How to create a landscape design for a narrow plot of land?

Plot zoning

The layout of a narrow plot depends on its functional load. What exactly do you plan to do on your plot? Grow vegetables and fruits, gather with friends, spend a vacation with your family – the arrangement and design of a narrow space for each of these tasks will be different.

The main area on the plot is residential. A house on a narrow plot can be located near the near or far short side, or along the long wall. We will tell you exactly where to place the house in the following sections.

The front area is the first thing you and your guests see. It includes a gate, a fence, a canopy or a garage for a car and paths that lead to all the main parts of the plot. The entrance to the plot can also be located on the short or long side. Its position largely determines further planning.

Usually, a hedge is made between the parking lot and the garden or vegetable garden, which prevents exhaust gases from penetrating deep into the narrow area.

The photo shows wooden structures for zoning

The space that should be in every summer house is a recreation area or barbecue area. It includes a barbecue, a gazebo, comfortable benches or chairs, a table. It can also accommodate sun loungers, a pool and other attributes for relaxation. Designers do not recommend moving this space too far away from the house, especially if you or your guests will have to go into the house every now and then.

Advice! Want to separate the recreation area from the rest? Use trellises or arches entwined with climbing plants. Maiden grapes, hops, ivy grow quickly and in a matter of weeks will create a cozy enclosed space.

The main area for many summer residents is the vegetable garden. It includes various beds, as well as fruit trees and berry bushes. On an elongated plot, the beds are usually located closer to the far side, but the main thing to focus on is the direction of the sun, the abundance of light. Choose the sunniest, warmest places for planting and growing seedlings. Bushes are used for zoning or placed along the long sides. Tall trees are moved to the far wall.

In the farthest distance, in a place hidden from prying eyes, there are outbuildings. If the house is in the far part of the plot, it is logical to place a barn, a bathhouse and a woodshed behind it. If the house is in the near part, the utility block is still located on the far side, covered with a fence, trellis, vertical flower beds or other zoning options.

The photo shows the yard decorated with white stone

Important! You can zone not only with partitions, but also using different coverings. Stone paths cross the lawn, the barbecue is located on a gravel area, under the car – reliable concrete.

Dividing by levels is no less effective. Terracing is the best solution if your summer cottage is already on a slope. Make several wide terraces, each of which will have its own function. So, on one site there will be a house, on another – beds, on the third – a gazebo with a table.

Life hacks for visually increasing the area

The layout of a narrow long plot should be not only functional, but also beautiful. All elements should be arranged so that your space visually seems wider and more spacious than it actually is.

First of all, pay attention to the paths: do not apply straight paths with clear angles, make them winding. Curved lines seem longer and wider, which will have a positive effect on the geometry of the territory.

Another technique is perspective. Plant plants so that they increase in height. The lowest flowers and shrubs are planted near the entrance, tall trees along the fence in the far part.

Advice! You can create an artificial perspective with the help of a path: make it narrow from the entrance and wide at the end.

The photo shows decorative fences

An effective solution is to divide an elongated narrow area into two squares. For this, pergolas, arches, chain-link fencing, and decorative fencing are used – in this case, they will not hide, but expand the narrow territory. In one part, for example, there can be a house and a barbecue area or a summer kitchen, in the other, a vegetable garden and a utility area.

Don’t forget about color correction. Everyone knows that light tones increase, and dark ones decrease. Accordingly, light accents should be placed along, and dark ones – across. Thick, tall spruce trees planted at the far short side will make the narrow lot appear shorter and wider than it actually is.

Be sure to pay attention to the fence. A monotonous fence at one level will stretch the narrow lot even more. Add relief to the landscape by keeping the fence low near the gate, gradually increasing towards the far side.

Important! The fence should be built up gradually, but not at an angle, but as if in steps – so that the line is broken, not smooth.

Features of design by the location of the entrance

The placement of the gate or wicket is a given that you need to work with. In most cases, it determines the overall design of a narrow plot with a house, buildings, and necessary elements. Its position, in turn, is determined by access roads and land planning.

Entrance from the end, house by the far wall

Most often, the gate and driveway are located along the short side. This is the simplest and most popular way of land surveying. Some owners place the house in the far part, but if you have a bare plot, this is not the best option.

Its main disadvantages:

• a long walk from the car to the house is not always convenient, especially with heavy bags or buckets full of harvest;
• the main part of the property remains open, which does not allow you to hide the utility block and other unsightly elements;
• the gazebo and vegetable garden will be located in close proximity to each other, with virtually no possibility of zoning.

Is the house already standing? Don’t be upset, in this case, a narrow plot can still be attractive. It is better to divide it into two squares with a vertical fence. The far part (near the house) is more quiet and hidden. In the private area, install a gazebo, a playground, and other accessories for the recreation area. If you are going to make a pond or a pool, also leave space in this square.

Right next to the entrance in one corner there will be space for cars (garage, open canopy), in the second you can install a barn or a bathhouse. Between the garage and the partition, plant a vegetable garden, but don’t forget to separate it from the exhaust fumes with a hedge.

The photo shows a pergola in the design

Entrance from the end, but the house is located along the site

Compared to the first, this option is more convenient. In this case, the house itself will be used to divide the perimeter. Usually, in front of the house in the representative area, they leave a place for parking, and plant a decorative flower bed.

In the backyard, hidden from prying eyes, they place a patio or lounge area, then we advise you to arrange the beds, and at the farthest wall of the narrow area there is an ideal place for a utility block and a well.

A narrow path runs along the house, which is ennobled with the help of shade-loving plants, natural materials (example: stones, wooden sculptures, alpine slides).

The photo shows an example of landscaping a path along the house

Entrance along the long side of the plot

Plots are rarely located along the road, but if you have become the happy owner of just such a layout, you can consider yourself very lucky!

The most successful location of the house in this case would be the central one. The living and front areas are located in the middle. On one side there is a vegetable garden, on the other – a gazebo, barbecue, children’s or sports ground.

The second option is to move the house, parking and all buildings to one of the short sides of the narrow plot. Not far from the residential front area, a gazebo with a barbecue is distributed, the rest of the length of the plot is used for growing fruits, vegetables and berries, trees are planted in the buffer zone. Tall plants, by the way, provide excellent protection from curious neighbors on the sides.

The photo shows a garden layout with an entrance along a long wall

Landscape design ideas

A narrow long plot can be both spacious and compact in size (4-6 acres). In the second case, it is not recommended to plant tall trees and lush green bushes – there will simply not be room for the necessary structures in a small area.

Instead, use all possible vertical forms in the form of trellises, arches, multi-level flower beds. Vertical growing in containers is a real salvation. It is used for both ornamental plants and fruit plants – peppers, eggplants, tomatoes feel great on top of each other.

The photo shows circles in landscape design

Before planting flowers, divide them by color saturation. Light neutral shades are used near the living and front areas. Bright and saturated shades are removed to the end – they will visually correct the narrow elongated shape of the site.

A decorative pond is an excellent technique for increasing the total area. The reflective ability of water acts as a mirror in interior design. Water is calming, so professionals advise placing a pond on the plan not far from the recreation area.

The photo shows a children’s playhouse in the backyard