East Lothian based garden designer Becca Duncan shares her hints and tips on designing a small garden with lots of impact. Contact her for any project big or small at Blossoming Gardens, T: 07963 951 715, www.blossominggardens.co.uk
Our gardens are getting smaller these days, but they can still be a valuable space for getting outdoors to enjoy the sunshine and connect with nature.
Here are 5 tips for creating a small garden that packs a punch:
1 KEEP TO A SIMPLE PALETTE OF MATERIALS
Create a well thought out scheme using the same style for all elements in the garden. Pare it down to a limited palette of good quality landscaping materials. Use the same material in different ways. The same stone could be used for the walling, paving and aggregate, or the wood used for a garden arch could also be used to create a bench.
2 Built in seating
Work out what you want from your garden, then distil your ideas to make every inch of the space count. Built-in garden seating uses up less space. Be versatile – low walls and steps make extra seating when friends come round. Pergolas can double up as climbing frames or supports to hang swings from. Tables can fold away, sandpits can be covered and wash lines retracted.
3 Lose boundaries
To make your garden feel larger, as if it extends beyond the boundary, cover fences and walls with trees, shrubs, hedging and climbers. This can also hide neighbouring houses, making your garden feel more secluded.
4 MAXIMISE LIGHT
In shady spaces that are surrounded by tall buildings, bounce light around your garden using reflective surfaces. A cool contemporary pool that reflects the sky can light up the garden. Incorporate garden lighting to enhance shapes and create intrigue.
5 USE LARGE PLANTS WITH LARGE LEAVES
Planting a few large plants with large leaves makes a small garden feel bigger than one with lots of small fussy plants. Make the most of your vertical space by planting small upright trees and pleached hedging that allow light to filter through. Have climbers cascading over vertical structures. Use only a few different plants from the same colour palette.
