In very small gardens it can sometimes be better to concentrate on a single view in order to have maximum impact from the house but in many cases, dividing a space into zones can help it seem larger, and helps ensure the space is used to its fullest, too.<\/li>\n

\u00a0Zoning can be achieved by dividing areas with trellis, flowerbeds, hedges or a small shrub, or by different surface treatments, for example lawn, gravel, hard landscaping, and so on. In urban gardens, I prefer to use the same landscaping materials throughout for consistency \u2013 I find it\u2019s better to let the plants do the talking.<\/li>\n

Try to place your different areas \u2013 for seating, dining or for raised beds or pots,\u00a0for example \u2013 in different corners of the garden and don\u2019t forget about the edges.<\/li>\n

A bench tucked away in a side bed and perhaps backed by a mass of Clematis \u2018Apple Blossom\u2019 or Trachelospermum jasminoides<\/em> makes a lovely place to sit and invites people to stop and linger.<\/li>\n

Introducing angles or curves to your garden design often means that you can\u2019t see the whole space in one go, which I think makes the experience better and more fulfilling. Diagonal lines can be useful as they make the view feel longer.<\/li>\n

Zones can be vertical as well as horizontal. In this garden, the wooden screen behind the sofa in the barbecue area acts like a frame or an anchor, effectively delineating the space. It also meant we could easily incorporate lighting and a log store, too.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n