Kathmandu:

In this growing concrete jungle where houses are being built in every possible space, greenery is disappearing at an alarming speed. Today a house is all about space management, and with a little consideration one can always find some space for their own little garden.

Who says garden has to be this enormous area with a variety of shrubs, plants and trees? With a little imagination and idea, a small area can be converted into a beautiful garden. Be it the small space at the entrance or even the balcony or terrace, a garden can fit in anywhere.

Small gardens are easy to maintain as one can easily spot any plant that is not thriving, or one that is out of place.

Suraj Kumar Pradhan from Chameli Nursery insists that one must devote half-an-hour to an hour each day in order to keep a small garden blossoming. So, for all those who love gardening, creating a small garden can be the best way to de-stress either before or after work.

Adding contours

Small gardens do have their restrictions. The aim here is to make the most out of the limited space so that it doesn’t appear cluttered. Also since it only covers a small area, a small garden has to be viewed in one look, so harmony is the key. The placements and choice of plants play a major role in this.

Kumar Shrestha of Kathmandu Nursery suggests, “For a small space, it is better to opt for a foliage garden with permanent durable plants and some designs using rocks.” Pradhan suggests adding dimension to the garden. “You can try landscaping and raise a certain area of the space so that a simple square piece of land can look more interesting.”

Pots of beauty

Another must-have for a small garden is potted plants. Rather than using them in the boring way of by keeping a lot of them in a line, try placing these pots in various positions in an interesting way. Since there are varieties of pots available in the market, such potted plants can also add attractive décor to the whole garden. From metal to plastic, from terracotta to ceramic, there are many choices for pots. But the purpose-wise clay pots are the best as they are porous and allow the roots to breathe.

Pradhan suggests using decorative pots as outer cover for clay pots. Painting clay pots in different colours can also be a good idea. Both Pradhan and Shrestha stress that potted plants also require day-to-day care.

Positive energy

A little bit of accessorising can work wonders for the garden. Various garden accessories are available in the market like small statues to water fountains, or one can even use pebbles and boulders to create some designs. Here again the size of the accessories should be taken into consideration according to the size of the garden.

While talking about accessories Pradhan says, “According to Feng Shui and Vaastu, having a water flowing in the house brings positive energy. So you can put a small fountain in your garden.”

Shrestha says that water fountains should not be placed at the centre.

Green and colourful

As for the choice of plants, both Shrestha and Pradhan recommend perennial plants as these last throughout the year, so one doesn’t have to keep changing them. Plus perennial foliage plants will ensure greenery 365 days a year.

In terms of flowering plants, Shrestha suggests keeping a combination of seasonal and perennial ones. “While seasonal flowers bring variety as you have to change them every six months, the perennial ones will ensure greenery along with blossom one time of the year.”

There are more than 30 varieties of flowers for this season. Flowers like marigold, petunia, carnations, pansy and caladium are good options.

Garden is the first thing that people see when they come to your place and in a way it represents the homeowner’s taste. More than size, it is the planning that makes an attractive garden. Personalise the green patch of yours to add a refreshing touch to your home.