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Landscaping Small Gardens:
When Beauty is in the Details
For most landscapers, the unique beauty and spirit of
something made by hand, constructed, and shaped, emphasizes
the joy of creating.
And even if it means having a small
garden to work with, every landscaper knows the value of
enjoying their craft and mastering their skills.
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 Having a small garden to work on does not necessarily mean
less details and minor work.
What should matter most is to closely assess each detail to
come up with the best result.
Generally, when people
describe
small gardens, they refer to those areas that have straight walls,
borders, lines, and/or walks. Then a problem is created because
small gardens tend to create an impression of being dull, rigid,
and boring.
The goal of landscaping should delve into how to make the garden
look alive, larger, and more appealing.
The Main Concept
The very core of landscaping a small garden is based on how a
landscaper can make the most of the size of the area through plant
selection.
With a small garden, having the right kind and size of plants is
crucial to the outcome of the whole project.
Annuals for shade
may include: impatiens, coleus, caladiums (the tubers are just
about out of stock, potted plants are still available) and
bedding begonias. Caladiums will often produce a single flower
stalk right after the first leaves are produced. Early removal
of the flower stalk will encourage the plants to produce more
lush leaf growth.
For best results with Summer annuals: Remove faded blooms for
more productive flowering. If beds are not mulched, then lightly
cultivate the upper soil so as not to disturb shallow roots.
Doing so improves water absorption, reduces soil compaction and
aids in weed control. Plant summer annual plants that take the
heat such as periwinkles, purslane, portulaca, lantana, etc.
Size is an important factor because the size of the plants should project an image of a bigger
space, even if the area is quite small. The color, shape, and
texture of the plantings should be coordinated.
It is best to use curves to create a visible flow to the design.
Since small gardens tend to have rigid, straight lines, it's best
to have curves to open up the garden to reveal its natural beauty.
It is also important to create illusions that will give a small
garden an effect of being larger.
One practical suggestion is to consider planting an
herb garden.
Herbs are good for landscaping.
The bonus is that herbs are both
practical and can be used in cooking and even for delightfully
flavored tea. Other options are available
but you must carefully consider the plants to insure that
they are appropriate for your needs.
Considering all of these points, landscaping a small garden will never be a
daunting task. As they say, it is all in the details. So whether
it is a small or a large garden, landscape designers always take
note of the details in the design.
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