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PART TWO: CHOOSING A STYLE FOR YOUR GARDEN

COURTYARD GARDENS

Photo of courtyard garden by Tim Schapker

Courtyard gardens are usually, but not always small urban gardens in terraced houses but they can also be large grand affairs. What defines them as courtyard is that they will be surrounded either by buildings or by walls and will be mainly hard landscaped. In the courtyard garden, the paving is central with the borders cut into the paving. There will be one or two seating areas and full use is made of containers.

If you have a small garden, this is a good gardening style to copy since the flow of hard paving through the garden will make it appear larger and you will be able to easily follow the sun around the garden simply by moving your chair.

Planting is really just what you prefer although it is best to choose predominantly evergreens so that you won't have empty spaces. You can then introduce colour in the form of bedding plants or tender perennials in containers. Try to have at least one tall feature plant and make full use of surrounding walls and buildings by planting climbers and wall shrubs.

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