Landscaping a small yard can be even more intimidating than trying to fill a huge one. It takes a great deal of planning and execution. When done right, your yard will be a sanctuary that you can enjoy. Follow these tips for the small backyard of your dreams.
Decide What Your Yard Can Be Used For
Do you long to kick off those stiff work shoes in the afternoon and enjoy a nice glass of wine in a lounge chair? Do your kids desperately need a patch of Earth to destroy in their rough and tumble games? Do fresh veggies stir your senses? If one of these, all of these, or something completely unique calls your name, you can create the space in your backyard. You just need to decide exactly what you want before you begin landscaping. Even a small yard can have the space for a variety of enjoyments if you plan well.
Create Structured Sections
Once you know the spaces you want to create in your backyard, you can plan the landscaping. Because you are dealing with a small area of land, careful planning is extremely important. Diving straight into the design, especially if you want the yard to have multiple purposes, can end up looking like a messy hodge-podge, which will not be relaxing. Instead, create deliberately constructed “sections” within the yard.
Employ Natural Elements
This is your yard, after all, so utilize nature in the design. Plants should both establish and delineate the sections of your yard. For example, tall hedge bushes or clumping bamboo create handsome walls that could hide you and your lounge area from the rest of the yard. To designate a play area for your kids, create a border with beautiful flowers in fun colors.
Utilize Evergreens
Since the space is small, just a few dead plants can create a very dreary scene each winter. Combat this by planting evergreen throughout the yard. Try planting small evergreen trees on the edge of the yard, perhaps as a border with a neighbor. Small evergreen bushes or shrubs, especially ones that flower in certain seasons, make great edges within the yard space.
Create Balance
In addition to good planning, balance is important for a small space. You can easily over or underwhelm the eye without it. If you have a focal tree or a eye-catching lawn ornament, opt for simple, plants nearby.
Liz Childers writes about gardening and landscaping for Grandview Landscape and Masonry.
Decide What Your Yard Can Be Used For
Do you long to kick off those stiff work shoes in the afternoon and enjoy a nice glass of wine in a lounge chair? Do your kids desperately need a patch of Earth to destroy in their rough and tumble games? Do fresh veggies stir your senses? If one of these, all of these, or something completely unique calls your name, you can create the space in your backyard. You just need to decide exactly what you want before you begin landscaping. Even a small yard can have the space for a variety of enjoyments if you plan well.
Create Structured Sections
Once you know the spaces you want to create in your backyard, you can plan the landscaping. Because you are dealing with a small area of land, careful planning is extremely important. Diving straight into the design, especially if you want the yard to have multiple purposes, can end up looking like a messy hodge-podge, which will not be relaxing. Instead, create deliberately constructed “sections” within the yard.
Employ Natural Elements
This is your yard, after all, so utilize nature in the design. Plants should both establish and delineate the sections of your yard. For example, tall hedge bushes or clumping bamboo create handsome walls that could hide you and your lounge area from the rest of the yard. To designate a play area for your kids, create a border with beautiful flowers in fun colors.
Utilize Evergreens
Since the space is small, just a few dead plants can create a very dreary scene each winter. Combat this by planting evergreen throughout the yard. Try planting small evergreen trees on the edge of the yard, perhaps as a border with a neighbor. Small evergreen bushes or shrubs, especially ones that flower in certain seasons, make great edges within the yard space.
Create Balance
In addition to good planning, balance is important for a small space. You can easily over or underwhelm the eye without it. If you have a focal tree or a eye-catching lawn ornament, opt for simple, plants nearby.
Liz Childers writes about gardening and landscaping for Grandview Landscape and Masonry.
Great many thanks! Your post contains information that brings me a step closer to getting the bigger picture. Cheers!
ReplyDelete