Designing a small city garden can feel like a challenge, but with the right choices, even the most compact outdoor space can become a beautiful, functional space. Whether you’re working with a small courtyard, a balcony, or a narrow urban back garden, clever design and the right plants can make all the difference.
Here are our top tips for creating a stylish, low-maintenance small city garden – using ideas and products you’ll find right here at gardenplantsonline.co.uk
1. Think Vertical to Maximise Space
When ground space is limited, look upwards. Vertical planting is one of the best ways to add greenery without cluttering your garden.
• Use climbing plants such as jasmine, bougainvillea or clematis to soften walls and fences.
• Wall-mounted planters and shelves allow you to grow herbs, ferns or trailing plants.
• Tall terracotta pots with architectural plants like bay trees or bamboo help draw the eye up, making the garden feel larger.
Terracotta pots are especially effective in city gardens – their natural tones complement brickwork beautifully and they age gracefully over time.
We offer a wide range of terracotta pots and planters designed to balance beauty with practicality -especially where space is at a premium. From slim, elegant standouts like the Tuscan Rosenpot, perfect for adding height without bulk, to the sculptural ‘Effe’ Asymmetric Planter, which brings a contemporary edge to compact spaces, our collection proves that small doesn’t have to mean boring. We also offer a versatile selection of wall pots, ideal for hanging and climbing plants, helping you green vertical surfaces and free up valuable floor space. Thoughtfully designed, timeless in material, and made to shine in urban settings, our terracotta planters let every garden — no matter the size – make a confident statement.
2. Choose Plants That Work Hard
In a small garden, every plant needs to earn its place. Focus on plants that offer more than one benefit – structure, colour and seasonal interest.
Great choices for UK city gardens include:
• Evergreens such as box, yew or compact shrubs to provide year-round structure
• Multi-stem shrubs like Nerium oleander for height, flowers and autumn colour
• Succulents, which are low maintenance, and they look great too
• Edible plants, such as fig or citrus trees
Container planting is ideal for city spaces, and many of our plants are perfectly suited to growing in pots, allowing flexibility if you decide to rearrange your layout later.
3. Use Aggregates for a Clean, Modern Look
Hard landscaping plays a huge role in small gardens. Using aggregates such as gravel or decorative stones can help define areas while keeping things low-maintenance.
Benefits of aggregates include:
• Excellent drainage (ideal for rainy UK weather)
• Less mowing and upkeep than lawns
• A bright, open feel that reflects light
Light-coloured gravel can make a small space feel bigger, while darker aggregates create a sleek, contemporary look. Pair aggregates with planted borders or pots to soften the overall design.
4. Create Zones -Even in Tiny Spaces
Even a small city garden feels more spacious when it’s broken into zones. This could be as simple as:
• A seating area with pots around the edges
• A narrow planting strip along a fence
• A dedicated container garden for herbs or flowers
Using different materials – such as aggregates for one area and paving for another – helps visually separate spaces without adding bulk.
5. Make Water Sustainable with a Water Butt
Water access can be tricky in city gardens, and sustainability is more important than ever. Installing a water butt is a simple way to collect rainwater and reduce reliance on mains water.
Water butts are:
• Ideal for watering pots and containers
• Space-efficient for small gardens
• Great for eco-conscious urban gardeners
Position one near a downpipe or discreet corner, and you’ll always have water ready during dry spells – especially useful for container-grown plants.
6. Keep It Simple (and Easy to Maintain)
City living is busy, so your garden should be a place to relax, not another chore. Choose:
• Fewer plant varieties, repeated for cohesion
• Low-maintenance shrubs and perennials
• Durable pots like terracotta that cope well with UK weather
A simple, well-planned design will always look better than an overcrowded space.
Final Thoughts
A small city garden doesn’t mean small ideas. With clever use of plants, pots, aggregates and sustainable solutions like water butts, you can transform even the tiniest outdoor area into a welcoming green haven.
Explore our full range of plants, terracotta pots, aggregates and water butts at gardenplantsonline.co.uk, and start designing a city garden that works beautifully for your space – and your lifestyle.