| A long, narrow plot offers you lots of garden design | | | | with gravel or decking. Buy younger -- and cheaper -- |
| options, from relaxed to formal. You'll be able to fit in | | | | shrubs as they'll fill out in a couple of years. Pruned |
| everything on your wish list, with plenty of space for | | | | box works well as a focal point at the end of a path. |
| fabulous plants. There are a number of clever garden | | | | Secluded garden on a thin plot |
| design tricks you can use to stop your plot looking | | | | Circles are brilliant for creating the illusion of width. In |
| too long and thin. Here are some of the best: | | | | a long, thin garden, it's best to link them with a |
| Divide the space up into smaller areas, giving each | | | | curving pathway so you can create distinct zones, |
| section a different purpose. This can be a useful | | | | each with its own function and style. We've |
| technique if your garden is on a slope, too. | | | | dedicated one circle to dining and relaxing, left one as |
| Use simple but distinctive shapes -- circles, curves and | | | | a lawn, and put a bench and water feature in the |
| squares all work well -- and mix hard and soft | | | | last, sheltered circle. Plant small trees to the side of |
| landscaping to help break up the 'corridor' effect and | | | | each circle for privacy. |
| make the garden seem wider. Another good idea is | | | | Will it take much looking after? By filling the |
| to vary the planting and colour schemes. | | | | flowerbeds mainly with easy-care shrubs, and only |
| Masking the far end of the garden with plants will | | | | planting annual flowers in the main patio, you can |
| fool the eye into thinking it's shorter (and wider) than | | | | keep gardening time down. A fan-shaped mini Chusan |
| it really is. We asked garden designer Katrina Wells of | | | | palm adds interest and is maintenance-free. How can |
| Earth Designs to come up with three great designs -- | | | | I cut costs? Simply replace the paving of the |
| what you pick will depend largely on how you use | | | | pathways and the circle at the back of the garden |
| your garden. But if you choose a style that reflects | | | | with bark chippings (which can extend into the beds) |
| your home's interior, and materials that complement | | | | to save money and give the garden a woodland |
| your garden's natural surroundings, too, the results will | | | | glade feel. |
| be much better. As for budget, we've suggested | | | | Family Garden on a thin plot |
| where you can make savings. Now all you have to | | | | Dividing up a family garden with informal, sweeping |
| do is pick the plan that's best for you. | | | | curves gives you flexibility to fit in all those extras, |
| Low Maintenance on a thin plot of land | | | | like a bigger shed and a play area. Use trees and |
| This simple design breaks up a long garden with short | | | | shrubs to blur the boundaries between each area and |
| pathways, each one leading to a shapely plant, such | | | | hide anything you don't want to see; climbers such as |
| as a standard box or New Zealand flax, or a | | | | clematis will quickly screen the shed. Sunflowers are a |
| curvaceous pot. The pergolas -- two wide ones and | | | | great favourite with kids, and can form a fun |
| a smaller one -- give the impression of width, help | | | | summer screen. And don't forget to pick accessories |
| provide the garden with privacy and shade, and | | | | in natural materials for the play area. |
| screen the secluded seating area at the end of the | | | | Will it take much looking after? You'll have to trim |
| plot. Will it take much looking after? This design is | | | | loose branches from trees to protect children, and |
| ideal for anyone too busy to garden regularly. The | | | | the lawn needs mowing up to once a week in |
| all-paved approach means there's no grass to cut, | | | | summer. You can cut down on other tasks by |
| and the borders, planted with a variety of | | | | choosing low-maintenance plants. |
| low-maintenance shrubs, such as Hebe and | | | | How can I cut costs? Increasing the size of the lawn |
| Euonymus, will need only an occasional trim. How can | | | | to replace or reduce some of the borders will work |
| I cut costs? It's important to choose good-quality, | | | | out cheaper. Using bark chippings in place of paving |
| attractive paving, so if that's too expensive, replace | | | | will cut costs, too. |