How to design a small garden, Jack style!

Just because you have a small garden doesn’t mean you can’t have big landscaping and design ideas!

Whether you have a small courtyard, narrow patch or only a balcony or deck to play with, nothing’s stopping you from building and growing a fabulous, functional space you’ll love pottering and hanging out in.

All you need is a little smart planning and three awesome, budget-friendly Jack products – Edging, Raised Beds and Garden Screens!

Explore the range: Landscaping & Garden Design Range

The first step when designing a small garden is to divvy it up into zones. By creating zones or ‘rooms,’ you trick the eye into seeing a space that’s bigger than it actually is. Clever, hey?

Start simple: map out a seating nook, a planting corner and a small pathway to link it all together. Each zone can tell its own story, but together they make your garden feel well-thought-out rather than just a tight patch.

No matter how much space you have, this plan is where the magic starts. Next, you need to bring it to life with Jack!

Be inspired:

Hack your outdoors: blooming brilliant garden design ideas
Simple backyard design ideas for spring entertaining

We’ve got heaps of different products in our Landscaping & Design range that can help you carve out your garden zones. Here are our top picks…

Garden edging

In small gardens, definition matters!

Garden edging helps you clearly separate your paths, planting areas and seating nooks, so they don’t blur together. It gives the illusion of more space by creating clean, organised lines that guide the eye.

From Classic Garden Edging and Lawn Edge to contemporary landscaper’s steel (Oxy-Shield®) and decorative recycled plastic edging (Matrix), we’ve got plenty of edging options to choose from in our Jack range to match your vibe.

Explore the range: Garden Edging

Raised garden beds

Tight space, but also want to put your eager green thumb to work? Jack’s got your back!

Raised planting beds are a great way to create clear zones to keep small gardens looking tidy and a little larger. Plus, they let you grow plants, vegies or even dwarf fruit trees – yes, even on concrete – while making garden care easy-peasy, thanks to better drainage, fewer pesky pests, and far less bending or kneeling.

We have an awesome selection of strong corrugated Raised Garden Beds in our Jack range to suit petite garden footprints. Check out our perfectly proportioned Square Raised Garden Bed and our Raised Garden Bed – Curved End.

Explore the range: Raised Garden Beds

Garden screens

Garden screens are the perfect outdoor ‘room’ divider. Install some around a seating area for shade and privacy, hide a vegie patch, screen your balcony or stick them in the ground next to your path to guide the way.

We’ve got garden screens galore in our Jack range, including our recycled décor Matrix screens and stylish landscaper’s Oxy-Shield screens. Our pick? the Matrix Coolabah Décor Screen with Frame, with its gorgeous gum leaf design!

Explore the range: Garden & Privacy Screens

No room to spread out on the ground? Go vertical! Our Garden & Privacy Screens are the perfect way to lift your garden – and plants – off the floor.

Our décor Matrix screens come in dozens of unique designs, from nature-inspired patterns to bold geometrics. They’re an easy way to turn boring walls into wow backdrops and give your garden extra height and personality.

You can also use Jack screens like a trellis, letting climbing plants create green or blossoming living wall backdrops. Just pop a few small planters at the base with jasmine, roses, passionfruit, star jasmine, or ivy – and up they grow!

Vertical screens not only make the most of a small space, but they also draw the eye upwards, add visual depth and soften boundaries, making your garden look and feel more generous than it really is!

Explore the range: Garden & Privacy Screens

See also: 14 garden screening ideas: add privacy, style & function!
Garden landscaping ideas to beautify your backyard

In a small garden, less really is more. Too many colours or textures means instant clutter. Instead, stick to a simple palette and mix a few complementary materials. This can make even the squishiest space feel calm, stylish and premium!

Here’s how to make it work with Jack:

• Charcoal everything – Edging, screens, raised beds, planters – keep it all dark, modern and matchy-matchy. It will make your greenery pop, your zones look sharp, and your garden appear bigger.
• Earthy, rusty vibes – Our Oxy-Shield range of raised beds, screens and planters brings industrial texture and style to small gardens. They’re all about adding that raw, urban-chic – and give off a landscaping pro vibe!
• Neutrals and natural textures – Keep it simple and natural with Jack’s green, white or beige edging and screens. These hues blend with nature, brighten things up, and make small gardens feel calm.
• Single colour pops – Forget a rainbow mix of plants and accessories. If you like a bit of colour, pick one and sprinkle it sparingly. In-sync pops add fun without looking messy and cluttered.

Explore the ranges: Garden Edging
Raised Garden Beds
Garden & Privacy Screens

Small gardens show mess faster than a mosquito spots bare summer skin!

A few fallen leaves, some overgrown herbs or crawling weeds, and suddenly your compact patch feels super crowded. The secret is to build your garden to be fuss-free from day one.

Think low-maintenance plants, and durable, easy-to-clean multipurpose Jack products:

• Screens let vines climb without sprawling across paths, as well as giving you extra growing space!
• Raised beds and planters keep soil contained and make watering and pruning a breeze
• Edging gives you clear lines, so everything looks neat and tidy without constant work

And don’t forget storage! Lightweight garden boxes, compact tool caddies, or wall-mounted racks let you tuck away hoses, hand tools and accessories. When everything has a home, your small garden stays tidy and functional.

Explore the range: Landscaping Accessories

We hope these small garden design ideas have shown that bigger doesn’t have to mean better! Compact yards – from courtyards to balconies – can look fantastic with some clever and creative planning.

Ready to make your petite garden space a neighbourhood showstopper? Simply pick your products and head to your local Jack supplier to grab them! You’ll find us on the shelves at Bunnings. Just make sure you check stock availability first.

Created a small but perfectly formed outdoor space? Why not share some snaps on socials, tagging @meetdiyjack? You might just get a call out!