If you live in a modern house, the chances are that the size of your garden may reflect the increasing demand to fit more houses into a smaller space. Consequently, houses are becoming taller yet narrower and gardens are becoming smaller; particularly now that off road parking is classed as a necessity. We know it has to go somewhere, it’s just a shame that the garden is usually the place that pays the forfeit.

This is where good ideas for small gardens become essential.

Add to this situation an increasingly stressful lifestyle for so many people, and the ability to be able to relax in peace and quiet in your own bit of space becomes even more important.

In a small garden, or a loft apartment with a roof terrace, or even if you just have access to a balcony, it’s still possible to make it work for you. The trick is to make the most of every square inch of space. That doesn’t mean jam pack it full of stuff, but if you plan it carefully, you’ll be very pleased with what you can achieve.

One way of doing this is to think three dimensionally. By adding height to your outdoor space, you create a whole new area of shape and interest that takes up no more footprint area. There are endless climbing plants available these days which can ramble over fences and railings that might benefit from being covered from a visual point of view, but may also give you the added bonus of extra privacy.

This added height factor can also be used if you don’t even have traditional flower beds. With a little care, whether perennial or annual types, many climbing plants, will live quite happily in a sufficiently sized pot. There is also a huge variety of metal, wire and wooden supports available to add structure to your climbing plants. Just bare in mind that their roots will be restricted, and so will their ability to access food and water. That will become your job!

When space is limited, it often pays to streamline garden operations, and get rid of non-essentials. Often in a small garden, people get rid of the lawn. Not only does this remove one never ending task, but it also means that you perhaps won’t need a shed to keep the lawnmower in. This alone will create more space and potentially less shade. A ground covering of one type of hard landscaping or another can provide several benefits.

It can create a more uniform ground covering, creating the illusion of a bigger floor area- think cream carpet through the entire house on a make-over show; this always makes the place look huge. Also, the type of ground covering can create a different atmosphere to your outdoor space. For example, gravel, with an arrangement of old looking terracotta pots, will lend an air of country cottage, or hunks of hewn slate with stainless steel pots and a scattering of glass tiles will be very cosmopolitan. The options are endless.

By thinking vertically in a small space, you will discover somewhere to have some kind of water feature. The addition of water to any outside area always offers the feeling of peace and tranquillity when done well. There are numerous vertical water features available these days, ranging from carved rock obelisks, to vertical mirrored water walls, to discrete wall mounted types. All these ideas are safe to have where children are concerned or where open, standing water would be unsuitable and unsafe.

These few points are just some of the ways in which you can make the most of your outdoor area in a time when, if you have one, you should count yourself lucky and make the most of every minute you can to enjoy it.

If you would like to read some more information about how to make the most of your garden written from a non technical point of view, please feel free to have a look at my gardening website.  You'll find it at www.garden-pots.com