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Courtyards

A courtyard is a small garden that is surrounded by walls or buildings on three sides or four sides.  Courtyards are becoming increasingly common, especially in inner city areas, as they are a way to have a garden in what are often exceedingly small spaces.  By taking the time to properly design your courtyard, you can end up with a space that is just perfect for you.  We’ve put together some ideas for you.

Simple Design Ideas

The first, and most significant, thing you should remember is that the design of the courtyard should be kept simple, especially as you have a limited amount of space to work with.  Do not use too many materials or types of plants or the space will seem busier and more confused than it should.  Also remember to keep the centre of the courtyard open and free of obstructions.  Try to keep the planting and features to the outside edges of the space if possible.

Colour plays an important part in the design of your courtyard.  Strong, active colours such as red and yellow can make a space seem smaller while softer colours such as white, green, blue or purple make a space seem larger.  If you have a wooden shed or decking, maintain the wood qualities, sanding and staining if necessary to bring out the colour.

Use lighting to good effect.  Not only does it make the courtyard usable at night, it can also highlight features or certain plants.  Careful rigging of the lighting will create “tricks” in the courtyard; opening up the space and making it feel bigger.

The type of paving that you choose will also have an effect.  Use concrete, stone, or glazed pavers for a more formal look, and bricks or rougher stone for a more informal, casual look.  If you leave spaces between the paving, you can plant low grasses or plants such as mondo to break up the solid expanse of paving.  Using walls or garden beds that are irregularly shaped will help to stop the courtyard from feeling too “boxy”.

Finally, use your focal features wisely.  Placing a statue or decorative urn in a corner of the courtyard or in the middle of a feature wall can be very effective.  Alternatively, you could use a water feature to create a feeling of coolness and add some movement within the courtyard.

Planting

Plants are an indispensable part of any garden but they will need to be used a little more judiciously in a courtyard.  The important thing to remember is not to over plant, as plants grow quickly and you may find that there is no room left for anything else!  Planting a deciduous tree means that you will have shade in summer and light in winter, but you have to ensure that the species is of a suitable size for the garden and that the root ball is not too invasive. 

Instead, try using dwarf trees as these are a great means for creating the illusion of space.  Try dwarf conifers or dwarf fruit trees for something that is dual purpose.  If you must have a larger tree, try to plant one in the corner of the garden, as this is space that is unlikely to be used by anything else.  It will also give the tree more room to grow.

While you can plant using any plants you like, it is worthwhile remembering that water restrictions are often unavoidable.  By choosing plants that need little water, you are assured of a garden that will look great in even the driest conditions.  Succulent plants are perfect, and look extremely stylish.

If you prefer not to install garden beds, why not consider the versatility of a container garden?  Using pots for your plants means that you can move them around as desired, and you have the flexibility of changing the look of the garden with minimal hassle.  You can show off plants that are at their best and hide the plants that may not be looking so great at that particular time of year.

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