Urban Garden Inspo: Award-Winning Small Green Spaces
Gather great ideas for small gardens from winning designs at the 2022 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show
If you’re looking for creative ways to greenify a small garden, you’ve come to the right place. Feast your eyes on the winners of the Boutique Garden Competition (8x8m gardens) at this year’s Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS).
As well as showcasing their award-winning green visions, the designers share some great tips for designing a small outdoor spaces with impact.
Ad if you want more top-notch garden ideas, don’t miss our story on the 2022 MIFGS garden winners here.
As well as showcasing their award-winning green visions, the designers share some great tips for designing a small outdoor spaces with impact.
Ad if you want more top-notch garden ideas, don’t miss our story on the 2022 MIFGS garden winners here.
What plants did you use?
Ones that celebrate the vibrant biodiversity of plants available in Melbourne, Victoria. At the rear of the garden, an established nyssa tree provides shade for native tree ferns and tropical evergreen shrubs.
In the sunnier foreground, angular correa hedges reference the angles created within the hard structures of the garden, while swathes of creeping saltbush and edible semi-succulent ground covers create a contrasting rhythm within the garden.
And hardscaping materials?
Powder-coated aluminium structures were used to create the peak and water feature. Other key materials include white-rendered brick walls, blackbutt on the deck and rear wall cladding, and limestone pavers for the bench seat, daybed and fire pit.
Ones that celebrate the vibrant biodiversity of plants available in Melbourne, Victoria. At the rear of the garden, an established nyssa tree provides shade for native tree ferns and tropical evergreen shrubs.
In the sunnier foreground, angular correa hedges reference the angles created within the hard structures of the garden, while swathes of creeping saltbush and edible semi-succulent ground covers create a contrasting rhythm within the garden.
And hardscaping materials?
Powder-coated aluminium structures were used to create the peak and water feature. Other key materials include white-rendered brick walls, blackbutt on the deck and rear wall cladding, and limestone pavers for the bench seat, daybed and fire pit.
Are there any special features?
There are a number of dual-purpose features. The sloped lawn is intended to function as a recliner and the fire pit can be used as an occasional table. The bench seat wraps around the sloped lawn into the pond and provides somewhere to dangle your feet in the water on a hot day.
Where do you see this style of garden working?
A contemporary or mid-century-style home.
What are your top tips for making a small urban garden work?
We start every project by asking who this garden is for, what it is for, where it is, and why we are creating it. I believe it is important to discuss the functional criteria for any space before getting stuck into the material details and plant selection phase.
Could your garden do with a professional eye? Find a landscape designer near you on Houzz
There are a number of dual-purpose features. The sloped lawn is intended to function as a recliner and the fire pit can be used as an occasional table. The bench seat wraps around the sloped lawn into the pond and provides somewhere to dangle your feet in the water on a hot day.
Where do you see this style of garden working?
A contemporary or mid-century-style home.
What are your top tips for making a small urban garden work?
We start every project by asking who this garden is for, what it is for, where it is, and why we are creating it. I believe it is important to discuss the functional criteria for any space before getting stuck into the material details and plant selection phase.
Could your garden do with a professional eye? Find a landscape designer near you on Houzz
Second-place winner: Renee Reiter, garden designer at Invidia Landscapes
Garden name: An Intimate Garden
Garden size: 8 x 8 metres
What unique challenges does a small garden with these dimensions present?
Functionality is key with small spaces: knowing which elements are important for the space and how the space will be used. Big statement items, such as a large seat, can anchor the space, whereas multiple small seats can make it feel cluttered.
Careful plant consideration, including adding a canopy tree and under-planting, creates a layered effect with contrasting foliage, which can make a space feel bigger.
Multi-use items are a good idea, such as adding storage under a built-in bench seat or using walls to hang items.
Garden name: An Intimate Garden
Garden size: 8 x 8 metres
What unique challenges does a small garden with these dimensions present?
Functionality is key with small spaces: knowing which elements are important for the space and how the space will be used. Big statement items, such as a large seat, can anchor the space, whereas multiple small seats can make it feel cluttered.
Careful plant consideration, including adding a canopy tree and under-planting, creates a layered effect with contrasting foliage, which can make a space feel bigger.
Multi-use items are a good idea, such as adding storage under a built-in bench seat or using walls to hang items.
