When I sat down with five top garden designers to discuss their tips for making the most of small garden spaces, I was curious about the creative strategies they employ. What I discovered was a treasure trove of ideas centred around an intriguing concept: using plants with a strong vertical habit to draw the eye away from a garden’s lateral limitations. From a design perspective, this approach can transform even the most confined spaces into visually captivating retreats.
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Drawing the Eye Upwards: Matthew Wilson’s Approach
Matthew Wilson was the first to share his insights, and his enthusiasm for vertical gardening was immediately evident. “The only ‘free’ space in a small garden is the vertical plane,” he explained. “People are often hesitant to utilise this space because they fear making their garden seem even smaller or creating unwanted shade.”
Wilson’s solution is to use plants with a strong vertical habit, which helps break up the oppressive weight of surrounding buildings and draws the eye upwards, away from the garden’s limited width. For sunny gardens with well-drained soil, he recommends perennials like Echium pininana and Eremurus robustus, along with the slender pencil juniper ‘Skyrocket’. For shaded areas, white foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea f. albiflora) and clipped evergreen columns can create striking vertical interest.
Blurring the Boundaries: Matt Keightley’s Strategy
Matt Keightley’s advice focused on creating the illusion of more space by cleverly blurring the boundaries of a garden. “Changes in the level of a small garden can create the illusion of more space,” he said. “Using a combination of perennials, grasses, shrubs, and small trees can dramatically alter levels without the need for major earthworks.”
Keightley also emphasised the benefits of living boundaries over fences or walls. “A natural boundary provides a sense of depth and seamlessly blends with the surroundings,” he noted. For those with very tight spaces, he suggested using climbers instead of hedging. “They provide a quick screen and only take 15cm of width from a garden.”
Dividing for Impact: Miles Raybould’s Technique
Miles Raybould had a slightly counterintuitive but effective strategy: dividing a small space into different areas. “Often, the way to make a small space more interesting and feel larger is to break it up into smaller areas or compartments,” he explained. “The trick is to achieve the correct scale. Too many areas will feel cluttered; too few will feel flat and small.”
Raybould also stressed the importance of being generous with planting beds. “Larger beds mean you can plant with depth and create beautiful year-round displays. It’s about creating a journey through the garden, making it feel more expansive than it actually is.”
Creating Harmony: Hay Hwang’s Vision
Hay Hwang brought a more artistic perspective to the discussion, emphasising harmony and cohesion in a small garden’s design. “Even in a small garden, it’s important to have a cohesive planting style,” she said. “A well-designed garden with well-chosen flowers can help us retreat and recover our emotions.”
Hwang suggested using a complementary colour palette in soothing shades to create a cohesive look. For a romantic, fairy-tale style garden, she recommended soft-textured flower plants like irises ‘Beverly Sills’ and ‘Jane Phillips’, combined with small-petalled flowers such as Rosa ‘Natasha Richardson’ and Tiarella ‘Spring Symphony’.
Going Big with Borders: Sarah Eberle’s Insight
Sarah Eberle rounded out our discussion with her advice on border sizes. “In a small garden, the temptation is to create narrow borders to make the usable space larger,” she explained. “But narrow borders often expose the boundaries and rarely allow plants of substance to establish and flourish.”
Eberle advocated for full, wide borders that add volume and three-dimensional scale to a garden, effectively disguising its boundaries. “Keeping things simple and using the best quality materials you can afford will speak for themselves,” she advised. “This approach prevents the space from becoming visually busy or fussy.”
Conclusion
As I wrapped up my conversations with these talented designers, it was clear that making the most of a small garden space requires a blend of creativity, boldness, and strategic planning. Whether it’s drawing the eye upwards with vertical plants, creating the illusion of more space through level changes, or ensuring harmony with a cohesive colour palette, the key lies in thinking beyond the obvious limitations.
By incorporating these expert tips, any small garden can be transformed into a lush, inviting sanctuary. So, if you’re feeling confined by your garden’s size, take a leaf out of these designers’ books and start planning your vertical masterpiece today.
George
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