How to Do Landscape Design for Small Spaces

When Lisa from a suburb near Cary, NC decided to fill her tiny backyard with plants and foliage, she got a resounding no from her friends and family. They would tell her to leave the backyard for the existing outdoor furniture and BBQ pit. Nevertheless, she went ahead with her idea. What soon surprised her was how readily her plants responded to the various resources that were provided. They were looking healthier than most of her friends’ plant collection in their outdoor spaces. Below are some of her secrets that you can utilize in your yard with small space to enjoy a lush garden paradise.

Choosing The Right Landscape Design For Small Spaces

You can make a garden out of a small yard by providing the ideal environment for the plants and shrubs you plan to grow. This includes drawing small-space landscaping ideas and determining the best spot in terms of accessibility, humidity and lighting. For instance, an arrowhead vine grows well in front of a south-facing window or support. Of course, this is all assuming that you are not overcrowding the space. Some plants can grow at a faster rate to wreak havoc on the rest of your collection. So, do keep in mind things like this and plan accordingly.

Choosing The Right Plant to Fit In

The devil is in the details, they say. How you grow and nurture the plants make all the difference. But before anything, you need to choose the right plant – local to the soil, environment and region you live in - to make the most of the situation. So, in order to get the plants to the right size that is appropriate to your small patch of land, they must be carefully selected from a wide range of plant types, such as

• Ferns
• Flowering plants
• Mosses
They must be carefully planted and coddled to grow strong and to the right size as well. Your small yard is going to be similar to a climate-controlled green house where plants are consistently fed with water and nutrients. Once the young plants that are potted grow to a sufficient size, throw them into the real world – aka ground beneath. How you treat the first few weeks of introducing these plants to the ground soil can greatly impact their life thereafter.
• Conifers

To select a healthy bunch, look for new growth that is firm. Having flower buds and new flowers is an added bonus. Plants that seem to be well anchored in the potted soil is ready to thrive. Abundant, white roots are healthy and great for your yard. On the flip side, sticky residue around the pot is a sign of pests. Plants with shine applied on the outside will eventually compromise their health. Unnaturally large stems or leaves will never look right even when they grow to full extent.

About Soil Health And Energy Level

It’s all in the soil. Yes, what goes into the soil will make or break the plant. Since the yard is small, the ground soil should be treated with care and not like dirt. In essence, care for the soil and you are caring for the roots that will lead to a thriving garden. Just like human body, plants need healthy ingredients for healthy life. This means adding soil that mimics nature and provides safe content on a continuous basis. So much goes on in the soil around the roots that we think less about. Soil contains a high degree of beneficial organisms. They accomplish a wide range of critical tasks from converting various raw materials to plant foods. Creating a rich and active environment in the ground is a must if you want the plants to survive. Small yard plants can benefit from mulch as it will kick up the humid volume in the soil. It also provides a more constant temperature to create a healthier and happier plant. Mulch can also cut down on watering by a large percentage. If you have a ready-to-go compost pile, that would be great for the soil too.

Factors – Light, Temperature, Water and Humidity

Improper watering is the number one cause of plant death. Who would have not guessed it? At first glance, this fact would seem like a no-brainer. However, it is the challenge that most small garden owners face. Improper watering may result in a number of issues, from wilting to collapse due to drowning. One missed watering episode and you will encounter poor growth of plants for months moving forward. Over-water the plants and you may risk losing leaves. Scab-like bubbles may appear on the underside of leaves. So, how to water after all? The trick is to water in the morning. If you are watering at night, avoid watering on the leaves or at the crown of the plant. And most of all, water with warm water, never cold. Cold water will send the plants into shock. No kidding!

Likewise, lighting plays a major role in your small backyard idea. The strength of the light, its availability and orientation all matter. Sun-loving plants, for instance, thrive in south facing areas with direct sunlight. Plants that do well in medium light can be placed in layered landscape or the rest of the shady side. This orientation is especially of importance during the winter months when small yards receive less light. Keep in mind adjacent buildings and other vegetation when accessing light levels. It can help determine available light. However, we recommend using light meter. Sometimes you might be very far off in your estimations.

An unexpected advantage of having a small yard is that you can use supplemental lighting. This is an alternate for growing plants organically, but can get very technical. You may have to be cautious about what type of light you buy.

Now, talking about humidity, it is the most overlooked aspect of plant care. Most plants originally come from tropical jungles where moisture in the environment is abundant. For sensitive plants, our environment may seem like a Sahara desert. A little extra moisture can make a big difference to these plants. Around 40 to 60% is the ideal level, but how to achieve it? By misting the plants. A pump mister sold at any hardware store or local landscape design services can be your best bet. Other ways to increase humidity are using humidity tray and grouping. Group small plants into one small scale cluster or try to place smaller plants around the base of large ones. This will also let you maximize space.