What was the thinking behind this garden design?
The size of backyards has dwindled. I wanted to design a luxurious garden that would look at home in any urban courtyard or as a zone within a larger garden. The design intent was to create a cosy space that a group of people could enjoy comfortably and to show how a small space can be functional if designed carefully.
What plants did you use?
The planting palette is simple as I wanted to focus on foliage rather than adding colour with flowers. I used ‘Moss White’ birch, dichondra, hydrangea, arthropodium and hendra as they all have different foliage and contrast well together.
What did you use where?
I used ‘Moss White’ birch around the boundary as the foliage softens the harsh elements of the structure and offers gentle movement in the breeze. During the cooler months, the naked tree reveals the beauty of the trunk and lets light into the space.
The hendra is designed to trail over the sides of the planter, adding some lush greenery to the space, and the dichondra breaks up the paving. Hydrangea was used as a feature, bringing in those big blooms in summer.
The size of backyards has dwindled. I wanted to design a luxurious garden that would look at home in any urban courtyard or as a zone within a larger garden. The design intent was to create a cosy space that a group of people could enjoy comfortably and to show how a small space can be functional if designed carefully.
What plants did you use?
The planting palette is simple as I wanted to focus on foliage rather than adding colour with flowers. I used ‘Moss White’ birch, dichondra, hydrangea, arthropodium and hendra as they all have different foliage and contrast well together.
What did you use where?
I used ‘Moss White’ birch around the boundary as the foliage softens the harsh elements of the structure and offers gentle movement in the breeze. During the cooler months, the naked tree reveals the beauty of the trunk and lets light into the space.
The hendra is designed to trail over the sides of the planter, adding some lush greenery to the space, and the dichondra breaks up the paving. Hydrangea was used as a feature, bringing in those big blooms in summer.
And hardscaping materials?
Steel, timber, limestone and concrete. I wanted the structure to be sleek and to use complementary materials with a luxurious and elegant feel.
Are there any special features?
The seating was designed to accommodate several people comfortably, while still being connected to each other to maintain conversation. Extra seating can be added in the paved section or with floor cushions, a small dining table or a fire pit. The raised planters help define the seating zone. Doors can be added for outdoor storage.
What are your top tips for making a small urban garden work?
Planning is key to any functional garden. Write down a list of must-have for the space, while being mindful of the garden’s size. Consider how you will use the space. Think about planting: do you want to fill the garden with plants or do you want it to be easy to maintain with hard surfaces?
Browse more images of beautiful small gardens on Houzz
Steel, timber, limestone and concrete. I wanted the structure to be sleek and to use complementary materials with a luxurious and elegant feel.
Are there any special features?
The seating was designed to accommodate several people comfortably, while still being connected to each other to maintain conversation. Extra seating can be added in the paved section or with floor cushions, a small dining table or a fire pit. The raised planters help define the seating zone. Doors can be added for outdoor storage.
What are your top tips for making a small urban garden work?
Planning is key to any functional garden. Write down a list of must-have for the space, while being mindful of the garden’s size. Consider how you will use the space. Think about planting: do you want to fill the garden with plants or do you want it to be easy to maintain with hard surfaces?
Browse more images of beautiful small gardens on Houzz
Third-place winner: Anthony Sharples, director at AKAS Landscape Architecture
Garden name: Coming Soon
Garden size: 8 x 8 metres
Tell us about this urban garden design
We wanted to shine a light on the climate change conversation by installing a visual of our potential future. ‘Coming Soon’ features the corner of a suburban house, sinking into water, which symbolises the collapse of societal order, driven by climate change and sea level rise.
The display includes a neon sign perched above its roof, reading ‘Coming Soon’ – a timely reminder of the current landscape’s fragility.
A second neon sign reads ‘2.6 Billion M2’ – the amount of forest that was lost worldwide over the five days of the 2022 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.
Although no longer habitable for humans, the house has become a refuge for plants, generating a new hybrid landscape. Basalt protrudes out of the ground, revealing some local geology to Melbourne.
Garden name: Coming Soon
Garden size: 8 x 8 metres
Tell us about this urban garden design
We wanted to shine a light on the climate change conversation by installing a visual of our potential future. ‘Coming Soon’ features the corner of a suburban house, sinking into water, which symbolises the collapse of societal order, driven by climate change and sea level rise.
