Not all yards are created equal. Some yards are big enough to house gardens and a greenhouse, while others barely have room for the grass. Landscape designers often suggest more compact plantings or mounted on walls and fences to save small spaces. Many people think that because their yard is small, they can’t have a beautiful landscape. It couldn’t be more untrue! There are many ways to make your yard look great without taking up all the space you’re allotted. Let’s explore some different landscaping ideas for small spaces so you can get started on your dream garden today!
- Consider adding a water feature to your garden: Water features can add a soothing element to a garden, and many of them are portable. A pond or fountain can be moved if you decide to change the layout of your yard in the future. Water features also attract wildlife such as birds and butterflies, both of which will help out pollination in your flower beds. Consider adding a pond, fountain, or Best impact sprinkler to your yard. All of these additions provide habitat for wildlife and create soothing sounds on hot summer days.
- Create an enclosed patio: Patios are great for entertaining. If your yard space is limited, build an enclosed patio off a small section of the yard to add seating and extra space. You can also use pavers in unique patterns or interesting textures to create interest in open spaces that would otherwise seem blank. Store patio equipment out of sight – You can install cabinets, use cabinets that you already have, or get creative with an old dresser or bookshelf to hide the small yard clutter (like patio furniture, pet toys, etc.).
- Color your garden: Use colour-coordinated plants and flowers that will attract birds, butterflies, and bees: Use plants and flowers that are easy to maintain to cut down on maintenance time. A few annuals or perennials will make a big difference in your backyard, as long as you plant them in the right place. Easy to maintain flowering plants will take the burden off of you and still add to the look of your yard with blooming flowers and colourful blossoms.
- Vertical props: Add a trellis for climbing plants like clematis or roses: trellis makes for gorgeous displays and gives you a way to hang pretty ivy, kiwi vines or morning glory, which will climb up the trellis. You can expand on this idea by adding a few trellis sections and letting your plants climb up it in different directions. You can also add some flowering plants to fill out the front, hiding the wall from view.
- Plant vines for shade: Plant some vines in an area that gets a lot of sun and let them grow over the side of the house or around trees as an alternative to having full-height tree coverage. Vines add privacy and can make your yard look more elegant. They grow vertically when directed and hence save space in your small yard. Use creeping vines and trailing plants to make the most of any space in your yard. Creeping vines and trailing plants are great for adding colour while climbing up walls, fences, arbours, or gateways. Some good plants for this include clematis, morning glory, and jasmine.
- Use a vertical garden to make the most of your space: Vertical gardens are a great way to use vertical space, whether it’s the side of your house or fence. You can grow everything from herbs and greens to flowering vines that will add colour and life to your landscape design. Vertical yard ideas can be as simple or elaborate as you want. You can use a trellis, fence, even store-bought panels to hang your plants.
- Herb yard: Plant a herb garden near the kitchen window so you can enjoy fresh herbs all year long. Plant a herb garden in containers for easy access and variety. Herbs near your kitchen window provide easy access while cooking, adding flavour to your food and green to your yard space. In addition, a small herb garden gives a homely feeling to your garden. Designate one area of your yard or add some containers and grow some herbs. You’ll have access to fresh herbs year-round for cooking and healing! Herbs add flavour and smell fantastic, plus they’re pretty to look at. Plant and take good care of the herbs as mentioned on gardenandgrass.com .
- Create an island bed in your yard: Island beds are great because they’re surrounded by mulch, so they don’t require any weeding! They look beautiful and can be filled. Create raised beds with natural materials such as wood chips, mulch, or gravel to make it easier on your back when tending to them. If you use wood chips, make sure to cover them with a black tarp to prevent the wood chips from turning into an eyesore. Make a small but beautiful flower bed for focal points: Planting flowers with varying heights and colours will make your bed more interesting to look at—group plants together that have similar needs, such as needing partial sunlight.
- Trim and prune: Keep shrubs trimmed, so they don’t block windows or doors: When choosing what shrubs to plant in your yard, make sure you choose ones that are appropriate for the size of your yard. Don’t plant ultra-bushy shrubs if you don’t have the space to properly maintain them because they’ll end up looking messy and out of control. It is simple to maintain because you spend less time cutting grass and trying to avoid thatch build-up. There’s no need for tons of mulch or tons of money spent at the florist.
- Minimise and beautify: Consider adding some colour by planting flowers or hanging baskets from trees, fences, posts: As you’re designing landscaping ideas for small spaces, don’t forget to add flowers. Flowers are essential in creating a great landscape design. You can choose perennials that bloom year after year, so you don’t have to worry about them as much as annuals that die off or need frequent maintenance and replacing. Adding trellises to support vines or attaching fences to the walls of your home are great ways to save space while adding extra interest and colour to your yard. Plants like clematis, wisteria, jasmine and some types of ivy grow well on a trellis.
Conclusion: Keep it tidy; an unkempt yard appearance will make your small yard feel even smaller. Make it a point to maintain the yard, so it doesn’t look sloppy and unkempt. Mowing, trimming hedges, and weeding will help keep the space looking neat and easy on the eye.
