10 Tips for Landscaping a Compact Plot

Plan

Planning is the most important moment in creating a small garden. And it is much easier to create a cozy space in a modest area than in a vast territory. But in this case, you should not fit everything at once: it is important not to overload the area with trees, beds, buildings and flower beds. Consider zoning in accordance with the needs of all family members.

A standard layout includes a house and outbuildings, a garden, a vegetable garden, a recreation area and a flower bed, but the components may vary.

Particular attention should be paid to the fence – in order for a compact area to visually appear more spacious, it cannot be locked in a “box” made of a solid fence. The presence of such a structure will create the feeling of a cage and will negatively affect the plantings, partially depriving them of sunlight and natural air flow.

The best choice for a small area is a fence made of wooden slats, a mesh with vines, a hedge. If the desire to fence yourself off from your neighbors outweighs it, we recommend choosing a fence in light colors.

Zoning

Even a small plot can be divided into zones: this will help to use the territory as functionally as possible. For proper division in landscape design, the following methods are used:

• A screen of climbing plants: a metal or wooden stand, an arch, a pergola.
• A low stone or brick wall.
• Zoning with different coverings: concrete, paving slabs, cobblestones.
• Height differences reinforced with boards or stone.

The photo shows an example of a laconic design of a summer cottage courtyard: a concrete path acts as a convenient path and divides the area with a flower bed and a woodpile.

If the plot is intended for both recreation and growing vegetables, we recommend creating a neat mini-garden with framed beds. Such structures, which are easy to make with your own hands, rationally use a small area, look very neat and modern.

Visually light buildings

No dacha can do without additional buildings, but only compact structures should be placed on a small plot. Excessively bulky structures will have a negative impact on the landscape design of a small garden.

Arrange the structures evenly around the area, at some distance from the house.

A full-fledged gazebo can be replaced with a “weightless” pergola, decorated with live plants or textiles. A prefabricated tent is suitable for creating shade – a seasonal option that will not take up much space. To make a small recreation area seem more spacious, it is worth choosing garden furniture on thin legs.

Competently planted plants

A popular technique among the creators of “landscape” parks, which is worth borrowing by the owners of small garden plots – planting lush bushes along the perimeter of the territory. Spreading plantings will disguise the boundaries of the garden and distract attention from its size.

We recommend placing low-growing specimens closer to the center of the plot.

The photo shows an example of arranging a recreation area, which is framed by planted plants – from low to high.

If it is possible to leave part of the territory open – use it. A free area filled only with lawn will preserve the illusion of a large garden.

• It is better if the plants in a small garden are special – rare, with beautiful colors, unusual fruits.
• Climbing roses, petunias, begonias will enliven the area and add bright accents.
• Coniferous plantings will add nobility to the landscape.

In a small area, all the details are striking and to maintain harmony, we do not recommend using more than 10 types of plants.

Vertical landscaping

Hedges with climbing plants provide ample opportunities for decorating a summer cottage. Thanks to the graceful plantings rising up the walls or gazebos, the garden looks not only more aesthetically pleasing, but also more voluminous. The growth and direction of climbing plants must be controlled, as many species can fill the entire area.

The photo shows a well-thought-out garden with a cooking area and a wrought-iron gazebo. The brick fence is entangled with wild grapes, so it looks less massive.

Vertical flower beds are becoming increasingly popular today, ideally fitting into the landscape design of a small area. They save space and look much more impressive than ordinary above-ground flower beds.

Decor can be combined with benefit: plant garden plants in tiered boxes, create vertical beds with strawberries or greenery, combining them with summer cottages such as a gazebo, pergola or fence.

Twisting paths

A great way to arrange a small area is to lay out paths with fancy curved shapes that lead to a vegetable garden, flower bed or patio. This technique will visually increase the area of the garden, “fooling” the eye. You can choose a variety of materials to create picturesque paths.

If the path winds, then the journey along it will last longer, which means the area will seem more spacious. To create this impression, designers often use the following technique: a path leading into the dense greenery near the fence creates the illusion that the garden continues beyond the borders of the territory.

The photo shows a well-thought-out landscape design of a small plot with winding, neatly trimmed hedges.

Decor

A small plot will only benefit from unusual details decorating the landscape. They give the garden a special charm and individuality, but most importantly, they distract from its small size.

Elegant sculptures, wooden birdhouses, vintage things from the attic attract the eye and complement the landscape design.

When decorating a garden, it is important not to overdo it. Crafts made from plastic bottles, swans made from tires and soft toys look rather tasteless than original. Choose items made of natural materials for decoration – metal, wood, stone, ceramics.

Mirror

This technique for expanding the space in the interior is familiar to everyone. So why not use it in a small garden? A mirror firmly fixed to a blank fence will instantly create additional depth, give the area originality and visually lighten the space. There will be twice as many beautiful flowers and plants!

The mirror can be placed in the depths of the area and even in the gazebo. It is not necessary to spend the family budget on an expensive thing: by searching for mirrors on online flea markets, it is easy to stumble upon cheap mirror fronts from cabinets or old canvases with minor damage, which will perfectly fit into the landscape and give it mystery and originality.

Small pond

A pond located on a small plot of land creates almost the same effect as a mirror, visually expanding the space.

The water surface is mesmerizing, changing under the influence of the wind or the flow created by a compact fountain. Often, a pond becomes the main feature of the garden, its highlight.

The far bank of the pond should be decorated with taller plants, and the near one – with low ones.

The pond will not take up much space, but will definitely attract the attention of the observer. You can make a pond yourself, using a special film for the pool, or buy a ready-made container. The edges can be masked with stones mixed with greenery, and the pond itself can be decorated with a bridge.

Lighting

Depth and volume of a small plot is given not only by plants and buildings located according to all the rules, but also by properly organized lighting. Light-accumulating lanterns, garlands, street lamps powered by electricity are suitable for lighting the territory. Decorative lighting will create various lighting scenarios that will allow you to optically expand the area around your home.

You can illuminate tree crowns, flowers, paths, bushes and a pond. Warm light will add coziness to a small garden plot, and cold light will increase contrast.

It is better if all the lamps are the same or close to the same color temperature: then the overall impression of the landscape design will be integral.