When designing your small backyard, reduce visual clutter. Planters, potting tables, and other portable structures can be easily relocated or tucked away when not in use to keep your space looking clean and neat.
Often overlooked, side yards can offer an opportunity to grow culinary herbs and add a slim cafe table for morning coffee or relaxing. Layered lighting can also highlight your yard and make it feel bigger.
Planters
Taking advantage of vertical space is vital in small spaces. Adding plants and shrubs that grow upward will make your yard appear larger and provide more privacy, especially if they’re planted around the edges of your property. A variety of textures and colors in the landscape will also help to visually expand the area.
Focal points are important in any landscape, but they’re even more critical for a small garden. The key to a good focal point is to ensure that it doesn’t overwhelm the rest of the garden. A planter, statue, water feature or other garden structure can be a fantastic way to create a focal point in your small garden.
When choosing the material for your planter, consider its durability. Fiberglass is an extremely durable and versatile material, making it ideal for outdoor use. It can withstand heavy rains and extreme temperatures without cracking or warping, and is easy to clean and maintain. It can also be made into nearly any shape, which gives you a lot of options for your planter’s design.
Another great option for small spaces are stackable planters. Using these, you can build a vertical herb garden or vegetable patch. These are especially great for urban gardens where the amount of land is limited. They can be moved around your yard easily and are a great alternative to traditional raised beds.
A planter’s height is also important to consider when designing a small garden. Low to ground-level plantings can be used to define a garden, and they’ll add more interest to a landscape that may otherwise feel too flat.
For a little extra height, try hanging baskets. These can be filled with beautiful flowers or delicious veggies, and they’re a great addition to patios, fencelines, arbors, and gazebos. Just remember to properly secure hooks for hanging heavy vegetable or flower baskets, and keep in mind that they’ll need a lot of light to thrive.
If you’re looking for more inspiration on how to make the most of your small garden, contact the team at Beyond Landscaping. Our skilled professionals have years of experience creating unique outdoor spaces, and we’d love to work with you on your garden!
Patio Shade Structures
Adding patio shade structures can make a big difference in your backyard’s ability to entertain and relax. It can keep your family and friends comfortable during outdoor activities, which will help you spend more time in the yard. The type of shade structure you choose depends on your space and your preferences.
Awnings are one of the most common types of shade structures and come in a range of fabrics and metals. They are usually stationary and can be expensive, but they offer good protection from sun and rain. However, if you are planning to throw frequent outdoor parties, consider getting a retractable awning that can be adjusted for different weather conditions.
If you want something less permanent but equally effective for shade, a canopy is a great option. It is typically a minimalist design that encloses your outdoor living area without covering it entirely. This style of shade structure can also be easily customized with pretty fabrics.
A pergola is another great option for patios, especially in areas that get a lot of direct sunlight. It is custom built to complement the landscape design of a home and can be left open or fitted with fabric to provide full coverage from the sun. This type of shade structure is also available in elongated versions that are well-suited for bus stop benches and other public spaces.
You can also create a shaded backyard oasis with a cabana or gazebo. These types of structures are much more spacious than a traditional canopy and can accommodate furniture for dining and relaxing. They can be purchased pre-fabricated or can be built from kits. The posts in these structures are usually placed in the back, which minimizes column obstruction and allows the front of the structure to be used as a walkway or seating area.
If you need a patio shade idea that is more in between the two options mentioned above, a hoop shade might be for you. These are a little like a cross between a tent and a canopy, and they can be erected quickly before a party or weighted down to stay in place permanently.
Fire Pits
A fire pit brings the fun of s’mores to your backyard and makes a cozy outdoor seating area for enjoying a summer night. While they’re often seen in large backyards, they’re perfect for small spaces as well. Whether you choose a traditional wood firepit with a metal grate or one made from tumbled concrete pavers, they look great on a lawn or integrated into a patio. While some homeowners swear by the crackling of a real wood fire, others may find that the ease of flipping a switch for instant (and more controllable) flames is a bigger draw.
Regardless of the type you choose, a fire pit serves as a centerpiece of your landscape and can help pull together the aesthetic of your entire yard. When paired with benches or Adirondack chairs, it can create an inviting gathering spot for the whole family. And if you’re a fan of southwestern style, you can play up its visual elements with decorative planters, Aztec-print rugs and corten steel accents.
If you decide on a gas-burning firepit, be sure to have a professional install the lines to your home’s natural gas supply. A good landscape design professional can also ensure that your yard’s masonry and hardscape materials are compatible with the gas line.
With the right plants around your firepit, you can create a secluded little oasis that feels far from the rest of your yard. Boxwood, roses and hydrangeas work well to frame your firepit, or opt for a more wild, free-flowing landscape design that uses grasses and native shrubs.
To add to the ambiance, you can even light up your space at night. Be sure to use caution with fire, however, as embers can stay hot for a while after the fire goes out and isn’t a good idea in the presence of children or pets. And don’t forget that ashes make excellent fertilizer!
Plants
The good news is that there are plenty of ways to make use of your space. The most important thing is to create a landscape design that meets your needs, which may mean creating a small patio to use for outdoor dining and entertaining or simply planting thyme and moss around a fire pit for winter warmth and ambience.
No matter what size your space is, there are always ways to improve the flow and functionality of it, so look for opportunities that can add more living area or extra storage without cluttering the room with unused items. For example, if you have a nook or a corner that is rarely used, consider installing a bench or putting in a desk, and then filling it with plants that can thrive in the shade.
Another great small space landscaping idea is to utilize vertical gardening. Plant flowers, greenery, and more up your walls, fences, sheds, and pergolas for a pop of color that makes the area feel bigger. Or, try hanging baskets and containers of plants and flowers from your deck railings, gazebo, or other outdoor structures to create a unique garden that is full of texture and life.
Every outdoor space contains microclimates, with shady areas, sun patches, compact soils, and moist spots. To make the most of these conditions in your backyard, create different zones using hard landscaping elements to add interest and provide the right kind of plantings for each area. For example, if you have shady areas and compact soils, try low canopy trees like birch, spruce, and maple, along with shrubs like hydrangea, rhododendron, and arborvitae.
If you have a long, narrow garden, tall ornamental grasses can help to open the space and make it appear wider. You can also plant heuchera, miscanthus, and stipa to add mesmerizing texture in narrow spaces.
It is important to have focal points throughout your landscape, but in a small space it is even more crucial. This will help the space to feel more spacious and give you a place to focus your attention and energy.