Lush, expansive gardens are a dream – but not everyone has the luxury of a large outdoor space. The good news is that with a bit of know-how, even the tiniest corner can be transformed into a vibrant green sanctuary.
Jo Thompson is someone who knows possibly everything there is to know about getting the best out of a garden – no matter the size. Widely considered one of UK’s best garden designers, Jo has a portfolio that spans countless green spaces – from grand estate ground to compact city gardens.
Renowned for her love of roses, her designs weave a touch of horticultural magic. She’s a multiple gold medal winner at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show – most recently honoured for the Glasshouse Garden, created for a women’s hospital.
Now, Jo is looking to pass on the wisdom she’s earned over the past two decades. In a debut video course with Create Academy, she shares the fundamentals of garden design. With her course available now, we took the chance to ask the designer about her top plants for a small garden…
1. Climbers
Pink roses and purple clematis climbing a trellis JohnGollop – Getty Images
Jo’s top tip is using climbing plants in smaller outdoor spaces. “Always think about the verticals in the small garden. You might be limited on ground space, but you have walls, fences, which allow you to grow climbers,” Jo tells Country Living.
She recommends pairing a clematis, like ‘Étoile Violette’, ‘Emelia Plater’ or the early-blooming variety ‘Frances Rivis’, with small climbing rose varieties, like the ‘Generous Gardener’ or ‘Blushing Rosette’.
With the clematis growing up amongst the (repeat-flowering) roses, you’ll get at least two sessions of flowering, which will keep your garden nice and colourful for a longer period of time.
2. Hardy geraniums
Pauline Lewis – Getty Images
Down on the ground, where space is limited, Jo recommends opting for hardy geraniums: a beautiful groundcover plant that will give you a carpet of delicate blooms in gentle hues that don’t overwhelm the space.
“In a small garden, you want to keep to soft colours. Bright colours jump out and make the space feel smaller. Geraniums come in such a lovely range of pale blues, pale pinks, whites and so on,” Jo says.
Avoiding visual clutter and helping the space feel larger and calmer is not the only benefit. “Hardy geraniums really give a lot of good value because once they’ve finished flowering, just cut them back and they’ll often flower again,” Jo says. Plus, some varieties are tolerant of partial or full shade.
3. Verbena bonariensis
photography by Ulrich Hollmann – Getty Images
When it comes to a small garden design, it’s important to exercise restraint. Too many different plants can make the space feel busy. Instead, Jo recommends sticking to three to five varieties, depending on how small the garden is, and repeating them throughout.
A great choice to mix in and layer with your hardy geraniums is Verbena bonariensis, a twiggy, purple-flowering plant. “They don’t take up much ground space. They’re tall but they’re very thin, so you can see through them, which is lovely in a small space,” the garden designer says.
4. Bulbs
Photos by R A Kearton – Getty Images
While a restricted plant and colour palette is vital to open up a small space, this can also make it a little tricky to give your garden enough variety and colour. This is where bulbs can do a lot of the heavy lifting, and you can really “go mad” with them, says Jo.
“From snowdrops to crocus through to daffodils and tulips in pots – that gives you a lot of flexibility,” she advises.
Bulbs come in all shapes and sizes. By planting them in pots and containers, you can add splashes of colour to awkward patches or less-used areas and regularly refresh your space with the changing seasons.
Looking for more? Jo Thompson’s online video course, ‘The Fundamentals of Garden Design’, is available now from Create Academy.
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