Small Landscapes, Big Results: How to Create Beautiful Landscapes in Small Spaces

Every homeowner dreams of having a landscape that they truly love when they look outside. Historically, it’s been nearly impossible to create beautiful and functional landscapes in small or urban spaces, but everyone deserves to enjoy their space. Here are some landscaping tips to help you maximize your space and build the yard you’ve always dreamed of. Vertical Landscapes Vertical landscapes have been gaining popularity due to the housing market's trend toward urban living and homes with smaller yards. Vertical gardening allows you to grow up instead of out, maximizing your space without wasting it. It can also add visual interest and depth to small gardens. Vertical gardening has benefits specific to urban spaces. It increases biodiversity by attracting pollinators and birds, which is notoriously difficult to do in urban areas. Additionally, vertical gardens make great carbon sinks, reduce noise pollution by up to eight decibels, and provide natural insulation in colder months. Three beautiful vertical landscape design aspects are living walls, trellises or arbors, and hanging planters. Living walls are gaining popularity as they provide a fun photo backdrop. Consider using modular panels or vertical planters for a variety of plants. Meanwhile, trellises and arbors make for a timeless, Shakespearean look. They support climbing plants like ivy, jasmine, and clematis. Hanging planters can go anywhere: on your porch, a fence, a pergola, or even a wall. They can hang in pots of baskets, and you can even create layers of greenery. Container Gardening for Small Landscapes Container gardening is exactly what it sounds like: growing plants in containers, such as pots, garden boxes, or planting bags, instead of in a garden bed. These gardens are great for small and urban spaces because they’re flexible and mobile, allowing you to rearrange your garden with ease. Due to smaller quantities of organic material and a decreased risk of infection, you can also control soil quality and manage pests more effectively. Three ways to implement container gardening in your yard, patio, or rooftop are themed containers, tiered planters, and repurposed containers. Some ideas for themed container gardens are succulent gardens, herb gardens, or a colorful flower display. Tiered planters are another container gardening technique that provides height and dimension. Another way to design container gardens is by leveraging sustainability. You can get creative and repurpose containers like old buckets, crates, or even vertical shoe organizers for a quirky, personal touch. These containers can become focal points in your garden that you wouldn’t have otherwise. Multi-Functional Landscapes The most effective way to design landscapes for small or urban spaces is to make them as functional as possible. This contributes to a more usable and enjoyable outdoor area, makes the most of limited space by combining functions, and enhances your space's aesthetic appeal and practicality. There are four great ways to do this: vertical edible gardens, built-in seating with planters, folding furniture, and compact water features. Vertical edible gardens are walls that hold pots of whatever you’re growing at the time. They save space, increase self-sufficiency, and are more sustainable than typical gardening. Benches can be designed with integrated planters to provide seating and greenery in one. This is a great tactic for small yards because these benches can also be built into a patio, accomplishing three things simultaneously. Foldable or stackable furniture that can be easily stored when not in use is another way to make these patio and bench spaces more inclusive and space-saving. Homeowners with small yards don’t have to give up their dreams of having water features, either. Small-scale water features like wall-mounted fountains or tabletop water gardens add tranquility without taking up too much room. Conclusion Overall, urban and small properties can have landscapes that are just as beautiful and functional. All it takes is a little bit of planning and prioritization. Often, they’re easier to customize and showcase your personality with a smaller space because you plan more diligently. Don’t let an unconventional landscape stand in your way of building the property of your dreams.