The display includes a neon sign perched above its roof, reading ‘Coming Soon’ – a timely reminder of the current landscape’s fragility.
A second neon sign reads ‘2.6 Billion M2’ – the amount of forest that was lost worldwide over the five days of the 2022 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.
Although no longer habitable for humans, the house has become a refuge for plants, generating a new hybrid landscape. Basalt protrudes out of the ground, revealing some local geology to Melbourne.
Our display is similar in size to most inner-city gardens that we work with. Small gardens are interesting to design as we need to be smart with the layout of the space. No matter how small the area is, we always maximise garden space by introducing plants, natural materials such as rock, and design elements to make habitat and ecology.
What plants did you use?
We used common houseplants and arranged them to resemble an overgrown wild garden – our interpretation of how the landscape would look if it were to go wild and reclaim our structures. Common garden plants such as Viola hederacea, Ajuga reptans, Lomandra longifolia, Miscanthus, Eremophila nivea and Hedychium garderianum are repeated throughout the garden, with overgrown Pyrus salicifolia, Eucalyptus cinerea and Tipuana tipu trees towering over the house.
What plants did you use?
We used common houseplants and arranged them to resemble an overgrown wild garden – our interpretation of how the landscape would look if it were to go wild and reclaim our structures. Common garden plants such as Viola hederacea, Ajuga reptans, Lomandra longifolia, Miscanthus, Eremophila nivea and Hedychium garderianum are repeated throughout the garden, with overgrown Pyrus salicifolia, Eucalyptus cinerea and Tipuana tipu trees towering over the house.
What are your top tips for making a small urban garden work?
It’s never been more important to re-wild and green our small urban gardens. We always say the heart of the garden is a pond: it helps to activate the ecosystem of the garden and creates a water source for animals, while introducing natural materials and large rocks that create habitat in the space.
Plant many different species for biodiversity in your garden, and plant large tree species to help offset deforestation by reforesting our urban spaces.
A conversation we often have with clients is about ‘useable’ space and what this means to them. We explain that large garden beds, ponds and large rocks (which double as seating) are useable space, as they give back to the environment. We ask clients to think about the smallest space they need, whether that’s a pergola, decking, paving for entertaining and to consider not having a lawn. Sitting among a garden oasis is the most amazing feeling.
Your turn
Which of these small gardens could work well in your home? Tell us in the Comments below, like and share this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Want more on award-winning gardens? Don’t miss seeing the award-winning balcony gardens from the 2022 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show with Winning Balcony Gardens: Small Spaces, Big Impact
It’s never been more important to re-wild and green our small urban gardens. We always say the heart of the garden is a pond: it helps to activate the ecosystem of the garden and creates a water source for animals, while introducing natural materials and large rocks that create habitat in the space.
Plant many different species for biodiversity in your garden, and plant large tree species to help offset deforestation by reforesting our urban spaces.
A conversation we often have with clients is about ‘useable’ space and what this means to them. We explain that large garden beds, ponds and large rocks (which double as seating) are useable space, as they give back to the environment. We ask clients to think about the smallest space they need, whether that’s a pergola, decking, paving for entertaining and to consider not having a lawn. Sitting among a garden oasis is the most amazing feeling.
Your turn
Which of these small gardens could work well in your home? Tell us in the Comments below, like and share this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Want more on award-winning gardens? Don’t miss seeing the award-winning balcony gardens from the 2022 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show with Winning Balcony Gardens: Small Spaces, Big Impact
First-place winner: Alison Douglas, garden designer at Alison Douglas Design
Garden name: Elements
Garden size: 8 x 8 metres
Tell us about this urban garden design
I enjoy designing small urban spaces as they need to be multi-functional and every detail matters. In this garden, the oversize steps into the sunken fire-pit area become a daybed with the addition of cushions. Creating a sunken garden in a small space also provides more privacy from neighbours and shelter from wind.
What look and feel did you want?
It’s a Zen garden with a twist. Traditional Zen gardens incorporate five elements – earth, water, fire, wind and sky – which together are believed to create a balanced garden. The space looks contemporary but feels peaceful, providing a place to relax, reflect and gather with family and friends.