Ideas for very small back garden in new build please!

[artylady14]

I have a very small back garden in my new build townhouse garden. We have a very small patio and then a lawn area. The lawn has just been removed and the soil rotovated (due to builder's rubble left behind). We are going to re-lay the lawn and create a flower bed on one side next to the fence. I would like ideas for how we could create any kind of striking and pretty look in this kind of limited garden. It isn't very sunny where we are going to plant. Another problem we have is that the garden slopes upwards! We want to move in the next year or two so nothing too expensive?

Hi
I think the trick is to get all year round interest, so maybe go for things like heucheras, hebes and spirea in different leaf colour and shapes as the shrubs with some annuals and bedding plants at the front. Add some height - lupins, foxgloves etc to give variety (which creates a sense of depth). You could spend money on miniature maples and bay trees in pots you can take with you and plant a herb garden in a big pot or tin tub, again for moving with you. Pretty garden furniture so you sit out and use it, and some lighting - even just candles in storm jars if you don't want to spend much (very cheap pretty ones in most supermarkets these days.)

Lovely ideas silveracorn, thank you! I love Lupins and was thinking about them since since I saw loads at Chelsea Flower Show. Thanks a lot.

I would put the bed across a corner and have a triangle shape. Then it's a bit deeper in the middle for more variety of flowers/shrubs. Also a bit easier for mowing.

Have a look at Japanese courtyard gardens. Many are absolutely tiny, but they are so, so perfect. They almost always include rocks, water and trees.