Small garden: 10 ideas for design

Not everyone can come up with a large garden. We show how you can get the most out of small gardens and design them to save space.

A large garden in which you can let your creativity run free is probably the dream of every garden lover. However, the reality is often different. Not everyone can fulfill their dream of having a huge plot of land and small gardens rarely allow all of their green dreams to be fulfilled. However, if you plan correctly and observe a few tips and tricks, you can also get the most out of a small garden and, despite the lack of space, create a plant paradise that competes with even larger gardens power.

10 tips for creating small gardens

Small gardens present their owners with a special challenge, because every centimeter needs to be used perfectly. Here you can find out how this works and how you can optically enlarge the garden.

1. By planning to size

Many gardeners make the mistake of relying on large, expansive areas in their garden - it is precisely these that ensure that the garden becomes small. A garden only reaches its true size through structure. If you cleverly use shrub beds, tall grass or natural stone walls as a privacy screen, the viewer cannot see the room directly, which is why it is perceived as larger. In addition, you can optically stretch particularly wide gardens with visual axes. However, the line of sight should not lead into the void, but rather refer to a decorative element such as a stone figure or a fountain. This not only puts the selected object in the limelight, but also gives an impression of spaciousness.

2. Use height differences

Making a small garden interesting, but not cluttered at the same time, is a particular challenge. But this can be solved wonderfully if you discover a new level for yourself: the height. The different height levels in the garden create interesting contrasts that do not make the garden too restless. Raised beds or a raised terrace give the garden more depth. Dry stone walls and stone beds can be adorned with different plants, but also act as privacy screens that visually enlarge the garden. More about the Planting dry stone walls you can find out in our special article. Sink beds or a garden pond, on the other hand, use the depth and create particularly interesting combinations.

3. Plants for the small garden

One of the biggest problems that small garden owners face is choosing the right plants. In fact, with plants for smaller gardens you should consider certain aspects that otherwise only play a subordinate role. Plants that are particularly recommended are evergreen are and have a certain ornamental value all year round - for example through beautiful flowers in spring and a intense autumn colors - exhibit. The rock pear (Amelanchier) or the Witch hazel (Witch hazel) are perfect for this purpose, because they impress with their appearance almost all year round. In the case of trees and shrubs, slow-growing varieties should be used, as otherwise there is a risk that the small garden will overgrow. In addition, there are mainly high tribes, for example Boxwood (Buxus), Dwarf lilac (Syringa meyeri) or also Roses (pink), suitable for the small garden, as they visually enlarge it. And you don't even have to do without trees in a small garden: they stay small Patio fruit trees, columnar trees like the pillar cherry (Prunus serrulata ‘Amonogawa’) or the slowly growing spherical line (Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Umbraculifera’) are also suitable for small gardens.

4. The right choice of color

With a small garden it is generally worthwhile to pay particular attention to a coordinated choice of colors for the plants. Planting in similar colors is particularly useful here, as the garden quickly looks nervous and overloaded with colorful plants. But the choice of colors is also decisive: many red and orange tones quickly make the garden appear smaller and also bring a certain amount of unrest into it. You should also only use dark purple sparingly so as not to make the garden appear too narrow. Light tones in white, cream or lilac shades, on the other hand, make the garden appear spacious and open. With evergreen plants, it is also worthwhile to use different leaf colors. Small-leaved, light-colored plants in the back and dark, large-leaved plants in the foreground create a depth effect that makes the garden appear longer.

5. Vertical gardening

Plants need space - and unfortunately the small garden is only sparsely blessed with this. So it is all the more important to use every centimeter perfectly so that all your favorite plants find a place. A great tip for creating extra space in a small garden is to use not only the horizontal but also the vertical axis: Climbing plants as the Clematis (Clematis) or the wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) green unused areas on the facade or the garden shed and thus ensure an unimagined abundance of flowers. But also vegetables or Strawberries (Fragaria) can be installed to save space: At Vertical gardening the plants are planted in long vessels like rain gutters and then hung on top of each other. So you can nibble extensively even in small gardens.

tip: When planting the containers, make sure that you use high-quality, peat-free organic soil like ours Plantura organic tomato & vegetable soil for vertically grown vegetables.

6. Plan garden paths properly

Paved paths in the garden are not only practical, they can also influence a lot visually. While fast, straight walkways are preferred on large plots, owners of small gardens should prefer slightly winding garden paths. These strolling paths ensure that the garden appears more spacious overall and invites you to explore and marvel more. If the path tapers towards the end, the optical illusion becomes perfect and the garden appears much more spacious. But the flooring also has a lasting effect, because dark coverings quickly make the garden appear narrow, while light stones or white gravel, on the other hand, bring light into the garden. In addition, you should equip the paths as uniformly as possible and with large-format floor coverings - Small-scale or different floor coverings visually clutter the property and in turn make it smaller works.

7. Privacy protection in the small garden

In the case of small gardens, it is advisable to completely do without a privacy screen, as the view of the area behind visually enlarges the garden. If you still want to protect yourself from prying eyes, you should be particularly careful when choosing your privacy screen: High stone walls or dark hedges not only make the garden look smaller, but also leave it oppressive and gloomy works. Airy fences with the help of climbing plants are more suitable Privacy screen being transformed. Especially the evergreen ivy (Hedera helix) is particularly suitable for this purpose, but so is the wild wine (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) impresses with its impressive autumn colors. Those who prefer it colorful can opt for blooming Climbing plants as the Clematis (Clemantis), Firethorn (Pyracantha-Hybrids) or morning glory (Ipomoea tricolor) set. A half-height element made of bamboo also gives the garden more privacy without being overwhelming.

8. Water in the small garden

A stream or a pond are an absolute dream for many gardeners - unfortunately, they are particularly daring Owners of small gardens do not want to realize this as they think that it takes up too much space. In fact, streams, water features and even ponds can also be created to save space. The water feature in particular is easy to implement in a small garden: the different levels not only create lively splashing, but also use less space. You can easily build the water feature a little higher and steeper and thus stretch it less. Streams can be integrated in the small garden by planning them in such a way that they fill unused corners and also meander through narrow gaps. Garden ponds, on the other hand, can be built and used in almost any size and shape Pond plants beautify so that they can fit perfectly into the small garden. Don't be afraid to use unusual shapes to make the most of the space. You save additional space by letting your terrace protrude a little over the garden pond - similar to a wooden walkway.

9. Space-saving garden furniture

In order to really enjoy your garden, you should of course equip it with the right furniture. However, many garden owners focus on a large seating area that takes up a large part of the garden. Better for small gardens, however, are several small seating areas in different areas placed - this not only visually enlarges the room, but also gives the garden more Cosiness. However, you should avoid using materials that are too different, because that can quickly make your own green oasis appear nervous. Functional furniture is also particularly suitable for the small garden: folding chairs and tables can be easily stowed away when they are not needed, thus creating space. But also lounge furniture with integrated storage space or multifunctional garden furniture that doubles as a A chair, table or sofa that can function are not only practical, but also save valuable ones Place.

10. Use decoration in a targeted manner

Decoration is almost as important in gardens as choosing the right plants. But especially on small areas, it is a real art to stylishly stage decorations - the small garden looks restless and overcrowded all too quickly. It is therefore better to limit yourself to a few pieces when decorating. You don't need to be afraid of large objects, because they often appear much tidier and calmer. High and narrow decorative elements provide additional space, as they emphasize the height and not the width of the garden - This effect can be used particularly cleverly if you place old electric fence posts in the garden and use them at will decorated.