Turning a wasted outdoor space or an old yard into a garden is often a matter of organization and optimization of space. Play with the effects of perspective, colors, materials and pottery to transform this lost and sad space into a small corner of plant paradise.
Rule #1: work with what's there
Whether it's a yard or a piece of unused land, you'll need to organize your garden according to what exists.
Walls, hedges or fences will make up the framework of your decor; white painted walls will make your garden appear larger, you can then dress them with climbing plants to optimize the space. A large mirror covering the entire height of the back wall of the garden is a good way to open up the space.
Take advantage of this rearrangement to hide unsightly objects such as garbage cans or rainwater collectors by hiding them behind openwork wooden panels for more lightness that will be covered with climbing plants or simply hidden by slender bamboo.
In small spaces, well protected from violent winds by the walls, a microclimate will be created: take advantage of this to install plants that are sensitive to cold. You can thus enjoy an exotic decor, by integrating hardy varieties of banana trees or palm trees.
Choose slender, evergreen plants to hide from view. Here again, bamboo and cypress trees are ideal.
Rule #2: Structure the space
A few simple rules can be applied to structure the space and make it appear larger.
Use your walls to save space: verticality is of primary importance in a small garden. Climbing plants will perfectly dress up a gray wall and give color to your walls. Depending on the exposure, you can choose a star jasmine for its powerful perfume, several species of honeysuckle whose staggered flowering will delight you until winter, or, for lovers of beautiful foliage, variegated ivy or a Virginia creeper that will make your wall blaze with its beautiful deep red in the fall.
Don't neglect the appearance of the floor: a plain, light-colored material will enlarge the space. A paving stone, white gravel, or light wood siding with the boards facing the main source of light will add depth to the scene.
Similarly, the color of the walls must remain light: white is your ally in all circumstances. The touches of color will be given by the pots, obviously narrow and angular so as not to weigh down the decor. Try to match the colors and stick to one style for more harmony.
Always arrange the paths from the house to the furthest away. Be careful not to use fences to divide them in two and give an impression of crushing. On the contrary, play on the perspective effects by adapting the height of the plants that border it;
Framed with balls of lavender for its powerful perfume with Provençal notes or with graphic irises you will create depth. Then arrange the plants on either side of it, from the smallest to the largest (low perennials, rose bushes and shrubs).
Finally, do not overload the scene with heterogeneous objects: limit yourself to one color for the pottery and avoid bulky decorative objects.
