Expanding small green spaces: Strategies for creating an illusion of larger gardens

In the world of horticulture, small gardens can often be overlooked, but a group of British garden designers are proving that even the smallest of spaces can be transformed into a beautiful oasis. Here are some of their top tips for creating a thriving garden in a limited area.

Libby Webb, a doctor and gardener, believes that planting in the foreground of the garden, close to the house, can be "absolutely transformative". In her own small garden, she has planted several trees, including winter-flowering cherry trees, which add a touch of beauty even in the coldest months.

Tabitha Rigden, another designer, advises not skimping on planting in a small garden, as it is the planting that turns a space into a garden. She suggests thinking about the role of each plant, with some plants doing specific jobs like shading or softening edges, while others provide continuity or excitement. Rigden also advocates for multi-stemmed trees in small gardens, as they grow more slowly and bring a sculptural quality. Central planting can be transformative in a small garden, according to Rigden.

When it comes to planting beds, varying the contours of the earth can create fantastic effects and better planting opportunities. Plants can take the place of retaining walls to stabilize a bank in sloping gardens. Making the most of vertical spaces offers more planting opportunities in gardens with a restricted footprint, such as using climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea seemannii) to clothe walls and blur boundaries.

Designers also recommend incorporating tall and dramatic plants, such as trees, in a small garden for height and drama. Haruko Seki, a Japanese designer, recommends selecting one or two specimen trees as focal points in a small garden. Declan Buckley recommends the Hoheria Snow White tree, which grows up to 5m tall, for small gardens.

Repetition of form, texture, and color helps bind a small garden scheme together, creating a richness that pays dividends season after season, year after year. Miria Harris suggests choosing plants that retain a year-round presence in small gardens, such as Betula x plettkei 'Golden Treasure', a deciduous bush with a tight structure of wiry branches that looks great after all its leaves have fallen. Harris also recommends choosing a fruit tree for a small garden, grown vertically against a sunny boundary.

Lastly, limiting the palette in a small garden to perhaps just five to ten main herbaceous plants within your beds can help create cohesion and a unified feeling. Declan Buckley recommends the Nandina domestica (heavenly bamboo) for small gardens, as it grows to about 2m tall and 1.2m wide, has small evergreen leaves that turn red in autumn, sprays of tiny white flowers in summer, and red berries.

By following these expert tips, even the smallest of gardens can be transformed into a beautiful and thriving space that brings joy to its owners and visitors alike.

Expanding small green spaces: Strategies for creating an illusion of larger gardens