Turning small spaces into beautiful gardens

By Hosea Omole

That property sizes will continue to diminish as the city grows and land prices soar is a reality many city dwellers must live with. Most are going to have to contend with small yards, verandas, balconies and even rooftops as the only ‘open’ space for a bit of gardening.

However, the good news is: bigger is not always better when it comes to landscape design. Although they present special challenges, small gardens can be very rewarding. You may not be able to fit in all the functions and elements you want but you can still make a bold statement with those few but precious elements and intricate details that are often ignored in larger gardens.

Do not underestimate the potential of that small patch. Scarcity is the mother of invention. This is your chance to get innovative and find ways to turn that leftover space into a real show stopper.

Extend up

Gardens around the house make good use of small spaces.

Since you cannot extend ‘out’, extend ‘up’. There are many ways to do this. Climbers are the most obvious. They provide vertical interest and a sense of privacy that is synonymous with small gardens. Climbers also soften hardscapes and tie up above-ground elements with the floor level. Hanging pots are similarly very effective. They come in a wide range of styles thus provide additional interest and much needed planting space.

Raised flowerbeds are less common but are nonetheless very effective. They comprise a shelf-like structure upon which potted plants are mounted. Well-designed ones also provide excellent storage spaces underneath where you can put away your hand tools.

Optical illusion

Colour has a very strong influence on how we perceive space. Colour theorists will tell you that warm colours tend to advance towards the viewer while cool colours tend to recede.

This applies to garden colours too. Using cool colours and limiting the use of warm colours in your small garden will go a long way in making your small garden appear a little larger. The magic of mirrors is not limited to interior dÈcor.

A small space garden designed around an entertaining and sitting area. Photos: Courtesy/Standard

They can be used effectively outdoors to ‘double up’ small spaces. If you have solid boundary walls, consider cladding one side with mirrors in a way that it reflects the favourite elements in your garden.

Be careful though. Too many mirrors will take away the sense of privacy that comes with small gardens.

Angel in the detail

Pay close attention to detail. Minute details that are often overlooked in larger gardens are the strongest design expressions in small spaces.

Think of the entire garden as a single composition comprising elements that are carefully placed to create one overall theme or pattern.

Each piece in the composition is a design statement in itself and is detailed to complement the garden’s overriding concept. Remember that users will interact very closely with each item in your design.

The level of detail must, therefore, reflect this reality. Small gardens, quite literally, have no place for joyriders. Every element is selected carefully and deliberately to serve a specific function in the design.

The writer is a professional landscape architect.