Small Courtyard Gardens of Charleston

Over the years, Charleston has been lovingly described as a city set in a garden. Part of our favorite city's charm largely comes from the ivy lined walls, overflowing window baskets, and secrete gardens around every corner. Charleston is home to many small, courtyard gardens that act as a private retreat from the busy city. We love designing these serene spots and this week, we're sharing tips on how you can achieve maximum results with limited space! Wether you're lucky enough to call one of these courtyards your backyard or just trying to make your own small space beautiful, this is for you.

How to get the most of your small space:

1. Incorporate containers! Our go-to method for adding more plants to a small space is to incorporate container gardens. Pots, troughs, and unique vessels offer gardeners an outlet for seasonal creativity by rotating their flowers and foliage throughout the year. This is a great way to add pops of color, highlight certain areas or your space, or play around with annual plantings.

2. Add a water feature! Nothing says secrete garden like the delicate trickle of fountain or splash from a bird bath. Adding a water feature is an easy way to make your small space feel like a private oasis and retreat from the bustle of the city. This project features a reclaimed urn that we turned into a beautiful fountain.

3. Get creative with plant placement! Give special attention to height and scale when designing your small space. In this project, you see creeping fig growing along the brick knee wall and mondo grass placed between the stepping stones, ensuring that no space is left untouched by plant material. Two Japanese maples anchor one side of the courtyard, perfectly nestled into the curved beds. And large, mature shrubs provide shade for low growing cast irons and ferns. Every detail counts when designing small gardens and space cannot be wasted!

When space is limited, careful planning and smart design is necessary. Small backyard landscaping can be harder than gardeners may expect! Use these tips when designing your small space and don't forget we offer landscape design services when you need help! Get the process started soon by filling out the design consult form on our website.