Illusions of grandeur
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday August 29, 2009
How to make the smallest patio seem like a palace courtyard. HAVE you noticed that gardens are shrinking? Available outdoor space is diminishing as land packages become smaller and empty-nesters downsize to townhouses and villas.As the social shift away from the traditional quarter-acre lot gains momentum, approaches to gardening are changing. People are realising you simply can't cram all the traditional elements of a conventional garden into a small space. But you can make the most of what you've got. Even pocket-size gardens are important visual links with nature and sanctuaries of calm in the urban landscape.There are design principles to help you make the most of small areas. The first rule is to make the most of your space. While you can't physically increase the size of a small garden, you can certainly employ visual tricks to create the illusion of space.If your small area is dark and shaded, use light-coloured paving and paint courtyard walls in light or bright shades. Lay paving in a geometric pattern to create a greater sense of length and width. A change of level €“ even if it is only one step €“ can produce the illusion that there are two gardens.Linking the garden to the house via french doors breaks down the division between inside and out. To emphasise this effect, use paving materials that complement the interior of your house. Outdoor lighting will open the space at night.You can also link your garden and house with a pergola. Grow a climber over it or add a louvred roof that will allow winter sunlight in and produce summer shade. This structure will also provide privacy from any neighbours overlooking your backyard. Awnings and shade sails also work well.A large outdoor mirror will reflect light and increase the sense of space, or use broken mirror pieces in wall mosaics. You can add shells, broken pieces of pottery and other found objects. A trompe l'oeil vista can also create the illusion of space.A water feature is inviting and cooling and the sound of water helps to mask street noise. They are also simple to install.Make use of walls by mounting some attractive wall pots and art works on them. Climbers trained in vertical lines along walls are visually arresting.Decks are ideal for courtyard gardens. Consider having a raised deck leading from the house and then a step leading down into the garden.If your deck is high enough, you can store ladders, wheelbarrows, water tanks, dustbins, gardening tools and just about anything else underneath.Choose your plants carefully. Every inch of space counts, so each plant should fulfil its purpose well. Correct positioning of plants according to cultivation needs is of paramount importance, as small spaces will magnify any problems. Get to know the micro-climates in your courtyard or garden and plant accordingly.Limited space means that plants should be chosen for their year-round appeal. Make use of handsome foliage plants that look good in every season.Use repeat plantings to produce a clean, uncluttered look.A couple of large pots or planter boxes can be more effective than the jumbled appearance of many small containers.It's time to ...* Fertilise hydrangeas (pictured) and mulch them with lucerne or sugar cane mulch. You can also prune now and use the prunings to make cuttings.* Coax spring-flowering blossoms to flower early by bringing branches inside for warmth.* Feed native plants with Yates Acticote, which is a six-month controlled-release fertiliser.
© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald
