City gardens come in all shapes and sizes and give a great number of ways to landscape them.
For many city residents, the priorities for their gardens are to look great without being a maintenance burden on busy lives. This means carefully choosing the best way to landscape your garden in the city. However, it doesn’t mean you have to have a dull, spartan space. Below, we look at some of the ways to landscape a city garden to make it an inviting, exciting place to be.
Table of Contents
Reducing Maintenance
One of the easiest ways to reduce workloads is to avoid natural grass, immediately cutting the need to worry about storing a lawnmower or employing a gardener. For smaller gardens, no grass is often a better way to maximise entertainment space you can use all year round. The plants you choose will also determine the level of care your garden needs. For example, you may need to consider whether you need to include a water butt to avoid the worry of dead blooms should there be a hosepipe ban.
Questions to ask when landscaping a city garden
Do I want to create a particular style or vibe?
You might want to create memories of a favourite holiday, love a particular colour or enjoy a splash of many colours and styles. There are no hard and fast rules. Whatever makes you happy is good, but starting with a theme is a good way to create a garden that makes you happy. Some useful themes that you might want to consider are:
- Japanese style gardens – zen gardens with clean, neat lines and maybe a water feature could be one option
- Country kitchen – why not look to grow your own herbs with overflowing troughs or baskets arranged prettily – useful and decorative at the same time
- Boujee restaurant – with pretty colour-themed plants, living walls and quirky accessories, you could pretend you’re in your favourite restaurant terrace
How much do I entertain?
A space to eat and entertain outside is always a great idea, whether a solo seat, a table for two or going large for a party. Long-lasting garden furniture can be a great feature in your city garden. Garden tables made from weatherproof materials such as metal are virtually maintenance-free, longer lasting and often better value for money than wooden furniture, plus they will add a great touch of style to city dining.
Do I want to cook outdoors?
A great bonus in a city garden is the means to bring your cooking outside. Even in the smallest space, you can squeeze a bbq, pizza oven or smoker in, and you don’t get neighbour envy when you smell their cooking. If space is not an issue, why not go full-on outdoor kitchen to make the most of your city garden?
Do I want a garden for all seasons?
Fire pits and outdoor heating can make your garden enjoyable, even on a colder day. Add a parasol, canopy or pagoda to help keep any rain from stopping you from getting into the garden. If you only have a small garden, you can always choose a retractable version so you don’t spoil the area for
warmer, sunnier days. A small, waterproof blanket box filled with outdoor throws can also help if you don’t want to turn up the heat.
What space do I have?
Typically, city centre gardens tend to be smaller than their rural counterparts. There is plenty you can do with a small space, however. For example, if you have green fingers, you can always go with the trend for vertical planting to make the best use of your space.
What types of planting do I like?
Check out the local garden centres to get an idea of the plants that could work well in your garden. Consider whether you want to splash out on a prominent feature item, get lots of containers or use raised beds to define any zones you wish to create. You can check out the labels to see the care required by each plant, and you can always get inspiration from the internet or garden centre staff if you are a little short on knowledge or ideas.
How do I make it unique?
One popular way to make a city garden look great and reflect your tastes is to consider planting in recycled pots or vessels that were not traditionally meant as pots. There are some fantastic displays that can be created in old paint tins, wheelbarrows (if you have the space) and even old watering cans. Not only can these add a little interesting feature to your garden, they’re mobile, so you can switch them up whenever the mood takes you.
What’s my budget?
One important consideration to make is how much money would like to spend on your garden. Once you’ve set your budget, don’t let it restrict you too much, as there’s always room to think outside of the box. If you are on a small budget, it may well be worth looking in secondhand shops for planters and asking friends and neighbours for offcuts of plants you like so that you can start your own garden cheaply. If you are considering starting a herb garden, some supermarkets sell small herb plants that can, in some cases, be cheaper than buying from the garden centre. It’s a good idea to do some research into what looks like a healthy plant before purchasing, however. Not all bargains will be soft salvageable, and you won’t want to buy twice.
Most of all, you want your garden to suit your lifestyle. Whether that’s a cosy enclave in the outdoors, a sprawling garden with zones to match your moods, or for your garden to be an extension of your house, it’s essential to give thought to your desired outcomes before splashing out. Draw up some plans, check your budget and work out what plants work together, and then you’re sure to end up with a city garden that is landscaped just the way you want it.
