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LACK of space is no excuse for going through life without a garden. Here are some basic principles to consider. Before you spend a lot of money - and energy - on transforming your tiny piece of ground into a garden, you should thoroughly examine the available space and decide what you want to use the area for. Remember:

The available space has to work for you, not the other way round.

Draw up a budget - per square metre, a small garden can work out to be more expensive than a larger one.

If you are very busy, travel often, or aren't crazy about gardening, you should avoid anything that requires a lot of maintenance.

Minimalism is better - after all, you want to create the illusion of space and privacy.

The right design
Use pergolas and deciduous creepers such as wisteria to provide shade and privacy in summer but allow enough sunlight through in winter.

Create the illusion of space (and an element of surprise) by dividing the garden into sections with arches or trellis panels.

Keep the garden path narrow and the pattern simple.

Create at least one focal point in the form of a special plant, garden light, birdbath, garden bench or statuette.

The right plants
Choose versatile plants that deserve the space they occupy: they should provide something special all year round as far as shape, texture and colour are concerned - whether with their leaves, bark, flowers or seeds.

Use the plants - in garden soil or pots - as décor, in the same way as you would use cushions, rugs and ornaments indoors.

Think about the role the plants have to play, rather than about specific species. For instance, do you want a narrow, evergreen hedge, a dark-green grassy area or bright splashes of colour? Do you perhaps like the idea of a small tree or large shrub that grows no higher than 5 m, providing shade in summer and allowing sunlight through in winter? Identify specific requirements and then go to the nursery - its experts will help you to choose the right plant.

Use plants that can be pruned into tall-stemmed shapes. This will provide much-needed vertical lines and you will be able to plant other plants at their feet.

Garden boundaries
Boundary walls are probably the most frustrating element in a small garden because they are a reminder of exactly how small the space is. Don't see this as a stumbling block but rather use the walls as an important part of your garden décor. A new coat of paint is quick and easy to apply and, with the right finish and colour, you can turn a boundary wall into a focal point (for example, by painting it in a colour that contrasts with that of the rest of the painted structures), or make it 'disappear' into the background.

Hide ugly walls behind trellis or bamboo panels, wooden screens or steel frames. You can also use creepers to create vertical lines.

Wall fountains, mosaic garden art and even mirrors can transform a drab wall into an attractive focal point.

Make it look larger
Use background to create an illusion of space. For instance, if your neighbour has lovely trees that rise above your garden wall, you can plant a complementary shrub or tree on your side.

Nail a fake door to a high garden wall - only you know that it leads nowhere.

Use a mirror against one of the garden walls so that the rest of the garden will be reflected in it. This creates depth. (Property24)

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