If you’ve got a small courtyard, it can be challenging to make it feel like a comfortable and spacious area. However, with a bit of greenery and clever thinking, your cramped patio can be turned into a retreat that you’ll never want to leave. A floating bench seat, small space pergola and vertical garden structures will create structure while shade-loving plants, ferns and cacti are perfect for low-maintenance homes. Here are 9 tips for getting it done:
Embrace what’s already there
Embrace the charm of Federation-style brick pavers and make them like new. Remove any weeds and gravel with a rake and shovel, then clean the bricks with outdoor cleaner and a pressure washer.
Opt for shade-loving plants
Ideal for shade and moist, well-draining soil, the ‘Silver Lady’ fern (Blechnum gibbum) brings grace and elegance to any garden. Enjoy its lacy appearance and feathery texture.
Layer to add dimension
When the atmosphere feels hemmed in, layers and layers of plants change it to intimate and immersive. Recycled brick paving adds texture and an earthy colour.
There are background filler plants, then there are standout hero plants such as the heliconia (at right). Its large, banana palm-like leaves pull focus as they wave hello, but wait until they flower! The vibrant, dangling, lobster claw-like bracts emerge from spring to autumn in the brightest reds and yellows.
Consider inside and outside
Long or large windows pull views of your outdoor retreat indoors to make both spaces feel larger. Being able to see your green oasis from inside has a calming and restful effect.
Choose seasonal plants
Add enchantment to your shaded garden with a tractor seat plant (Ligularia reniformis). In summer, yellow, daisy-like flowers emerge from among the glossy, kidney-shaped leaves.
Upcycle to add interest
You can transform a discarded coconut shell into an eco-friendly planter. Remove the inner flesh and husk and use the holes at the base (they’re germination pores) for drainage.
Create shelving
New shelves use time-tinged materials for a vintage flavour. Cut salvaged hardwood into shelves with a circular saw, then give them two coats of exterior varnish for extra protection. Add industrial-style brackets for a robust finish.
Add in a vertical garden
Fishbone cactus and rhipsalis are both tropical, epiphytic cacti that flourish in shade and humid conditions. Perfect for cacti lovers without the right growing conditions for the desert types!
