April 15th, 2021 by Sarah Miles

Having our own outdoor space is precious, especially in times of lockdown. Whether we have sweeping grounds or tiny yards, we can all make the most of our gardens for the spring and summer months. There’s nothing quite like relaxing in a bright, neat garden on a sunny evening – and making the most of the space in your garden is always rewarding.

For those gardens that are more compact, there are plenty of tricks to create a bright, vibrant ambience that feels much bigger than it actually is. Here are some ideas to brighten up your garden, even if you have limited space.

Think vertical rather than horizontal

If you are struggling for horizontal space, why not take your planting vertical? Use trellis or frames to grow climbing plants up walls or fences so you get all the colour and brightness of beautiful plants, without sacrificing limited space on the ground. Plants such as clematis, wisteria, or honeysuckle are just a few climbing plants that can be grown successfully in this way.

Equally, you could clad walls and create planters within the structure or even just attach brackets for hanging baskets. Try painting the wall a bright contrasting colour underneath to add depth.

Pots and planters

Pots, planters, and raised beds are great for gardens with limited space, especially ones with a lot of space dedicated to hard surfaces like patios and paving. They can easily be rearranged to change the design whenever you want, and you can use a variety of styles and sizes of pot to layer planting areas and make them as big a feature as the plants themselves. You can also move pots into sheds, garages, or conservatories in the winter which could give extra life to delicate plants that would otherwise perish.

Make a feature of furniture

Smaller gardens can accommodate fewer pieces of garden furniture, but you will still want somewhere to sit or to eat outside. If you can only fit one bench or bistro table set in your garden, make it count. Paint up in bright colours (or find one that’s already a bright colour) and really make a feature of it.

Hard surfaces are as important as planting areas

Many smaller gardens are often fully paved or decked. If this is the case, or hard surfaces make up a large proportion of the space, keep these areas looking their best. Algae, mould, black lichen, and general garden dirt can really spoil patios and decking areas so keep them clean with a patio cleaner (for mould and algae) or black spot remover (if you have black lichen).

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Get the grass as green as you can

You don’t have to have a lawn the size of a small golf course to warrant making some effort to get your grass looking lush and green. In fact, the smaller your own patch of turf, the easier it is to get it looking perfect. Applying iron sulphate will help to toughen your grass up against drought and pests and get it to look really green and vibrant. Just apply and water in.

Use lighting

There is a wide range of outdoor solar lights available that can make any garden twinkle at night in the summer and you don’t need any extra space to use them. Nestle them in amongst plants in pots, place on tables, or string across the garden to see your outdoor space come alive after the sun sets in the summer.