Want to build a small garden, but think very little is possible? Rest assured, the possibilities in a small garden are endless. Even in your small garden you can make a place for yourself or for friends and family, and with a few clever tricks you can make use of all the space. Read all about building a small garden here, from prices to all possibilities.
What does it cost to build a small garden?
On average, building a small garden costs between £50 and £100 per m², depending on the layout. The costs are divided into garden landscaping prices and garden design prices. View all average prices for laying out a small garden below.
| Projects | Average price incl. VAT |
|---|---|
| Price per hour | |
| Hourly rate of landscaper | £ 35 – £ 75 |
| Fixed price per project | |
| Garden design | £ 200 – £ 900 |
| Garden house installation | £ 200 – £ 10.000 |
| Erecting a pond | £ 1,000 – £ 40,000 |
| Placing a pergola | £ 800 – £ 5,000 |
| Erecting an arbour | £ 1,000 – £ 6. £ 10 per m² |
| Placing planting | £ 10 – £ 30 per m² |
| Placing lighting | £ 80 – £ 100 per m² |
| Wood terrace | £ 75 – £ 200 per m² |
| Wood terrace | £ 75 – £ 200 per m² |
| Paving | £ 50 – £ 150 per m² |
| Price per metre | |
| Fence installation | £ 50 – £ 150 per m² |
| Fence installation | £ 50 – £ 250 per m² £250 per metre |
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Types of small gardens
In a small garden, you have a bit less space to work out your ideas. It is therefore important that you think carefully beforehand about how you want your small garden laid out. For example, do you want your garden to be maintenance-free or full of greenery? Below you can read about characteristics of typical small front and back gardens.
| Type of garden | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Small country garden | – Open layout: small garden with grass, surrounded by plants – Round shapes, such as box trees – Asymmetrical layout |
| Small modern garden | – Minimalist layout, fewer plants and more tiles – Often a garden without grass – Straight shapes and lines – Often with sleek furniture and a gazebo or pergola |
| Small English cottage | – Lots of colourful flowers and plants. – A small winding gravel path through the garden – Asymmetrically arranged |
| Small japanese garden | – Minimalist arrangement, lots of clean lines with stones or gravel or grass in between – Symmetrical garden, with well-maintained plants and shrubs – Indispensable objects are some large stones and bamboo |
Other types of gardens
Characteristics Small low-maintenance garden- No fixed layout, styles may be combined
– Lots of paving or gravel.
– Strong plants like shrubs or ivy that prevent weeds Small child-friendly garden
– No hard objects like tiles or stones, but grass and plants
– A large open space with, for example, a playground equipment
How is a small garden laid out?
Constructing a small garden is similar to a larger-sized garden to a certain extent. Yet it is not quite the same. You mainly have to make design choices because not everything fits in a small garden. See below the different steps for laying out a small garden.
Determine the design
Before the landscaper starts laying out the garden, you can have a garden design made by a landscaper. In the garden design, he will draw out the garden in detail. When building a small garden, it is extra important to have a good idea of the layout. Space is limited and you want to design the garden as efficiently as possible.
Empty out your old garden
Is the design complete? Then get your current garden ready for landscaping. Having your garden cleared costs £45 to £55 per hour. The gardener will remove the paving and vegetation so that everything is ready for laying out the small garden.
Let your garden be landscaped
After the garden has been fully prepared, your gardener will start laying out the garden. First he will install the larger objects such as a garden shed, pergola, gazebo or fence. Then the professional lays the paving for the garden path or a terrace. Finally, it is time for the planting. The gardener will plant and replant shrubs, flowers and the lawn.
Finish the garden
The gardener has done most of the work. It is now time for the finishing touches. The gardener sweeps the garden and prunes the plants that have been left. Then he will place the garden furniture and hang the right lighting to complete your garden.
Tips for your small garden
Do you want to make the most of all the space in your small garden? Then look for inspiration for your small garden. Think about the atmosphere you want to create, the materials you use and the layout you keep. These tips will help you lay out your garden perfectly.
Tip 1: Make your garden look bigger
That your garden isn’t big doesn’t mean it can’t look big. With some handy tips, your garden will soon look bigger.
- By applying height differences, you can’t see the garden at a glance. This will make your garden look a lot bigger. Do this, for example, by placing some steps between two parts of your garden.
- You can change the look of your garden just by using different colours. Using dark colours at the back of your garden creates more depth. Do this with, for example, ivy or a dark fence.
- The way the boards of, for example, your fence are mounted also affects the image of the garden. By using horizontal boards, the garden again looks a lot more spacious.
Tip 2: Garden vertically
By gardening vertically, you create more space. This technique is hugely suitable for a small city garden, for example, as the plants grow in a vertical container against your fence or wall. The construction often consists of a grid behind which you place the plants. It is also possible to grow the plants from pots or special baskets.
Vertical gardening is suitable for all kinds of plants. Does your intended spot have little sun? Then plant plants such as ferns, various grasses and geraniums there. In a sunny area, pansies and mask flowers come into their own. It is even possible to start a small vegetable garden. Strawberries, lettuce and various herbs grow super well this way.
Tip 3: Contribute to nature
Even with a small garden, you mean a lot to nature. In an urban environment, birds and insects struggle. By placing plants and flowers in your small garden, you help these animals survive. The National Green Fund is heavily involved in this. There are also many local initiatives, such as the Utrecht Natuurlijk foundation, which wants to make the city centre greener. So plant lots of flowers in your garden to give nature a helping hand.
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