Small spaces, large plants - urban garden design tricks

At first it sounds counterintuitive; why would using big plants in small spaces make them feel bigger than they actually are? the secret lays in the layering. When you introduce tall bold greenery into a space alongside mid-height and low growing plants like ground covers, you create depth and draw the eye upward. It makes the space feel more generous, more intentional and more like a garden rather than a random patch of plants.

Many small gardens benefit from this kind of structure. A taller plant or slim tree (think silver birch) becomes the backdrop, giving the garden height. Mid-height layers, compact shrubs or upright perennials add rhythm and help transition the eye. At ground level, soft planting or ground covers fill in gaps, so nothing feels bare or broken, just coherent.

The result? A small garden that feels immersive and full of life. By going upward, not just outward, you create the illusion of space and a garden that feels like its somewhere you want to be.