10 TIPS FOR BROWNSTONE GARDEN DESIGN

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10 professional tips for designing in small spaces in Brooklyn's urban environments.

A significant part of my practice in New York City is designing and installing small gardens, in particular Brooklyn brownstone gardens.  

Here are a few ideas for small garden design.

1.  A small garden outside your home is an extension of your indoor space. It is an outdoor room, or rooms -- if you have the ability to create multiple levels. Inherently there should be a relationship between the outdoor space and the architecture of your home.

2. Maximize your space. In many situations designing round shapes in small gardens create leftover, wasted spaces.  Try using squares/rectangles so that every square inch can be used. Try designing with a grid. (An alternative would be laying your hardscape pavers on a 45-degree angle)

3. An urban garden design process. A Brooklyn garden design should plan for the most effective way to install and manage the garden before building it.  Transporting materials, equipment, plant material, soil, etc. through small spaces and garden apartments needs to be thought through carefully.

4. Seasonal differences in small gardens. Consider the seasonal views looking out to the garden from inside the brownstone or townhouse.

5. Keep the plant palette simple!  Repeating plants and combinations of plants bring cohesion to a design. Different foliage shapes create complexity within the planting design.  This becomes even more critical when you are designing a shade garden.  Many Brooklyn brownstone gardens are shade gardens.

6. Urban gardens are inward focused. Brooklyn yards and townhouse gardens are akin to medieval cloister gardens. They are inward focused and allow the designer to use certain illusory design techniques. Consider verticality of space. Take advantage of this by choosing several plants, pots and garden architecture that are narrow and tall.  At the same time be aware that you need to strike a balance as high walls around a small space can become claustrophobic.

7. Less is more!  If the given patio space will only fit a table and 4 chairs comfortably, leave it at that.  Adding more furniture will only create a tight, cluttered look. Think functionality and circulation. Custom built furniture (storage benches) affords a place to store tools, hoses and extra potting soil. Less clutter = more open space.

8. Using containers in small urban gardens. Make planters moveable, either by placing casters underneath them or purchasing them of lightweight material.  Planters need to be raised off of most surfaces for drainage.  From time to time you will want to move them to clean underneath.

9. Take advantage of walls!  Place a focal point such as a wall fountain or other object d’art. Famous landscape designer Beatrix Farrand referred to vines or espaliered shrubs as “wall coverings”—using them outdoors as one uses wallpaper within interior spaces.

10. Think about garden maintenance. Ideas for small garden designs should include low maintenance design. Use drip irrigation on a timer.  A rain sensor should also be considered.

Following these professional tips will inspire your Brooklyn garden design.

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**all photos ©Todd Haiman Landscape Design 2016