In new development areas, building land is scarce, so that only a few square meters of space are available for the garden. Garden ideas are now in demand that optically enlarge the small area. This guide is packed with tips and tricks on how to create a beautiful and spacious small garden.

Vegetables can be grown vertically in small gardens

Reduction creates spaciousness - this is how it works

Careful planning is particularly worthwhile for a small garden. Every detail counts here in order to optimally exploit the limited space available. The motto for the floor plan is: size comes from reduction. If you create decentralized garden rooms, the viewer will not see the garden at first glance. This trick creates tension and makes the area appear more open. These garden ideas show how it works:

  • Divide the garden into plots with different themes, such as seating, swings or vegetable patches
  • Suitable room dividers: half-height gabions, beds of perennials, low hedges, tall ornamental grasses
  • Create level differences with raised beds, small dry stone walls

The aim of this garden design is to leave the viewer guessing what happens behind the boundary. These garden ideas invite the visitor to embark on an exciting journey of discovery. The actual size of the garden takes a back seat.

Lines of sight suggest depth of space - that's how it works

Symmetrical viewing axes and diagonals are nice for garden design on small areas. The focus is on planning the routes. The top priority is that you create all garden paths with a clear goal. A paved path, for example, directs the view from the terrace to a pavilion at the other end of the garden, creating a sense of spaciousness.

For the symmetrical garden design, the principle of the 'golden ratio' has proven itself. The way the paths and areas are divided depends on the shape of the garden. In the narrow, long garden, curved paths create an optical depth effect. In the wide, short garden, this effect is achieved with perfectly straight paths.

Lawn in a small garden - it depends on the shape

All attempts at visual spaciousness lose effectiveness when you create a rectangular or square lawn. With oval and circular lawns, on the other hand, you open up the small property visibly. This ingenious trick looks beautiful and exciting at the same time when the green areas are framed by loose, varied planting. With such garden ideas you create harmonious islands in the overall picture, which cause perspective expansion in the small garden.

Skilful selection of plants - tips for the floral arrangement

One of the key functions in successful planning for the garden design is the selection of plants. Please act according to the premise: Less is more. Be aware that in a small garden every single plant catches the eye. The following garden ideas should serve as a suggestion:

  • A small house tree acts as a center, such as 'Nana' (Catalpa bignonioides) or crab apple (Malus)
  • Ideal for dark corners of the garden: shrubs with light green or yellow foliage, such as Japanese golden maple (Acer shirasawanum)
  • Tone-in-tone arrangements underline a harmonious appearance
  • House walls and pergola are entwined with espalier fruit or climbing plants

Another recipe for success for imaginative garden design in a small garden: plant perennials with blue flowers or dark-colored leaves in the background. In front of the floral space openers, plan shorter plants with small, light green leaves and pastel-colored blooms. This gardening trick makes any bed appear longer than it actually is.

Garden ideas for decorative accents

Sculptures, small fountains, a rippling water feature or boulders made of local natural stone serve as unique eye-catchers at any time of the year in the small garden. If you add lighting to the planning, a small garden can be transformed into a romantic retreat at night. By illuminating individual plants or garden figures from below with ground spotlights, additional spatial depth is created in the garden at night.

Water and mirrors - garden ideas for allowed deception maneuvers

Where space is scarce, the creative gardener reaches into the garden design bag of tricks when planning. Here he makes use of the phenomenon that reflecting surfaces suggest spaciousness. In the open air, this is primarily achieved with water and mirrors. Both garden ideas are examined in more detail below.

Large ponds and streams are reserved for parks and extensive gardens. This does not imply that idyllic water worlds have to be dispensed with in the small garden. On the contrary, water surfaces are particularly popular here because the sky, sunlight and the environment are reflected in them. Even the smallest garden has room for a mini pond in a wooden tub, wine barrel or ceramic bowl.

The 'trompe-l'oeil' method is copied from French garden designers. Translated, the term means 'deceive the eye'. This is achieved with mirrors that are cleverly integrated into the planning and simulate spatial expanse. Wall paintings point in a similar direction, simulating the view of an endless landscape.

tips

Beneficial insects are also very welcome in the small garden as a powerful protective aid in the fight against voracious pests. If the planning of the garden design includes small mixed hedges, birds, insects and small animals will find a much sought-after retreat here and a valuable source of food for the cold season.

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Garden design