Garden design?

By choice I have a small rectangular garden, any suggestions on how to make it look bigger?

Garden design?
Rectangular gardens can be 'enlarged' through good design and planning.





Adding curves will help you loose the fixed boxed shape that you have, as well as deceive the eye too.





The other 'trick' that I use is to create mini-vistas within the garden, so that your interest is captivated with differing scenes, from different positions and angles. Being able to see everything in one go can result in a garden seeming less interesting than it really is, and also foreshortens a garden. If you're forced to have to move around curves, in order to see behind etc, this extends and is alluring, drawing you into to want to see around into the more hidden parts.





Make good use of your boundaries, either by having climbers that stretch up, as well as allow clear sighting of any distant points of interest, outside of your garden. Adding climbers to walls/fences, with the addition of trellis etc, will result in you having a far bigger growing area, rather than just on a flat level.





Vary your planting heights too, rather than just tall at the back, leading down to smaller plants nearer to the edges. Varied planting heights adds focus onto particular plants, and distracts away from the whole shape of your garden.





You could also plant some areas with themes, eg. single colours, as this also divides it up. Also ensure that you've got a good mix of foliage types, large, spear shaped, shiny, etc. Contrasting colors can be good, as this adds some drama to a garden. Add a mix of evergreen and deciduous or herbaceous plants, so that you've got year round interest.





Try not to add anything that is going to grow up to monster size, and dwaft everything else, choose wisely. That said, if it is reasonable, it is OK to have some taller plants, that draw the eye upwards, rather than to your boundary. Maybe there is a part of your garden where something taller could grow, where it wouldn't shade you much from sun? If there is, go for planting high in this part, so that the rest of your garden doesn't suffer from too much shade. You can also get your climbers to grow up other taller plants, such as small trees, as again this will add interest, as well as some shielding from what's behind.





Hope this helps. I've got some plant ideas if you want to contact me. Good luck! Rob
Reply:one thing that a friend of mine did, was to put a large mirror . either on one of the wallsor up against the fench. it looked as if there was an opening into an extra bit of the the existing garden.
Reply:Adding curves is a good way, but having the lawn and hard landscaping set on an angle can lead the eye to the far diagonal end of the garden, making it seem wider and longer. Mine is only 30ft x 24ft and that's what I've done. It looks so very different now. Before it looked short and squat, and now it looks wider and bigger.


This then gives you triangular borders, where you can plant large shrubs in the deep parts, which again, makes it look bigger. Folks think small plants for small gardens, but the other is true, big shrubs for small garden as it gives the illusion of more space.


The BBC gardening site has ideas, and I've just googled 'garden design' and got lots of suggestions. Try some.
Reply:Plant smaller leaved plants at the end and large leaved close to the house to give an illusion of distance.





Plant bright warm colours (red orange yellow) near to the house and cool colours further away (blue, dark green, purples) also gives an illusion of distance.





Plant shrubs in front of each other, taller small leaved at the back with a larger brighter leaved in front..
Reply:Hello,


If you have a sunny garden space, the best way to make your small garden appear larger is by going vertical. meaning up.


Train roses on pillars, arches or pergolas around the perimeters.


Roses need only one square foot of space at the bottom. There are lots of fantastically easy varieties available that are very easy to care for and are smaller in scale. Try combining them with clematis vines in a complimentary color.


At the base of the climbing roses, place some container plants in small groupings.


This design idea will make your garden spot very beautiful and a lovely place to be in. Be sure to select fragrant rose varieties that will parfume your garden.


For lots of pictures and photos of roses, climbing roses with information, go to my Web site.


Annelie Piccino


www.rose-gardening-made-easy.com
Reply:Bush plants and/or shrubs.





I don't know your growing zone, but hibiscus shrubs are very pretty. Buy the "Hardy" hibiscus.





Boxwoods are evergreen and will look nice year round.





Happy gardening to you.