Usefulness for such activities as entertaining, eating, and sitting is a primary concern. Hard surface elements such as patios, decks, and walks should be carefully designed to accommodate the number of users, yet not overwhelm the space. A patio or deck should provide between 75 to 100 square feet per person to allow for proper placement for furniture with adequate circulation space for movement around and between these elements. Over-crowding is not only unsightly, but is very unsafe.

Privacy without total seclusion is very important in small spaces. Being able to use the garden in a leisurely manner without feeling as if you are in a fish bowl or on display for all to see is very desirable. However, any enclosure element such as fences, walls, or screens, whether hardscape or planted material, should be designed to create the feeling of privacy without drawing attention to the smallness of the site. Ancient Oriental garden designers understood that to have significant spaces, you must have enclosures, and that the size, shape, and character of the enclosure determines the quality of the space. The lack of effective enclosure is often the key to most unsatisfactory spaces or places.

Good views of adjacent areas should be borrowed to increase the feeling of spaciousness by using low fences or partially open screens. Unsightly views should be screened with elements that can provide a background for attractive features within the space such as waterfalls, fountains, sculpture, or specimen plants. Air circulation and good ventilation, yet screening from hot afternoon sun or seasonal high winds are important considerations.

The scale and proportion of elements to each other, to the total space, and to the human user is especially important in small spaces. A small space seems even smaller when packed with too many elements that are inappropriate to the size and scale of the space. Remember to keep it simple, and that often less is best.

Often small spaces are surrounded by tall buildings or fences that obstruct or restrict the amount of light into the area. Care must be given in the placement of use areas, shade trees, and other elements to maximize the light and airy feeling of the space. The view of the open sky is important in making contact with the outside world and with nature by allowing you to see the sun, clouds, open sky, and birds or other animals.

If the views out of the space are not the best, then create views and elements within the space that will be attractive and can establish the mood or feeling of the space. Water features are of particular interest in that they add sound to the environment as well as an attraction for birds and other wild creatures for observation and interaction through feeding and other caring activities.

To create a variety of levels with retaining walls and planters helps relieve the sense of flatness of the ground plane and provides areas for improved soils for better plant growth. Containers can be used for seasonal flower color as well as for space definition. Vertical layering of plants in planters, containers, or hanging baskets can add a third dimension to the space.

Hand watering or manual or automatic drip-type irrigation systems are important when using containers, hanging baskets, and raised planter beds. Soil in the containers is exposed more than in ground planting areas and are therefore more likely to dry out causing stress for the plants. Moisture sensors to monitor the soil moisture level can help alleviate the wet and dry cycles that may be detrimental to plants.

The careful use of color, both with hardscape and plant materials, can help create a sense of size in a small space. Hot colors such as reds, yellows, and oranges tend to advance or pop-out, unlike cool colors such as blues, greens, and grays tend to recede. Too much color in a small space creates a feeling of chaos and turmoil that is unsettling to the casual passerby or the more regular and passive user to the space. However, the use of color is a very personal thing and the attitude of the ultimate user should be considered if at all possible.

To provide a sense of unity to the small space use repetition of colors, textures, sizes, shapes, etc. Try not to use just one of any element which will create a sense of clutter and a lack of unity.

Costs for developing a small space garden are usually higher per square foot than for larger spaces. We have found that such costs average $7.90 per square foot for projects up to 6,000 total square feet, whereas the average for most projects is $4.35 per square foot. Small projects average 64% or $5.03 per square foot of the total costs for hardscape elements as opposed to 58% and $2.54 per square foot for an average 19,600 square foot project.

Ease of maintenance makes for a more enjoyable space. Consider using elements, materials, and plants that will be durable with minimal maintenance. Dwarf and miniature plants are better for small spaces because they can reach their mature size and shape without a lot of pruning and shaping.

Do not over plant even though you use smaller plants. Over planting creates the need for pruning and the more you prune the more you will need to prune, since pruning stimulates more growth. So, consider the ultimate size and normal rate of growth of plants and allow for that in the spacing and placement when you plant.

Site planning and the location of use areas and elements in a small space garden is critical. Small changes in the arrangement of elements can have a large effect on the usefulness and appearance of the garden. Spatial size in the relationship to the human user has a strong psychological effect on feelings and behavior.

Site Planning, 3^rd Edition, by Kevin Lynch and Gary Hack

Landscape Architecture, by John Ormsbee Simonds

Garden, Deck, & Landscape Planner, Better Homes & Gardens, Summer 1996

Small-Space Gardens, Sunset, 1978

Sunset Magazine, June 1997