A long, narrow plot offers you lots of garden design options, from relaxed to formal. You'll be able to fit in everything on your wish list, with plenty of space for fabulous plants.
There are a number of clever garden design tricks you can use to stop your plot looking too long and thin. Here are some of the best:
Divide the space up into smaller areas, giving each section a different purpose.
This can be a useful technique if your garden is on a slope, too.
Use simple but distinctive shapes -- circles, curves and squares all work well -- and mix hard and soft landscaping to help break up the 'corridor' effect and make the garden seem wider. Another good idea is to vary the planting and colour schemes.
Masking the far end of the garden with plants will fool the eye into thinking it's shorter (and wider) than it really is.
We asked garden designer Katrina Wells of Earth Designs to come up with three great designs -- what you pick will depend largely on how you use your garden. But if you choose a style that reflects your home's interior, and materials that complement your garden's natural surroundings, too, the results will be much better. As for budget, we've suggested where you can make savings. Now all you have to do is pick the plan that's best for you.
