Just because you don’t have a lot of space in your backyard doesn’t mean it can’t be functional, elegant and spacious all at the same time.  You just have to use some ingenuity and planning to make the best use of the space you have. In this article we’ve come up with a short list of the best landscaping ideas for small backyards.

Container Gardening

Using containers to hold plants works well for those who don’t have direct access to the dirt.  Maybe your yard is already covered with concrete pavers or a deck which makes planting directly into the soil a huge invasive excavation project.  By choosing a style (or several styles) of container you can easily add greenery to an area that may seem unable to grow plants.

Hanging Gardens

Maybe your yard doesn’t even have enough space on the ground for a few plant containers.  If that’s the case you can make use of the open vertical space instead. Hang plants from overhead beams, the sides of the house or whatever is available overhead.  The plants can be used to create privacy or just add some greenery to the area.

Garden Walls

Maybe you already have a barren wall in your yard that needs livening up.  Or maybe you’re ready to install a wall for privacy or retaining purposes. Whatever the reason for the wall, with a little extra planning it can be a beautiful addition to your yard.  Garden walls can have shelves of plants, act as a support for climbing vines or be decorated with a wide variety of additions. For smaller spaces, lighter coloured walls won’t crowd the area too much.

Outdoor Cooking

Just because your backyard is small doesn’t mean you should be denied the ability to grill, barbecue and eat outdoors.  The composition of an outdoor kitchen can be as simple as having a small grill and place to put a serving tray and a few utensils.  If you can add in a table and a couple of chairs you’re all set for some al fresco dining.