Small Wonders

by Dermot O'Neill

The last thing on the mind of many first-time buyers is the garden. A first house is often small, with just a tiny area outside. This is frequently left as a place to dump the rubbish.

But young first-timers planning quickly to climb up the property ladder realise that a colourful, neat and tidy garden can add value to their homes.

lain MacDonald is a designer with vast experience in transforming tiny spaces.

"Recent years have seen a new group of clients emerge," he says. "Young, professional first-time buyers have been turning their attention to what estate agents describe as the 'sunny small yard at rear' - often just areas of grass or concrete bounded by party walls.

"Undaunted, our would-be gardeners have visions of long summer evening barbecues surrounded by scented, flowering greenery, or of winter mornings looking out on an uplifting tableau of foliage and paving." But are such visions realistic? "I think they are, but several practical problems usually need to be overcome and the criteria for choosing plants and materials looked at again," says MacDonald.

"One of the main problems is that many of these urban terraced houses only have access to the garden area through the house. As the garden is usually the last project on the list, the landscaper must negotiate a newly decorated, newly floored area to work on the site.

"I now have perfected a 'plastic corridor' to overcome this. Minimum journeys through the house - all materials brought in on one day and all rubbish discarded into a skip that is collected immediately."

Besides the obvious question of cost, I wondered what the main consideration is for the client. "The aspect of a small garden is important, together with the lifestyle of the client," says MacDonald.

"The majority are out at work all day so the garden is mostly used at weekends and on summer evenings. Therefore the seating area is generally sited to catch the evening sunshine.
There must always be a place to sit in the garden, regardless of size."

Detail is all-important. "Paving materials in a small space are much more obvious and so must be chosen with care and, if possible, should also be co-ordinated with the connecting room," MacDonald says. "Small spaces need smaller quantities, which is fortunate as the budget is generally tight.

"As well as the enormous range of paving and tiling available, the alternatives of pebbles, chippings, shattered slate and decking can also be considered The area must not be cluttered with different materials as this will shrink it further. Ensure the materials used are sympathetic with the style of the house."

When choosing plants for small spaces, you have to be careful they're not going to take over. I asked MacDonald what he would recommend.

"Generally there are two types of plants used in a small garden. The first is a strong backdrop that gives year-round performance, which really means slow-growing foliage plants," he says.

"Favourites of mine include Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Tom Thumb', compact bamboos, Daphne odora 'Aureomarginata', Sarcococca hookeriana v humilis, and camellias. Smaller varieties of phormium such as 'Bronze Baby' along with Astelia add dramatic sword-shaped foliage.

"Climbers are great for hiding drainpipes, but go for neater, smaller ivies or the scented Trachelospermum jaminoides or Jasminum polyanthum. Deciduous plants should generally not be used. He adds: "The other types of plants are the four to six-week splash-of-colour varieties. Bedding, bulbs and a variety of plants are now available in full flower."

With such small spaces, privacy is a concern MacDonald says. "Generally speaking walls cannot be heightened, but a good trellis raised above the wall can give some sense of privacy. Fastigiate or upright trees will also help"

lain MacDonald: 053 9383349.

From: Sunday Times, November 20th 2005