There is no yard too small to add a small garden - sometimes it's just about the creativity! Small gardens can transform a small yard, an unused corner, a balcony or a patio into something special, maybe even the favorite part of your home. There are many landscaping tips and tricks to make the most of small spaces, but you don't have to be a professional to get started.
In this article we share some design tips to keep in mind when planning a small garden, a list of small garden ideas that can take your yard from boring to the envy of all your neighbors and some tips for getting started!
Design Tips for a Small Garden
When thinking about a garden design there are a few important design factors to keep in mind. Our designers have had extensive schooling so we'll give you our "garden design cliffs notes" so you can create the perfect small garden at your home.
Consider Scale
Think about the scale of your house when deciding the size and how to structure your garden. You won't want afront foundation gardenwith large arborvitaes framing it if they tower over your home. Similarly, if you have a three story home you can select larger trees and plants f as they won't dwarf your structure. This principle is the same for a garden bed anywhere in your yard- along a fence, next to your garage, or freestanding in your yard. Everything should be in proportion - especially in tiny spaces.
Maximize Your Design Layout
Bring balance and depth to yourgardenby placing tall plants in the back, then a layer of medium, and ground cover or small flowers in the front. Doing only two of the three of these steps can leave your garden bed looking like it's missing something.
Establish the Goal of Your Garden
Think about thegoal of your gardenbefore you start digging in the dirt. Would fruit trees be a great addition and feed the family? Would a pollinator garden that attracts butterflies bring you joy? Or are you looking to get out and garden as a mental distraction (there's lots of research around this!!)
Plan with Purpose
Pick yourgarden stylebefore you start planting so you can create your small space thoughtfully. Are you looking for an eclectic garden with tons of colors? Amodern paradisein greens and whites? Or to fill an unused corner of the yard with raised beds.
Keep it Simple
Complexity to a garden is wonderful, but there is no problem with starting simple, especially if you are a newbie in the garden space. Starting with atinygarden that you can grow is a great first step and way to keep things manageable.
Reduce Lawn
If you are working with a small space and trying to find more room for gardening, considerreducing your lawn. Traditional turf lawn actually does very little to help local wildlife. If you want more of a garden, reducing your lawn can create more space for flowers or raised beds. Focus on native plants to make this new spacelow maintenance.This can be a win for your beautiful garden and for local wildlife. You can also consider artificial turf, which is an easy low maintenance solution.
Landscape Lighting
You've done tons of hard work in the garden, now make sure you can show it off all evening long.Outdoor lightingcomes in many different forms - whether it's solar, uplights, moonlights or traditional walkway lighting along a garden bed - there will be a great option to help your hard work shine.
Make it Seasonal
Consider when the flowers you select will bloom and try to focus on native options. You don't want the entire garden blooming the first weekend in June and then nothing afterwards. Plan to make sure you have something blooming at all times so you can make the most of your small garden. This is also a huge benefit to local wildlife who are in search of food.
Disguise Equipment
If you have unsightly AC units, pool equipment, trash bins, there's probably a creative design solution to cover them. Whether it's a privacy panel with vines, potted plants, orgravelwith arock gardenaround it, get creative with the space. It is wise to remember that occasionally tryingtoo hardto disguise something can actually draw more attention to it.
Be Smart with Your Tree Selection
Trees finish off any design, but when you have a smaller outdoor space, make sure your trees are in scale. Research the mature tree height before planting so you know it will fit in with its surroundings.
Inspiration for a Small Garden You Can Try at Home
Now that you have some basic design knowledge it's time to think aboutsmall garden ideasand inspiration. We're also fond of taking a walk in your neighborhood to get ideas or browsing Instagram, Pinterest or garden books are a great place to start.
Get Creative With Where Your Garden Goes
Get creative with your outdoor living space - maybe you turn aside yardinto a narrow garden, or addwindow boxes outside your kitchen. Maybe there's a shady corner of your lawn that doesn't grow grass well, but would be perfect for shade loving flowers.
