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Even with a small townhouse garden, you can still create your own miniature Garden of Eden. Keep in mind that your garden should always reflect your personality and lifestyle, no matter how little room you have.
To open up the space, I would change the colour of your fence to light ivory or beige if possible, or install a light wooden trellis with some crossing, curve or circle details in a light neutral tone.
When it comes to plant selection, first consider what type of maintenance you can manage, high or low, and don’t forget to look for year-round interest, either. Providing different elevations can generate an illusion of more space, and using containers with a simple pattern but different heights can create a nice focal point. Variegated and bright foliage is also very important in a small-space garden. Here are some suggestions for suitable plants.
Climbers for fence or trellis: (Hedera helix ‘Adam’ will create a leafy backdrop for the following climbers) • Rosa ‘Albéric Barbier’ • Lonicera periclymenum ‘Graham Thomas’ • Jasminum nudiflorum • Clematis montana ‘Elizabeth’
Shrubs: • Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ • Daphne x burkwoodii ‘Carol Mackie (As an evergreen vertical element, try Taxus x media ‘Hicksii’)
Groundcovers: • Vinca major ‘Illumination’ • Lamium maculatum ‘Beacon Silver’ • Ajuga reptans ‘Silver Leaf’
Perennials: • Alchemilla mollis • Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’ • Dicentra spectabilis • Zantedeschia aethiopica ‘White Goddess’ or ‘Green Goddess’ • Helleborus ‘Janet Starnes’ • Dracunculus vulgaris • Pulmonaria ‘Moonshine’ • Hosta sieboldiana ‘Thunderbolt’ • Dryopteris x complexa ‘Stabelare’ or ‘Crispa Whiteside’ • Adiantum venustum • Athyrium ‘Burgundy Lace’
Summer Colour: • Impatiens • Begonia ‘Fireworks’ • Fuchsia • Lobelia (include lots) • Helichrysum petiolare ‘Aureum’ • Ficus pumila
Spring Bulbs: • Convallaria • Tulipa • Narcissus • Crocus
Make a plan before you start, and practice massive planting, buying three to four of the same variety of plants like hostas and ferns and planting them beside each other. Follow the planting directions on the label. Don’t overdo it! In a small garden, effective and eye-catching foliage is more important than many different colours. Using too many garden ornaments and accessories can also make your garden look cluttered, so keep these to a minimum.
