9 Amazing Design Tips and Techniques for Starting a Small Garden
by James Cummings on Oct 9, 2017
It’s hard to enjoy anything fresh or natural when you live in the city. The smoke rising in the morning at the nearby factory on the commute to work or the noise of passersby, cars, trucks, and taxis that pollutes the air you breathe. Your luxurious treat is to go home and smell the roses and herbs in your small garden that you’ve carefully nurtured through love and attention.
Every little space is precious and with several possibilities on how you’re going to transform your small area into a leafy refuge. Small gardens have many advantages - they are low maintenance, can enhance your creativity, and won’t cost a fortune to startup.
Principles of a good garden design
Ensure your design is functional and practical.
There is more to balance than a symmetrical mirror image. Symmetric balance is an image split down the middle.
Every design should have a focal point.
Use pictures from all angles by placing them on the perimeter of your workspace. A picture that follows the movement of the sun will help as well.
Do not overlook proportion about balance.
Do not overcomplicate your design. The focal point from areas where they will be viewed the most. Use adequate lighting to compliment your design.
9 important tips for starting a small garden
Think big
The first question you have to answer when designing your garden space is “how will your small garden be used”? Is it for unwinding after a hard day’s work, play area, growing vegetables and herbs, entertaining and cooking, or a space you’re not planning to use but want to cultivate for its aesthetic beauty?
The answers will influence your design plans and the type of plants or herbs you choose. The ideal small space is strong and bold enough that a piece of large furniture complements the design without distracting from its appeal. Don’t try to achieve too much in a little area or it becomes stuffy; use only the essential design and access the barest minimum that you need to work with.
Design a blueprint for the garden
Check the exact size of the space and draw it on an accurate graph, ensure the sketch fits in a sheet of paper for print portability. Change the linear foot to a half/quarter-inch per foot on the paper. From this outline, you’re already imagining what plants or herbs will fit nicely for each position.
Segment space
Once you’ve decided what you’re going to use the garden for, include your kitchen equipment or furniture in the sketch. It could be a barbecue, table, chairs, a shed or planters. Consider the details for the object and draw them to a scale. Furniture that performs double duty will be more efficient for a small garden.
Multitasking garden
To get the most out of your small space you have to ensure that the garden performs a variety of functions for you. For example, it could have a garden wall, raised flowerbed, and garden seat all in one place. Use practical seating built into the garden with colorful cushions that offer premium comfort. There should be lots of greenery for privacy and shades while the white painted wall serves as a ledge for lanterns.
Hardscaping
What kind of construction work will you require on your space? Make sure you check building codes and essentials for safety while other aesthetic features will depend on what you can afford. Professional hardscaping is costly but it will last longer than any work you do on your own.
Remember that your safety is not something you want to take chances with. According to a top industry expert at Big Easy Landscaping a top landscaping company in New Orleans, “make sure the drainage is always open and don’t place anything on a vulnerable roof membrane.
Use landscape fabric with crushed stone or pea gravel to cover floor tiles and paint the walls to cerise or turquoise color to make space look bigger.” If you don’t have a water source, factor that in because hauling water from the kitchen is very uncomfortable.
Lighting is key after dark
To enjoy your garden, you have to get the perfect balance of lighting. Small spaces have to do so much to please and the best time to appreciate a gorgeous design is in the evenings or early mornings. The first light from the morning sun as it casts a shadow over your garden is a natural mesmerizing sight. However, to appreciate your hard work the artificial lit nighttime really shines and can be used to set an atmosphere for any gathering or event.
A cost-effective measure that works for long periods is LED lights. They shine bright as lighting options for decking, paving, changes around the house, and highlighting steps. They should be used reasonably to emphasize planters and pot and can be combined with other lighting options to create a picture-perfect garden.
Study the sun exposure and know your climate
Location is key when choosing the right plants for your garden. Know your climate zone and select the right plants that will blossom and thrive in your space. Observe and record the amount of sun your garden receives to eliminate guesswork. Not every part of the garden will receive equal sunlight, even in small spaces.
