A court or courtyard garden is a garden area that is usually enclosed by walls or buildings on at least 3 sides, the area is usually on the small side, so clever design is fundamental in making the area aesthetically pleasing as well as functional.
Tips for designing a courtyard garden.
- Draw the eye, by the repetition of a key elements, such as seating, paths or gardens. Make sure every spot is useable.
- Introduce low walls that double as seating and or storage.
Create points of interest such as Greenwalls, or feature pots.- Plant a herb garden in pots, a great way to make good use of a garden feature.
- The first rule with small spaces is – don’t add too much. Less is more with courtyards. Don’t create clutter with furniture or pot plants. Use and select furniture that is appropriate to the area size.
- Consider a feature piece, such as a water feature, Greenwall or Screen feature. Be careful though, not to close the area in with tall screens or trellis’s, that may restrict the light. You want to draw attention to the design elements rather than focusing on how small the area is.
2. Don’t let the boundaries dictate the view. Consider covering up unsightly fencing with screening plants or laser cut screens to give the area a more luxurious feel. Even just painting the boundary fences can sometime be enough to make it feel more like a room rather than a small backyard.- Plant selections are crucial. Generally, you will need to consider plants that will not grow too big, and that are better suited to areas that may have limited sunlight.
- Stage the area, don’t be afraid to let your artistic juices flow here. Once the structural elements are in place, find ways to make the area feel like an extension of your home and your personal taste, with feature lighting, cushions and ornamental furniture pieces.
