In the gardening world size really doesn’t matter. Andi Clevely’s book, ‘City Garden’, is full of helpful advice, ideas and encouragement on how to make the most of your urban garden, no matter how awkward or small the space is. The ‘City Garden’ tells us how diversion and illusion can create more space and even your very own secret garden:
Long and narrow
To divert the eye from instantly finding the end of long narrow plots, you can use various techniques. Subdividing the plot’s length with screens of hedging, trellis, poles or woven hazel, willow or bamboo will create two or more ‘rooms’ that introduce an element of surprise and variety.
Add a doorway or arched opening as an invitation to explore the unseen areas, each of which could be dedicated to a different activity – a dining area, wild garden, playground or a place for quiet withdrawal and early morning tai chi.
Simply extending borders out from the sides towards or even across the centre axis and planting them with tall shrubs can obscure the far end of the garden.
