Struggling with tiny garden now summer is here.

[SmallGreens]

I moved end of last year. And traded off more house space for less garden.

My kids are all older so individual bedrooms was more important than garden space.

I had a really big garden and loved to laze in a hammock, have a big (inflatable) swimming pool, BBQs etc.

I didn't think it would bother me too much as the kids didn't really spend much time in the garden anymore but today is sunny and I really miss my big garden.

I'm now sat in my little square flagged space, surrounded by over looking houses and am sad.

First world problems I know.

I have lots of plants and am going to make it mine but I'm just mourning my big space!

Also it's very overlooked now and all small gardens are in very close proximity, so you can hear everything. I do miss the peace and quiet too.

Do you have a local space? Like a community garden or a park or a cafe with a nice garden?

I despise gardening, but I enjoy gardens.
I Like To Sit in my local park on a sunny day surrounded by professionally tended lawns and flower beds. There's even a little cafe so I don't have to make my own coffee or cake..

The only downside is that there's people here.. 🤣

There is a local park but I'd look a bit weird having a nap in a hammock with my dogs in the middle of the park 😂

I had to move last year and also now have a tiny terraced garden with no privacy and no space for my pool! I've spent the last few weeks painting fences/shed in nice Mediterranean colours and planting lots of pots. The top of my fence is trellis so I have multiple fence pots with trailing fuchsia to give some privacy, my massive parasol helps a bit with privacy too and I'm also growing lots clematis along the top of the fence. I brought my big potted palms and ferns with me. Basically trying to create a little urban oasis where I can pretend I'm on holiday . But I really miss my grass, new garden is basically a patio. If I could afford it I'd build a pergola for more privacy.

A small space can be lovely and intimate. Trellis and climbers for privacy, a cosy seating area with colourful cushions, surrounded by well thought out planting of flowers that are lovely to look at and give out gorgeous smells. Maybe even a solar fountain to give a little noise to minimise neighbours’ noise.
My garden is huge and I’m wondering how I will manage it as I get older. It’s very open and I dream of having a small courtyard that I can cosy up with planting and feel “secure” in. Neither is better than the other, they are just different.
There are amazing small garden ideas on line, don’t waste time on thinking about your last garden, it’s gone, get thinking about this one and make it somewhere that you love to sit in.

Can u get an egg chair to relax in they take up less space than a hammock. But I get why you feel sad.

Welcome to my world. Small, narrow garden overlooked on all sides. Nice 6ft fences tho on which we’ve put those fake extending leafy trellises. Sounds naff but looks good. Makes it look more cosy and enclosed. Lots of plants in pots and luckily a bit of tree coverage at the bottom to help with a bit of privacy

This ^ 👍

Have you watched ‘big dreams small spaces’ it’s brilliant for showing what can be achieved with not much room.

Thankyou everyone.
I know I can make it look nice it just doesn't have the same feeling.

Lay in the middle of the large garden in the sun, smelling the freshly cut grass, listening to the birds.

Now there's hardly any sun, I have to drag my chair into the one sunspot that moves round the garden and all I hear is the neighbours talking and coughing and dogs barking.

Don't get me wrong I love my new house. Everyone has their own bedroom, there's so much more space but I just wish I had just double the garden.

I'm no gardener, DH is though and he's made it alot nicer already.

Look at it this way; we rarely have many days in the year when the garden matters. Better to have the bigger house for everyone x

how about a nice seating area with a sail over to give privacy?

When you’ve had a private garden it’s hard to readjust but I’m sure you can make it a mini haven.

Noise cancelling headphones are a game changer .
Clever planting so always something of interest to look at and even a pot of water gets the insects into the garden .
My back garden is tiny but over the yrs we have crammed it with plants trees fruit bushes bird feeders , raised fish pond bird bath .
I spend my time Cloud watching through the apple tree branches .
It will get better

How much space do you need to sit and read in the sun?

Take your hammock and dogs to the park - no one will mind (perhaps informed by me being a Londoner where no one would bat an eye lid as we use parks for all sorts)

We made the same move and I completely understand it OP. I wear ear plugs in the garden now to block out the noise and I've created a lovely little corner that's completely private.