17 April 2025
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Mike shows how smaller gardens can be beautiful and full of interest
‘ Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies ’ ( Mother Teresa )
It ’s figure there are no less than 23 million gardens in the UK , with proportionately fewer in prominent metropolis where flat - habitation is more popular . Due to city urbanisation , space is always at a premium , so gardens run to be smaller . statistic show that gardens across the UK vary in size from 3.6m2 upwards , with an average size of approximately 190m2 .
Some of the most beautiful garden I ’ve been prosperous enough to chit-chat have been littler spaces where well - considered , thoughtful design and planting have resulted in what I denote to as ‘ TARDIS ’ gardens – the space appearing much bigger on the inside than it looks on the outside . My closest friends Otis and Ben , both very keen gardener , have a minor garden measuring just 12x8 m ( 39x26 ft ) , filled to burst with lush , tropical foliage and aesthetic splashes of year - round seasonal colour and interest , but which also service as a highly virtual space which allows for storage , entertaining and the daylight - to - 24-hour interval essentials of hang up out the washing !
So , here are my top recommendations for creating a grown impact in a pocket-size garden :
1 . Use the space creatively
Start by having a checklist of the things you must include within your garden . virtual need and considering where things are well placed , are vital . The location of seating and entertaining , alongside an expanse to dry out wash can not be look out over , and savvy where the sunny and shady areas lie within your garden will help you make profound decisions . Even in a smaller garden , it ’s no fun sprinting to the opposite end to collect herbs for preparation or gather in the washing when it ’s pour with rain !
This BBQ doubles up as an attractive platform for plant display
Seating is best site in a sunny , but not overbearing position , while retractable wash lines eliminate the demand for a permanent feature , no matter how white your White are !
computer memory is big businessman – somewhere to stow cushion , parasols , gardening prick ( see next tip ) , compost and pots is crucial . look for garden seating and tables which double up as originative reposition is a game - changer and will allow you to keep the space clean and not feel littered .
An ornate work smoothing iron barbeque with a hard - Sir Henry Wood top might also double up as a ready to hand place to display plants . And do n’t forget a hosepipe – wall mounted hoses are especially useful .
Make the best use of space with vertical planting
2 . mislay the lawn
This is a rugged call for some , calculate upon what you want from your garden . But , in a small space , a lawn will require tools to allow mowing and edging , and they take up space . If you have room for a small shed , big enough to store a mower , then move onto Tip 3 , otherwise a lawn option might include crushed rock , pave ( which will also aid with the surplus of winter rain water ) , or perhaps a sympathetically mold decked country . The look and feel of your garden will ply a direction for the undecomposed solutions and shapes .
3 . Go up in the world
In a lowly garden especially , but not exclusively , using the vertical planer of fencing , brick walls and any other boundary material allows for more planting opportunities . Green wall kits for sunny and shady locations are available from good garden centres and online retailer . erect planting gives your blank space a fantastic feeling of envelopment and secrecy , land you up close and personal with your plants . rose wine , clematis , honeysuckles and jasmine love scrambling up wooden trellis or obelisk , optimise the number of plants and increasing local biodiversity .
4 . Hide boundaries
fencing and wall have a rather irritating habit of nominate a space appear small than it actually is . As mentioned above , disguising fence with green wall , trellis and obelisk is a great first step , but clever planting can also help to banish bland bound . practice evergreen shrubs or ornamental grasses to rapidly blur the boundaries of your garden . exuberant dauntless banana tree and sensational bamboos either found in a border or a declamatory potbelly are especially good at help to screen high fences .
Planting can help block out boundaries and unattractive views
5 . take over or hide the landscape
You may be lucky enough to have a garden that , no matter its sizing , takes in a position . A church tower , or exchangeable construction with stunning architecture , distant hill , a stately tree , or perhaps a breathtaking view . contribute the keen beauty of whatever lies outside your garden into your garden ( we call this ’ borrowed landscape painting ’ ) by creating a well - considered space in between the planting , so that the borrowed landscape painting becomes a part of your garden , making the space seem bigger than it in reality is .
Unfortunately , not all the views from our gardens are ken to behold . Obscure those that have go down from the ‘ ugly tree ’ hitting every branch on the agency down , with a well - positioned ‘ beautiful ’ tree , or big shrub . I disguised a frightfully ominous looking edifice overtop my garden with a well - placedAcer platanoides‘Drummondii ’ !
6 . Go large with planting
A modest space fill with borders brimming with small flora creates a fussy , busy and chaotic planting , lack cohesion and much need pizzazz . Large shrub , and indeed Tree , can be included within a smaller garden . With trees , always check up on the ultimate sizing and diffuse before committing , but there are a big selection of trees that are perfectly suitable to a small garden . Do n’t block tree and large shrubs can be pruned to maintain size and spread . Amelanchier lamarckii , Acer palmatum‘Enkan’,Prunus‘Accolade ’ andSorbus aucuparia‘Autumn Spire ’ are amongst some of my favourites , and , do n’t draw a blank , some trees make eyecatching specimen in a large container , with a John Innes No 3 compost .
7 . Make the outer space yours
Ben and Otis in their garden
Otis and Ben have create a bigger feel with multilayered planting in their garden
Get creative with garden features in a way that works for you
