Small backyards are just as great as huge backyards. While you might not have as much space for grilling, lounging, or playing as you would in a big backyard, you can still make the most out of your postage-stamp-space by using it wisely. You can transform your space by using clever landscaping ideas for small backyards, per Bob Vila, which will help you use every inch of grass and pavement that you own.
These small backyard landscaping ideas will prove that you can have everything from rock gardens to Buckingham-Palace-worthy rose beds to charming lounging areas in your yard if only you plan it out appropriately. You can make your small backyard feel bigger by incorporating certain plants and trees, and you can make it feel more organized by sectioning off space with hedges or iron arches. If you have a small plot of land and have been itching to give it a makeover, then you have come to the right place. Ahead are 30 of the most clever landscaping ideas for small backyards.
1. Surround yourself with lavender
It’s possible to create a welcoming atmosphere in your backyard, even if you have very little space to work with. Choose plants that are known for their scent, like lavender, to make the small yard feel cozy and delightful.
2. Add short hedges
Make your small backyard feel bigger by dividing it into different spaces using small hedges. The hedges will act like fences and allow you to carve out a garden area that is separate from a lounging area.
3. Surround the space with shrubs
If you don’t want to commit to watering flowers in your backyard weekly, then swap out the flowers for leafy bushes. Layer different heights of shrubs together to create a bushy, overgrown garden that is as inviting as it is green.
4. Create a focal point
Make your small backyard feel like a palace courtyard by swapping out your grass for pebbles and creating a floral focal point in the middle of the yard. Add flowers in stone planters in the center, and add stepping stones that ring out from the centerpiece.
5. Create designated quarters
Make the most of your small backyard landscaping by segregating your backyard into designated quarters using fences. One section can be your garden, another can be your flowers, and a third can be the lounge area.
6. Add statement flowers
If you like to keep things simple in your backyard, then focus on choosing one statement floral shrub, like a blooming rhododendron. It will instantly attract the eye and bring something special to the space.
7. Layered landscaping
Outline your backyard in layered landscaping, which includes tall bushes in the back, a line of colorful flowers towards the rear, and colorful foliage plants.
8. Add cobblestone pathways
Make your small backyard feel like an English garden by adding cobblestone pathways flanked with blooming flowers.
9. Create a small blooming garden
While it might sound counterintuitive, filling a small space with oversized items helps make the area feel bigger. Try planting tall firs and large rose bushes into your small garden to create a statement backyard.
10. Avoid straight lines
Make your small backyard look more attractive by carving out rounded edges and bowed corners to plant in. This will make the space feel more natural and look more appealing than planting flowers in straight lines along the fence.
11. Create a relaxing vegetable garden
Turn your backyard vegetable garden into a charming focal point by adding a wire arch. Your vegetables’ foliage will envelop the arch, creating a relaxing spot to sit in.
12. Create a Japanese garden
If you don’t have a lot of grass or soil to work with, transform your backyard into a Japanese garden by incorporating bamboo, stone, and lanterns.
13. Fire pit garden
Everyone loves gathering by a fire pit, so make that the focal point of your small backyard. Add landscaping around the lounge area by planting leafy bushes, blooming rose bushes, and metal arches covered in vines.
14. Create an organized vegetable garden
If you want an elegant vegetable garden, try building vegetable beds out of brick rather than wood. You can also swap out the grass for beautifully paved sidewalks.
15. Colorful backyards
If you love lots of color, then create a backyard filled with annuals and perennials in rioting hues.
16. Plant blooming rhododendron
Add lots of drama to your backyard by planting a large bush of blooming rhododendron. It will add a huge pop of color and make you feel like you’re in a botanical garden.
17. Create a privacy fence
If you don’t have a lot of room in your backyard and aren’t interested in watering flowers weekly, then make the most of your space by planting an attractive privacy fence. Use thuja to block out any surrounding neighbors.
18. Create a floral arch
Bring a touch of romance to your backyard by creating a floral arch that sits at your gate or patio entrance.
19. Outline your house with flowers
Transform your backyard from drab to charming by outlining the side of your house with bushes and flowers in one hue. It will look neat and whimsical all at once.
20. Add an explosion of roses
The fastest way to add a touch of class to the side of your house is to plant an explosion of roses in the tight corridor.
21. Plant trees
There is something special about a backyard with trees, so if your own backyard doesn’t have one, consider planting one. You can then set up a table and chairs underneath it for a charming dinner spot.
22. Create a hummingbird corner
Turn your small backyard into a fantasy land by planting flowers and shrubs that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. You can also section off the small garden by flanking it with wooden pathways.
23. Create a vertical garden
Make your fence work for you by transforming it into a vertical garden. Attach small pots to the fence, and plant everything from herbs to vines in the planters.
24. Landscape near your deck
If you’re lucky enough to have a deck in your small backyard, then make the space feel more inviting by planting leafy greens around it. You will love watching your flowers bloom and shrubs grow from your deck chair.
25. Create little islands
Make your backyard stand out from the rest by creating small islands of flowers and shrubs across your lawn.
26. Create a moon garden
Create a small reading nook in your backyard surrounded by white flowers, creating a moon garden that will glow underneath the moonlight. You can also include large stepping stones to add a unique touch.
27. Add a small pond
You don’t have to live near a lake or ocean to enjoy the water. Simply install a small pond in your backyard!
28. Add planters
Add some symmetry to your backyard by planting your flowers inside a row of identical planters. It will add a modern touch to your space.
29. Create an ornamental garden
If you have a tiny backyard, it might make more sense to get rid of the grass and turn the small spot into a patio. If you choose to go this route, surround the patio with various flowers to give the space a “secret garden” feeling.
30. Add a bench
Make the most of your backyard by transforming it into an oasis. Dedicate a spot to a bench, and then surround it with leafy bushes and growing vines. You can also install a soothing fountain in the corner if you have the room.
