After 2020’s virtual version, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London returned in all its glory, taking place in the fall (Sept. 21-26, 2021) rather than the spring for the first time in its history. One of the key themes this year was the idea that you don’t need a massive space to create a leafy sanctuary, with balconies, container gardens and beautifully styled houseplant studios sharing space with the traditional feature and show gardens.
A 2020 survey by the Royal Horticultural Society found that 57% of respondents valued their garden more following lockdown, and numerous designs at the show proved that anyone who has even a tiny space can fashion their own outdoor haven, add green space to the environment and create pockets where wildlife can thrive. Take a look at these ideas for making the most of a small yard.
Sarah Alcroft
1.Combine a Lawn and Patio
If your space doesn’t have room for both paving and a patch of greenery, why not consider blending the two? That way you can walk on the area on a wet day and place chair legs on a firm footing while also benefitting from a carpet of greenery and wafts of gorgeous scent.
James Smith’s “Green Sky Pocket Garden,” seen here, features square pavers, but you could also use irregular flagstones for a more rustic look.
There are plenty of plants to choose from that offer greenery all year round, such as campanula or beautifully scented creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum), which bees love when it flowers in summer. Or why not combine different plants, as Smith has here, by adding sculptural succulents to the mix?
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Sarah Alcroft
2. Use Shrubs as Trees
Trees can be a little dominating in a really small plot, but here’s a way to create a leafy canopy on a smaller scale. In his “Sky Sanctuary Garden,” designer Michael Coley planted a Burkwood osmanthus (Osmanthus x burkwoodii) shrub in a tall planter to create height without overwhelming the space.
The slow-growing shrub is evergreen and produces small, fragrant white flowers in late spring. Under its spreading branches, Coley planted shade-loving ferns and largeleaf brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla) for a surprisingly lush woodland feel in the tiny space.
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Sarah Alcroft
3. Mix Flowers, Fruits and Veggies
No space for a dedicated edible garden? Don’t despair. Instead consider weaving edibles amid pretty perennial plantings.
In his “Parsley Box Garden,” designer Alan Williams created a peaceful sanctuary packed with interest for people of all ages, with containers at different heights making it accessible to all.
The herbs in the design include chives, mint and marjoram, while fruits such as blackberry, blueberry and strawberry are dotted throughout. There are also plenty of vegetables, including leeks, lettuce, zucchini and kale. And don’t be afraid to add impact with some bigger species, like the fig and espaliered pears Williams used (not pictured).
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Sarah Alcroft
4. Don’t Skimp on Seating
To really benefit from the healing power of sitting amid greenery on a regular basis, you need to make it easy to enjoy it. Having to rummage for a chair every time you want to go outside for a morning coffee or evening drink might hinder your plans.
For this reason, however small the yard, consider including a permanent, comfy perch. In Martha Krempel’s “Arcadia” balcony garden, a roomy swing seat takes up a decent chunk of the 6½-by-16-foot (2-by-5-meter) space, but she used a small pomegranate tree and a slim pergola draped in Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) to take the greenery up high and give the design a roomy feel.
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Sarah Alcroft
5. Harness Vertical Surfaces
Making the most of every inch is key in a small yard. If you have large planters, consider drilling some holes in them and adding leafy plants for a living wall effect.
The tumbling foliage on the side of this planter, in Coley’s garden, includes ivy and Hart’s tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium) and adds another layer of greenery beside a small dining area.
Sarah Alcroft
6. Work In Some Water
The sound of babbling water can both induce relaxation and mask less welcome sounds, especially in urban spaces. Water features also add sparkling light, the opportunity to enjoy water-loving plants and a wonderful environment for wildlife.
And ponds don’t have to be grand. A small trough, similar to the one seen here in the garden by the Blue Diamond Group Team, or a simple shallow pebble pond can bring the look and sounds of a bigger body of water to a small space.
Sarah Alcroft
7. Be Ambitious With Containers
Having a small courtyard, patio or balcony with a hard surface doesn’t mean you have to forgo lush plantings. Simply bring in large containers of different heights and fill them with a variety of plants to create a leafy garden feel.
These corrugated steel containers in the “Hot Tin Roof Garden” by Ellie Edkins, while urban in nature, are circular to introduce soft lines. The planters are filled with lush, shade-loving plants, including ferns, periwinkle (Vinca minor), sedges (Carex spp.) and ‘Rozanne’ cranesbill (Geranium ‘Rozanne’), plus ‘Nicolas’ Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra ‘Nicolas’) to further soften the look.
Edkins gave another layer to the containers by filling one with water (left foreground) to bring in some aquatic plants, including pickerelweed (Pontederia lanceolata), which produces lovely spikes of blue flowers in summer.
She also added height to the courtyard with paperplant (Fatsia japonica) in pots and ferns trailing from shelves to complete the sense of seclusion.
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Sarah Alcroft
8. Surround With Tall Plantings
Whether you add one small seat or can squeeze in a dining table, surrounding a small area with greenery can help to disguise its size, transporting anyone sitting amid the plantings to another world.
Here in the “Finnish Soul Garden” by Taina Suonio, a mix of cool-colored flowers, tall, delicate grasses and small trees is highlighted against black fencing to create an enchanting dining space.
Tell us: Which design ideas inspire you? Share in the Comments.
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