Mix your media
Create a balanced modern look by ensuring your small space is attractively using defined landscape lines. Distinctive materials are great for constructing amazing interlocking zones such as a pale patio, decorative stones, wood stained decking, slabs, and chippings.
Choose plants
The most remarkable patterns offer a planting scheme to the minimum, hence, creating a huge impact with only a few species. Follow seasonal interest when choosing plants so your garden remains evergreen especially in the summer.
In conclusion, less is always more with a small garden so you can keep working on the plant scheme and design until you have the perfect balance of seasonal color, green coverage, and time plan that is best for you.
Research the plants you want to use to understand how much care they require and the conditions under which they thrive and spend quality time planning your garden on paper before getting down and dirty to the hard work.
Popular Articles
Three Places to Spend Money on the Exterior of Your Home
When you have the exterior of your home remodeled, you are investing, time, energy and convenience into the project and you want to make sure that...
87642 Views
When to Use a Brush, Roller or Sponge Brush
Brushes are a good choice for painting trim and woodwork. They are also useful for cutting in the edges around the top and bottom edges and corners...
69730 Views
Homemade Headboards-Make an Upholstered or Wooden Headboard
Homemade headboards can add a lot of personality to any bedroom. They can be coordinated with existing furniture and room decor or they can be the...
69061 Views
Creating a Cottage Kitchen with Bead Board
Kitchen decor can range from modern and bold to elegant and elaborate by using strategic kitchen pieces. One of the most popular decorating trends...
47760 Views
Gas Fireplace Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
Follow these steps for diagnosing and troubleshooting Gas Fireplaces repairs. For the average DIYer, this may seem intimidating, depending on the...
28853 Views
Latest Articles
Understanding Indonesia’s Real Estate Investment Laws for Foreigners
Indonesia, with its stunning landscapes, deep-rooted cultural heritage, and renowned hospitality, has emerged as a top destination for foreigners...
on Jan 25, 2024
Real Estate Development in Asian Cities
In many Asian cities, the rapid pace of urban development has led to the decline of historic districts, areas once teeming with cultural richness...
on Jan 25, 2024
Shower Envy: Elevating Your Bathroom with a Stunning Walk-In Shower
Are you tired of the same old routine in your bathroom? It might be time to consider a change, and one way to elevate your bathroom to a new level...
on Jan 22, 2024
Exploring Crowdfunding as an Innovative Approach to Real Estate Investment
The landscape of property selling has been transformed significantly due to the advent of property crowdfunding. This innovative approach,...
on Jan 10, 2024
The Rise of Co-Living Spaces in Asian Cities
Asia, home to 21 of the worlds 30 largest cities, is a significant player in the global economy, contributing 38% of the goods and services of the...
on Jan 5, 2024
Featured Articles
What Type of Licensed Contractor Should You Hire?
on Feb 28, 2017
Hire Contractors / Estimates
Looking for a specialty project? There are many types of contractors available for your home improvement needs. Finding the right type of...
Actions
Top Categories
- Garden / Landscaping / Patio — 263
- Kitchen / Bathrooms — 240
- Real Estate / Finance — 200
- Appliance / Repair — 186
- Interior Design / Decor — 184
- HVAC / Air Conditioning — 147
- Cleaning / Maintenance — 144
- Improvements / Remodeling — 131
- Plumbing / Basements — 118
- Floors / Tile / Hardwood — 115
- Doors / Garages — 113
- Safety / Security — 112
Articles Archive
More DIY Articles
Painting Walls is Simplest Updates
As with any painting project, preparation is crucial to achieving a high-quality result when painting wall stripes. Whether you are painting one...
The Benefits of Radio / Wireless Fire Alarm Systems
Early radio or wireless fire alarm systems began to gain a poor reputation for reliability, mainly related to the radio transmissions and battery...
How to Save Money when You Buy Garage Doors
Everyone is looking for frugal solutions even when they seek new garage doors. But is it possible to save money and still get a durable garage...
The Future of Buildings: The Growth of Sustainability
In today’s fraught world, there are few things more important than sustainability. The idea that we need to create things using sustainable...
Essential Checklist for When You Want to Buy a Condo
Buying a condo has its pros and cons, but it is a completely different experience from buying a single unit, a family home, or a detached...