Designing small gardens
Designing a small garden requires just as much skill as a project that extends over several acres – and the talented team at Alaster Anderson are delighted to share our Top 10 Tips for small garden design.
Be bold and ambitious. Choose impressive species which create impact, ensuring year round interest in the garden. Tall plants may seem counter-intuitive, but in fact they add wonderful drama, and your space will naturally look bigger if it cannot all be seen at once. Don’t believe the myth that trees are too big for small gardens. Add interest with characterful multi-stemmed trees such as Amelanchier lamarckii, Osmanthus burkwoodii, Phillyrea angustifolia and Cornus mas.
Select plants that are hard workers, looking good in every season (even in winter) so you make the most of every square metre. Include strong evergreens and splashes of Winter colour. Evergreen species that contribute to the garden all year round include Pittosporum tobira ‘Nanum’, Sarcoccoca confusa, Myrtus communis, Arbutus unedo and Pinus mugo. Deciduous Cornus kousa has flowering interest as well as large fruits which will be enjoyed by wildlife.
At Alaster Anderson we are huge fans of planting in large pots. You can easily change the look of your garden by having plenty of containers and change them as the seasons ebb and flow. You can use large plants to play with scale, and even install a pond in a pot.Climbers are a must-have element in small gardens. They take up hardly any ground space but can be show-stoppers with their flowers and foliage. Architectural structures such as obelisks and pergolas make impressive frames, but climbers also work well along walls and fences.
Growing in full sun to partial shade, Trachelospermum jasminoides is a brilliant option for growing against a wall as it is evergreen and has small fragrant flowers. Another plant that is appropriate in using your limited growing space wisely would be to plant a repeat flowering climbing rose against walls or climbing up architectural structures.
Create different areas of interest using soft hedging. Even small gardens have room for secret spaces, for example using a hornbeam hedge to screen off a small, secluded terrace at one end. Explore the textures that are available with softer hedging, ranging from the looseness of Myrtus communis to aromatic Rosemary.
Providing a focal point with an appealing plant, urn or statuette at the end of a small garden draws the eye into the distance, giving the impression of a larger space. And another top tip – painting walls or fences white or green will also make a garden look bigger!
Avoid having lawns as they often look bare in London gardens where they are typically shaded by buildings or trees. Break up your space with a simple scheme of hard landscaping materials allowing the area to be multipurpose and easy to maintain.
Lighting. During the Winter when days are short, a strategically lit garden will enhance your outdoor space by creating interesting shadows and sculptural features. Lighting is particularly good when trees are up lit by a soft warm light.
Clever and attractive storage space is essential in small gardens. Whether it’s a bike store or box benches, discreet storage must be considered so that you can fully relax in your space without feeling that there is clutter within your view.
Embrace the shade with your choice of planting. Some of our favourite gardens get very little sun, but with the clever use of planting they can transform a small dark space into a hidden oasis. Ferns, foxgloves, Hostas and Astrantia all thrive in partial shade and would provide a mix of textures to provide interest.
If you would like to visit some of the most inspiring small gardens in the UK, the National Garden Scheme is a great place to start.
“we’ve seen an explosion of interest for inspiring small gardens”
As Chief Executive George Plumptre has said: “The value of gardens and outdoor space took on a new importance during the pandemic lockdowns. With many people enjoying their gardens and getting to grips with gardening for the first time – be it in a pot on a balcony or planning their first garden makeover – we’ve seen an explosion of interest for inspiring small gardens. Luckily, the National Garden Scheme has plenty to offer, with gardens all over the country – some just a few square metres in size – offering a host of ideas and demonstrating the skill with which people manage their small spaces.”
Here are some of the best small gardens from the 2022 National Garden Scheme – look out for more next year!
If we can help you with your garden then please get in touch. You can reach us on 0207 305 7183 or email at enquire@alasteranderson.com
