Five Tips for Designing a Small Yard and Garden Space

If spring has you itching to get out in the yard to do some gardening, this post is for you. An attractive lawn adds tremendous curb appeal to your home. Whether you are beautifying your space to sell, or just want to create a welcoming retreat for reading a book or enjoying the sunshine, there are plenty of ways to make a big statement with your tiny yard.

Here are five tips for designing a small outdoor space:

Tip #1: Use landscaping to either complement or mirror your home’s architecture.

Design your garden either symmetrically or asymmetrically to either mirror or complement the style of your home. Which option you choose is simply a matter of preference. Browse Pinterest for photos of yards you like or even walk around your neighborhood and see what appeals to you. You may begin to recognize similarities among the types of layouts that catch your eye. Then replicate that vision in your own yard.

Tip #2: Use containers and other elements to add a focal point.

Container gardening, hanging planters, and window boxes placed on deck railings are great options for adding color to a small space. Containers come in an assortment of colors and shapes, adding to the uniqueness of your outdoor space. Coordinate container colors and/or arrange containers in odd numbers to create a beautiful, easy focal point in your yard.

Emphasize your driveway and walkways leading to your porch or home by lining them with rocks or plant beds and incorporating focal points for interest. For example, a sculpture or flag adds a vertical dimension to your landscaping. Fountains serve not only as a focal point but add the element of sound.

Tip #3: Try creating a layered landscape.

Just as a forest includes everything from low groundcovers to ferns to shade-tolerant shrubs to tall overhead trees, your garden can also incorporate groundcovers, bulbs and crevice plants to create a beautiful layered landscape, while also maximizing your flower bed space.

Tip #4: Consider a themed garden.

For a unique and fun themed garden, choose plants in a single color or plants that all contain animal names (think: cattail, tiger lily, and lamb’s ear, for example). Just be sure that the plants you choose all have similar soil, water and light requirements to ensure ease in care.

Miniature plants like bonsai and fairy gardens are cute and on trend. While miniature plants like bonsai are typically kept indoors, they can be moved outside in the warmer months as long as they aren’t exposed to direct sunlight.

Tip #5: Leave some space.

When landscaping a small yard, remember to leave space. Overcrowded garden beds can result in plants receiving not enough water to thrive.

Bonus Tip: Choose plants/flowers for your garden that are easy to care for and will grow easily in your soil. Your local gardening supply store should be able to help you select plants that will grow well in your geographical area.

And remember, you don’t have to redesign your entire yard and garden at once. Start simple and then add plants and walkways as time and money permit.

A final note

Many communities have rules requiring that outside improvements be approved prior to starting work. Before you purchase any plants or pavers or hire a contractor to build that outdoor porch you’ve always wanted, check with your community manager first to find out what’s allowed in your community.

At Harmony Communities, homeowners don’t need to ask permission to do typical gardening in their own yards. Cutting down trees or installing a fence, however, does require prior approval. Permits are required for fences over 5 feet tall or when adding a deck or carport. Homeowners should turn in a copy of their permits to their property manager’s office.

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At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.