4
FOR ALL SEASONS
If you want to enjoy your outdoor space all
year round, choose plants that will create
interest in autumn and winter, not just spring
and summer. Wintersweet (Chimonanthus
praecox) and daphne produce a delicious
scent during winter, while the gold and
red leaves of Japanese maples are pure joy
in autumn. Citrus trees look lovely all year
round, with the bonus of scented flowers
in spring and colourful fruit in winter. Just
remember to limit the number of different
plants you use in tiny areas, otherwise you
can end up with a messy jumble.2
LESSISMORE
Don’tassumeyou’llhavetoforgoyour
favouritegardenelementsbecauseyou
havea smalloutdoorspace– simplyscale
downyourperceptionsa little.If youlove
trees,thinkaboutplantinga dwarfkowhai- or
magnoliaina largepot,oroneofthemany
othersmalltreesandshrubssuitablefor
growingincontainers.Likewisewithwater
features– bubblingurns,tinyfountains
andminiaturefishpondscanallbeeasily
accommodatedbyeventhemostdiminutive
ofdecksandcourtyards.Askforadviceat
yourlocalwaterfeaturespecialist.
5
DEVIL IN THE DETAILS
Everything comes under scrutiny in
a tiny space, so pay attention to the
details. Make sure potted plants are
healthy and weed free, outdoor furniture
is not rusty or broken and the water in
your miniature pond is sparkling clean.
For a room-like vibe, add outdoor rugs,
artworks or even chandeliers to create
plenty of interest.OUTDOOR SEATING
SAVE OR SPLURGESAVE
Cloud corner seat, $749,
from Target.SPLURGE
Petra outdoor modular corner
sofa, $1895, from Poynters.3
GROW OUT
Growing food in even the smallest of outdoor
spaces can make it feel larger and more
generous. You don’t need a lot of space for a
kitchen garden, particularly if you follow the
square-metre principle advocated by Lolo
Houbein, author of Outside the Magic Square
(Wakefield Press). Most dwarf fruit trees are
happy in large pots if they are fed and watered
properly. Or mix edible plants such as herbs,
coloured beets, artichokes and peppers with
ornamentals. Save room by training plants such
as beans, tomatoes, cucumbers and courgettes
up vertical supports or along espaliered wires.132 | yhg