Small Gardens: Designing More From Less: High Country Gardens, Drought Tolerant Plants, Xeriscape Perennials

Small Gardens: Designing More From Less

Designing a garden for a compact space means using that space well. These plants are great for small garden design.

Item # 84745	Salvia jurisicii 'Blue' European Cutleaf Sage each $5.49 3 to 6 plants $5.29 7 or more $4.99 Qty:

Item # 86590	Saponaria lempergii Giant Flowered Soapwort each $5.49 3 to 6 plants $5.29 7 or more $4.99 Qty:

Item # 71292	Nepeta 'Walker's Low' Walker's Low Catmint each $7.99 3 to 6 plants $7.79 7 or more $7.59 Qty:

Item # 16328	Alyssum montanum 'Mountain Gold' Creeping Basket-of-Gold each $5.49 3 to 6 plants $5.29 7 or more $4.99 Qty:

Item # 47000	Echinops banaticus ‘Blue Glow’ Blue Glow Globe Thistle each $7.99 3 to 6 plants $7.79 7 or more $7.59 Qty:

Item # 97340	Veronica liwanensis Turkish Speedwell each $5.49 3 to 6 plants $5.29 7 or more plants $4.99 Qty:

Item # 52360	Festuca glauca 'Sea Urchin' Sea Urchin Blue Fescue each $5.79 3 to 6 plants $5.59 7 or more $5.29 Qty:

Item # 91928	Solidago sphacelata 'Golden Fleece' Dwarf Goldenrod each $7.99 3 to 6 plants $7.79 7 or more $7.59 Qty:

Item # 95540	Thymus lanuginosus Woolly Thyme each $5.49 3 to 6 plants $5.29 7 or more $4.99 Qty:

Item # 63750	Liatris punctata Gayfeather each $5.99 3 to 6 plants $5.79 7 or more $5.59 Qty:

Item # 95578	Thymus serpyllum 'Minus' Minus Creeping Thyme each $5.49 3 to 6 plants $5.29 7 or more $4.99 Qty:

Item # 36350	Chilopsis linearis ‘Monhews’ P.P.#11078 Timeless Beauty™ Desert Willow each $8.99 3 or more $8.79 Qty:

Item # 74531	Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal' Heavy Metal Switch Grass each $8.79 3 to 6 plants $8.59 or more $8.29 Qty:

Item # 82721	Rosa 'John Cabot' Canadian Explorer Series Hybrid Climber each $9.99 3 or more $9.79 Qty:

Topics: Garden Design, Gardening in Small Spaces
Author: Cindy Bellinger with Patrice LeBovit
Keywords: small garden design, small gardens, design, designing a garden
Date: May 2008

Whether you live in a townhouse, apartment or a house on a tiny lot, you can still enjoy gardening! Designing a garden for a compact space means using that space well, and putting some thought into how that space will best suit your needs. Do you want to grow vegetables and herbs for your kitchen? Do you love colorful and fragrant flowers, attracting birds and butterflies? Do you prefer an architectural formality or simplicity? Do you have children or pets to consider? Will you want to cook outdoors, or just create a relaxing sanctuary?

The challenge of small gardens lies not only in using space well but in choosing the right plants. Make sure the plants you choose won’t out grow your space.

One of the design considerations is leaving enough open space so the area doesn’t feel closed in. Every inch in a small garden is important so vary the height and texture among plants in small spaces.

Planting groundcovers and plants that don’t reach great heights is a great way to accomplish this variance. Then with taller plants in the background, that interesting give and take of texture and space begins to happen.

Create Visual Spaciousness and Privacy

use different elevations for variety – patio, deck, steps, raised beds, attractive pots and containers in the beds, on pedestals or on the patio, water features, space for bird feeders and birdbaths

include pathways to lend a sense of movement, space and “destination”

use natural materials such as native rocks for beds and aesthetic interest, flagstones for the patio and pathways. Include flowering, fragrant ground covers between patio and walkway stones such as Thyme (*Thymus serpyllum ‘Minus’) or Veronica (*Veronica liwanensis) that will spread among these areas providing a visual contrast of hard and soft textures and color, and xeric minimal care plant choices!

use plants to provide privacy and screening from neighbors or the street such as a tall, narrow ornamental grass like “Heavy Metal” (*Panicum virgatum ‘Heavy Metal’) or climbing roses such as “John Cabot” (*Rosa x ‘John Cabot’) along walls and fences.

plan ahead about water and include a drip system to make watering your garden convenient and water wise. Or, if that isn’t practical, try integrating soaker hoses in the areas that will be watered regularly. Raised beds are great for conserving and keeping moisture where it needs to be. Compressing your plantings together, after considering their growth habits, will also allow for more variety, water conservation, root shading and efficient use of space. Mulching is also important around planting beds, shrubs and trees, see our many articles on mulching.

Plan Living Areas

decks and patios can be used in many ways. Consider seating and functionality – a table and chairs, a place for the gas grill, a play area for the kids

think about your pets! Consider including a pet area that won’t interfere with plantings, such as a gravel area with good drainage, planting a soft napping place like a small thyme lawn (*Thymus lanuginosus ‘Woolly Thyme’), or including special treats like catmint (*Nepeta’Walker’s Low’) for your feline friends to snack on.

Look at the lighting the living area will have during the seasons. Shade can be essential and can be provided with something as simple as an umbrella in a stand, or elaborate as a trellised cover with climbing vines and roses to give shade. If trees are considered, be sure that they won’t outgrow their space, or can be pruned to stay within bounds. Flowering trees such as dwarf fruit trees suitable for your locale, or in western regions, Desert Willow (*Chilopsis linearis ‘Monhews’) provide shade and lovely flowers, fruit and vertical structure.

Container Use

Many, many plants can be grown in tight spaces and containers, and choosing what to use will depend on your climate, growing zone, space size, soil and light. See our extensive library on articles about container growing for more ideas and plant selections.