Masters Home Improvement

A small backyard is a wonderful opportunity to create a sensational garden.

With more and more of us living in urban environments, a restorative green space to sit, relax and entertain is almost a necessity.

It doesn’t matter how small the space – whether it’s an apartment balcony or a tiny backyard – there are ways and means of creating your own slice of outdoor heaven.

First things first

When space is at a premium, it’s all about the planning.

In order to help you visualise exactly what you want to do, it’s worth mapping out the available space.

Get busy with the tape measure and create a scale plan of your backyard on graph paper. Make sure to mark in doors, windows, fences and gates. If you have a sewer line or gas metre, then mark them in too.

One of the major mistakes people make when designing a small garden is jamming as much as possible into the space. This results in the garden feeling crowded and even smaller.

Every plant, paver and piece of furniture has to be an intrinsic part of your outdoor retreat.

Any elements that can work double duty, such as a bench with in-built storage, a decorative vine that bears fruit or a shade plant that acts as a privacy screen are more than welcome.

Layout

When your outdoor space is limited, it’s important to design it for maximum use.

How do you spend most of your time in the garden?

Is it a place to barbecue, a play area for the kids, a quiet retreat to read a book or a social hub to catch up with friends?

Design to fulfil the garden’s primary role.

Once all the elements are in place, it’s time to work out the feel of the garden.

An Asian look is very popular at the moment with lots of bamboo, statues of buddha and a tinkling water feature.

Would you prefer a formal, highly manicured garden or more of an informal area?

Think about which plants will suit the space without taking over the area.

The object is to create a welcoming garden with enough room to feel light and airy.

Underfoot

No matter how small a garden, a patch of lawn is a great addition.  Kids love to play on it, it looks welcoming and feels great underfoot.

If grass is an impossible choice due to excess shade or lack of room, then paving or decking is an attractive option.

Keep pavers simple and free of strong geometrical design.  Highly patterened areas will only make the space seem smaller.

Another option is synthetic grass.  It’s extremely hard wearing, can work in conjunction with a paved area and give the kids somewhere to roll around.

The green stuff

When it comes to planting a small garden, the golden rule is to keep it simple.  

A few well-chosen plants positioned optimally around the space is the way to go.

Trees are generally too large for small gardens but if you decide to plant some, care should be taken with their placement.

That sapling might look great next to the back door but will a tree lopper need to be called in 10 years’ time?

Tall, leafy shrubs work well in small gardens, and lily pillies make fantastic hedging plants.

If space is really short, consider adding a trellis to a wall to sustain climbing vines.

Vertical gardens can also transform a dull exterior wall into a riot of colour and greenery.

Terraced outdoor shelving holding different sized pot plants will create a lush three-dimensional look.

A corner of the garden dedicated to herbs can add colour and scent while helping to make meals even more delicious.

If your outdoor space is a balcony or concrete slab at the back of a rental property, it can still be transformed into a green space.

Use pot plants, hanging baskets or planter troughs to fill the area with greenery.   These planters come in an almost endless selection of shapes, sizes and textures to help create any feel you desire.

Bring it together

With planning and forethought, a small space can provide everything you need in a garden.

Try and hide the more utlitarian objects, like electricity boxes and clothes lines, with hedging plants, a large planter or a small raised terrace. Incorporate tables, chairs and barbecues so they entice you to use the outside space.

Plants that offer shade, privacy, scent and sustenance will make your little refuge a place you return to again and again.

For more ideas and inspiration, and to see the latest product ranges, visit your local Masters Home Improvement store.