wide paths and allow plants to invade them, instead of narrow and corseted paths. In the same way, it is not advisable to make very rigid limits but to let the plants pass them briefly.
Don’t be afraid to use large structure plants in small gardens; they provide character. ( But here I add: be careful not to go overboard ).
Make the most of fences, walls, and sheds to plant creepers. In addition to taking advantage of the space, it allows you to blur the garden’s edges.
Keep plants clean and well cared for. Weeds and wilted flowers are much more noticeable in small gardens than in large ones.
Paint the perimeter bars a uniform dark color. It is an optical trick; the dark frames give the visual sensation of remoteness.
Begin to work on a scale plan. It should include existing features to help us determine which elements can and cannot fit.
Simplicity. Choose a specific style and add complementary materials and plants.
Flexibility. Despite the size, leave space to be in different parts of the garden, get in the sun or the shade, and enjoy different points of view.
A place to store tools and equipment is invaluable. If you can’t hide it, make it a feature.
Consider including custom elements to make the most of the space.
Be selective when including plant species. Since they fit a few, they are attractive, resistant, and do not require excessive maintenance.
Make a consistent bottom planting and include seasonal plants to renew the appearance each season.