Good news for green-thumbed urbanites: A small outdoor space is not a gardening dealbreaker. On the contrary, it can make it easier to create an enchanting oasis.
Francine Raymond, a gardening columnist for The Telegraph, recently profiled a London duo whose 10-by-32-foot front garden is “is a joy to behold, and planted with a bravura that belies its proportions.”
One of the keys to the London space’s success, Raymond notes, is planting vertically, which “makes sense in a pocket-sized garden, furnishing the walls with scent, texture and colour.” Since most of these small, urban yards are bound by high fences, planting climbers like wisteria or vine adds a whole new dimension to the landscape.
Vertical gardening is a rapidly growing trend that looks like it’s taking root as more people decide to downsize. A recent Washingtonian piece highlights three easy projects that allow gardeners to add color and texture to modest outdoor spaces “without sacrificing valuable patio real estate.” Among them: a vertical herb garden that can be hung on a wall indoors just as easily as it can be anchored in a flower box outside.
Ready to transform your lilliputian plot into a garden oasis? Pay attention to this advice from Raymond:
- Keep the plant color schemes simple, and have leaf texture and scent in mind when mapping out your space.
- When there’s less room to play with, it’s particularly important to use well-made features.
- Stick to hard landscaping materials and colors that reflect those already used on the house.
- Garden on all surfaces. Beyond the walls, look at your space’s steps, tables — even the roof of a shed. In a tiny yard, every inch counts.
As always, personalized suggestions and guidance from professionals are just a click away.