Vertical Space
In this vein, grow your garden up! Whether this is through a decorative living wall, vines growing up apergolaor planters hung from a fence - compact gardening adds color and personality to a yard.
Create a Certified Wildlife Habitat space
Consider making your yard aCertified Wildlife Habitat®through Tilly and our alignment with the National Wildlife Federation™. Tilly can design your space to meet the requirements of this certification and will cover the cost of the certification. The requirements include design features such as having shelter, water, food, and places to raise young in your yard – many of these simple, but extremely beneficial requirements can be met solely by adding the right types of native plants to your small garden.
Try Minimal
Minimal gardens with a small plant selection can make a big impact. We love amodernminimal garden with very well planned choices that make a high visual impression. Or a smart succulent and rock garden in gravel with small pops of native flowers. Sometimes less, truly is more!
Frame Your Entertaining Space
If you have room for a seating area add planters around your outdoor furniture or add a garden bed around the existing patio or deck. This can do double duty providing beautiful visual interest while delineating the space and separating its use. Creating theseoutdoor roomscan create a betterbackyard to entertain in.
Court the Cottage Look
Cottage and eclectic style gardens are generally full of flowers and can be high impact in a small garden space. Surrounding a tiny patio with beautiful flower beds can create an intimate and beautiful seating area.
Raised Planters
Raised planters and potted plants are a controlled way to have a small garden in a tiny space. Frame an outdoor room with a "wall of pots" for division, or create hot tub privacy, the options are endless.
Trellis Garden
If you have fun features in your yard, like a trellis, grow vines up them and add a small garden at the base. This is a great whimsical look that will add atmosphere to your outdoor space and takes no floor room at all!
Try Hanging Baskets
In another version of vertical gardens, if you are lacking in floor space, try hanging baskets from a porch or the side of your home.
Tree Base Flower Bed
Add a small garden around your tree base to enjoy. Perhaps this shady area is the perfect spot for a garden, blanket and your favorite book!
Mailbox Flower Bed
A quick way to add charm to your curb appeal is to create a small garden around your mailbox. Pick your favorite flowers and add joy to this tiny space.
Add Accessories
While this may not be for every gardener, adding accessories such as a water feature, bird house, garden gnome or piece of artwork can liven up your space while adding personality to it. Just remember the scale in a smaller space so what you add doesn't overwhelm your yard.
Butterfly Puddling Station
When adding an accessory, consider one that helps local animals such as a butterfly puddling station! These act both as a water feature and an inviting space for backyard butterflies to gather.
In most areas of the country, puddling activity is most common midday, also consider giving these delicate creatures some shade too!
Start an Herb Garden
We've covered pollinator gardens but what about the family? Planting a tiny garden of herbs gives a whole new meaning to dining al fresco. Get the whole family involved by having them help tend to the garden and select fresh herbs for dinner!
How to Start a Garden
Starting a small garden in your outdoor space can seem overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. Break your work into simple steps and remember that it's okay if things don't turn out exactly how you want. You can always rearrange plants, add to your garden and change things up. Sometimes the hardest part is just getting started.
Here's a brief overview of how to do just that - whether it's in a raised bed, in the ground, in a large yard or a tiny plot!
- First, decide where you want to add your garden and prep your soil by turning it over. To do this, dig and shake up the top few inches of soil. You can add fertilizer to this to add nutrients. Loosening the soil will aerate it, clear it of weeds and improve the drainage.
- Next up, plan! Research what is native to your area, what is low maintenance and choose plants you like. Then look into the plants' you like sun and shade requirements so you can place them where they will thrive. Remember to select some evergreens and multi-seasonal flowers so that you have something blooming at different times.
- Now it's time to focus on the garden design, while remembering layering and the other design tips mentioned above.
- Dig and plant! The planting part is messy so make sure you are dressed and have the proper tools.
- Water to establish your small garden! Even native plants ordrought tolerant plantsneed water to get established initially.
- Enjoy the beauty of your labor! Remember that gardens take some time to grow and mature. As the saying about plants goes, the first year they sleep, the next year they creep, the third year they leap.
Ready to get started? The professional design team at Tilly is always here to help.
