The right small backyard landscaping ideas can help you squeeze a lot of use out of a little land. Those expansive, perfectly manicured, fancifully landscaped backyards you see in gardening magazines may be beautiful, but most of us don’t have acres of land to use as our canvas.
If you’re like most folks in urban areas, you’re probably working with just 100 square feet or even less. That small size may rule out hedge mazes and topiary menageries, but it still leaves you with plenty of room for creativity. The following are general ideas on how to create small backyard landscaping that is inspired by the natural habitats we commonly see in different parts of the world.
A tropical backyard is mostly composed of sharp colors and numerous shapely elements. In the tropics, sunlight is prevalent therefore different kinds of life forms can be found. To mimic this effect, include colorful flowers with several shapes. Large leaves, thorny branches, thick roots, and creepy venous stems are signatures of tropical forests. Bamboos are eternally green and are a favorite in temperate countries because they do not change color or lose their leaves in time for autumn and winter. Bamboos are overgrown grass and can grow up to several feet high.
If your small backyard doesn’t provide the space to expand outward, try expanding upward. Vertical landscaping lets you make use of your yard’s vertical space, giving you a way to fit in your favorite flowers, ornamentals, and even vegetables. Placing your plants on the vertical plane is also handy if you dislike bending or kneeling to tend low-growing plants. Tiered potted plant stands and hangers make it easy to get started gardening upward. For more vertical options, try installing a trellis against a sunny wall, an arch or arbor over your entryway, or a pergola over your seating area.