-by Kaity Cheng, Designer/Project manager @ THLD

Amidst the noise and bustle of urban life, private outdoor space of any size is a luxury.  These compact outdoor spaces offer a canvas for transformation. Achieving this transformation hinges on striking the right balance between plantings and furnishings. Whether you have a narrow backyard, a little terrace, or a strip of pavement between your home and the sidewalk, rest assured there are garden design techniques that can maximize your garden’s potential. In this blog post, we share expert insights to help you harness the power of plants and craft your urban sanctuary.

Consider the View from Within

Often, the moments when you find yourself gazing at your garden are unexpected - like those minutes spent washing dishes at the kitchen sink. In this context, your window or balcony door is a frame for your garden. Here, you can strategically place an evergreen shrub, or select plantings that gracefully shift with the seasons. Imagine the joy of watching perennials and grasses nod into view as they grow, bloom, and sway under the weight of raindrops. In this manner, a pocket garden becomes a living landscape.

Embrace the Intimacy of Small Spaces

Small gardens possess an innate intimacy, and are perfect for moments of solitude. When it comes to furniture, think of a cozy nook. If space constraints permit, indulge in a spacious, enveloping chair and pair it with a sturdy side table to rest your cup of tea and a good book. For social gatherings, deploy foldable tables and chairs that easily vanish into the background when the party concludes. Multi-functional storage benches can double as seating while discreetly corralling tools, hoses, and potting soil. Before your heart gets set on a sectional or dining set, remember that the charm of a small garden space lies in effective planting.

Opt for Space-Saving Greenery

Begin with siting your largest plant (usually a tree, which should be placed within view of a window), and then add in smaller shrubs, perennials, grasses, and ferns.  Choose medium-sized understory trees, or dwarf cultivars that will provide structure and privacy without overwhelming your space. Many small cultivars have been bred from native herbaceous plants. For instance, consider Athyrium filix-femina ‘Minutissimum’, a diminutive fern with exquisite texture and color, that won’t occupy all the real estate in a planter. Keep an eye out for cultivar names that offer clues to their compact nature, such as ‘compacta', ‘little lemon,' or 'little gem.’

Emphasize Year-Round Interest

Small gardens require hard-working plants that provide visual interest throughout most of the year. For a sunny space, blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) has something to offer throughout the year with its blossoms, foliage, berries, and brilliant red autumn foliage. In a shade garden, the graceful, arching stems of Polygonatum biflorum (Solomon’s Seal) are a pleasure to observe, as are its cream-colored tubular flowers. Mass-planting these proven perennials ensures visual allure from spring to fall.

Streamline Your Plant Palette

Exercise restraint when it comes to the variety of species you introduce to your small space, aiming for ten to twelve carefully selected species in a 10'x10' space. A modest plant selection generates visual impact and imparts a soothing effect to the observer's eye. If the bright green of a sedge like Carex eburnea illuminates a dark corner of your garden, amplify that effect by repeating the carex in other planters.

Celebrate Foliage Diversity

Diversify your garden with an array of foliage. A contrasting palette of greens is subtle yet commanding. There is such a range in leaf shape, size, color, and texture. Since blooms never last as long as foliage, consider a mixed planting of ferns, perennials, and grasses. Plant a contrasting bouquet of foliage with Carex woodii and its delicate, thread-like leaves, the thick and shiny fronds of Polystichum acrostichoides, and the medium-sized heart-shaped leaves of Viola striata.

Accentuate with Seasonal Blooms

In a small garden, select a distinctive bloom for each season, content with the presence of one or two flowering stars at any given time. For instance, in a partially shaded garden, enjoy the pale purple blossoms of Phlox divaricata in spring, followed by the blue spires of Lobelia siphilitica in summer, and the fluffy white panicles of Heuchera villosa ‘Autumn Bride’ in the fall. If your garden still craves color, consider planting annuals in small pots, but exercise restraint by limiting yourself to two bloom colors to avoid a garish display.

Strategize Screens and Vistas

Within your compact garden, you will likely have views you’d rather obscure. When a neighbor's window directly faces your space, consider an evergreen or understory shrub, that can subtly obscure the intrusive view. Alternatively, a row of upright grasses like Panicum virgatum or Calamagrostis acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’  can serve as a dynamic screen that lilts in the breeze. Often, privacy can be achieved with a more open, loose planting, rather than resorting to a solid fence or a wall of evergreens. Conversely, cherish any unobstructed view, as it extends your line of sight and offers a sense of spaciousness. 

Alternate Rectangular Planters with Mixed Containers 

A variety of pots, planters, and window boxes can help create a layered affect and their mobility is conducive to space-saving. Place casters underneath heavier pots, so they can be wheeled into a corner when guests arrive.  

Embrace the Vertical Plane  

Install a trellis and train a climbing rose or other flowering vine. This space-saving technique makes artful use of bare walls and fences to create a sense of hiddenness and surprise. Consider adding a hanging basket adorned with a trailing plant such as nasturtium, whose orange and red blossoms are edible. 

Add Ambience with Outdoor Lighting

A row of string lights or a pair of portable solar lanterns create a wonderful glow and extend the hours you can enjoy your garden. With the night sky as your ceiling, your small garden can feel both intimate and endless. 

Prioritize Garden Maintenance

Investing time in garden upkeep is essential to ensure its enduring beauty. The task need not be daunting. Regular check-ins enable you to detect and address issues early, such as the emergence of oak saplings from squirrel-stashed acorns or the early stages of pest infestations and diseases. Moreover, drip irrigation systems on timers ensure that your plants stay hydrated. A low-maintenance garden is one where the constant replacement of deceased plants becomes a rarity.

Conclusion

Designing within the constraints of a small garden presents a gratifying challenge. Armed with these insights, you possess the tools to craft your personal outdoor refuge these insights, you possess the tools to craft your personal outdoor refuge. Remember, in this compact haven, moderation is key when it comes to furnishing. Plants, with their ever-changing forms, will slowly and artfully soften the edges of your outdoor space. With thoughtful planning and a touch of patience, your petite garden will become the most cherished “room” in your home.