Compact spaces don’t mean you have to settle for either a bare or cluttered yard. Instead, choose imaginative elements to draw the eye and maximize impact. Whether you’re working with a small budget or hiring a landscaper, here are a few tips for creating a beautiful and lush garden in a tight space.
Get Creative With Your Planters
Control the growth of your plants by setting them in containers. Planters allow for better control over how much growth occurs with your flowers, shrubs, and small trees. Annual plants start at $1 each, while perennials that come back every year range between $3 and $15. For larger potted shrubs and bushes, expect to spend anywhere from $20 to $200, depending on the variety. Since space is limited, don’t choose large shrubs or trees. Instead, stick with options such as column evergreens, Japanese maples, dwarf chestnut oak, or hawthorns.
Along with standard planters, you may use flower boxes or hanging baskets to decorate your outdoor space. Keep in mind that planters require maintenance. As flowers, shrubs, and trees grow, you will have to increase the size of the planters. For both initial planting and replanting into a bigger container, cover each plant with high-quality potting soil. Set planters in sunny areas of the patio or yard and water regularly. Water weekly, especially during the height of the growing season in the summer months.
Experiment With Vertical Landscaping
Another top tip for decorating a patio or small space is vertical gardens. With vertical landscaping, you rely on walls, arches, and trellises to plant your favorites. Climbing plants and vines grow around the structure instead of outward. The plants selected for your vertical garden can be edible varieties, flowering types, or foliage options. Similar to other plant types, vines and climbing options require maintenance. Throughout the growing season, you will need to water, prune, and weed around each plant. The best vertical plants for a small yard include:
- Ferns
- Spider plants
- Salad greens
- Basil
- Parsley
- Radishes
- Pole beans
- Vine tomatoes
- Vine cucumbers
- Morning glory
- Hummingbird vine
- Honeysuckle
- Petunias
- Violas
- Pansies
Create Curves in Your Small Yard or Patio
A boxy or straight garden isn’t ideal in compact yards. Simple landscaping ideas could involve changing the shape of any plantings or stone. Open the space by creating movement using curved walkways with landscaping blocks. Flower beds can also be circular with curved edging to add dimension to the area. At the center of the small yard, you could add a unique feature such as a sculpture, fountain, or fire pit.
A professional landscaper can advise you on what plants are likely to thrive in your space. With the assistance of a landscaper, garden options are limitless, even for small patios and yards. To speak to an experienced landscaper or landscape designer in your area, check out Angi (formerly Angie’s List) and learn more about planning a garden for a small area.
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