8 Solutions to Make Your Small Space Garden Look Big

When space is limited, it’s important to find ways to utilize it wisely and efficiently. Even if you only have a limited amount of space, you can make your garden look much larger than it really is. Smaller apartments and homes often don’t have extra space for a large garden. Limited space doesn’t mean you can’t have what you want.

Little things can make big a big difference in just how big your garden looks. Here are some simple tips to make your small garden look large and inviting.

1. Plant in rows – Planting in rows makes the area look organized and allows plants to be free from weeds and debris. The rows can be as wide as the walk ways to maintain an even and uniform look.

2. Place larger plants towards the rear – Place taller evergreens and bush like plants in the back so they do not obstruct the view of the other plants in the garden. Putting larger plants towards the rear of the garden gives the area depth making the back wall some much farther away.

3. Stagger plants according to size – With the largest plants in the back of the garden, you should stagger the plants by size when working your way back to the front. Medium size plants should go in the middle, while the smallest plants should be placed at the very front. This allows you to have full view of the entire area and all of the plants within the garden.

4. Widen the walkways – Narrow walk ways may allow you to work easier, but it can make the area look cluttered and hard to maintain. Wider walk ways offer a sense of balance and uniformity that make the space look larger than it really is. They allow for better care of the plants and make it easier to harvest fruits, vegetables and flowers when the time comes.

5. Scale to smaller measurements – If you have a plan or layout, look closely at the measurements. If it is scaled to two feet, reduce the measurements by half and scale the garden to 1 foot. This gives you the exact same layout only scaled to fit the size of your area. Many project plans are scaled in even numbered measurements so they can be reduced or doubled easily.

6. Leave it out if you have any doubts – If you have any doubts of whether or not a plant will thrive or something will grow too big for a certain part of the garden, leave it out and add something you know will work. Many times plants or decorations just do not fit into the finished design. Always look closely at a plant’s instructions and maintenance requirements. Knowing what it takes to care for a specific plant, will help you determine whether or not it will work for what you want to use it for.

7. Choose smaller materials for walkways – Pea gravel is an excellent idea for walk ways. Using large cement pavers and stones to form the walk ways. The smaller the stone or gravel used to create the paths, the wider it will look when the plants and shrubbery are on either side. The wider you want the walk way to appear, the smaller materials used to create it. Pea gravel and chipped stone are small and can be effective in giving any pathway a wider, more balanced appearance.

8. Use curves instead of straight lines – Straight lines reduce depth and can make the garden look very compact. Adding a slight curve to walk ways and rows, prevents the eye from following a straight, linear path. A curve also adds length to the path, giving the perception that it is much longer than it appears.