Clean lines and plant repetition help to make a small space seem bigger

Clean lines and the repetition of plants make a small garden seem bigger and greener, says the designer of this cosy oasis.

By Marié Esterhuyse •

Having previously had a large tropical garden in KwaZulu-Natal, these homeowners wanted their much smaller garden on their new Cape Town property to still have as much greenery as possible. “My clients still wanted a lush green garden, despite its limited size,” says Petro Jacobs of Petro Landscaping, who designed the garden. “They also wanted to utilise as much of the space as possible for the garden and to create privacy using plants.

The trampoline had to be kept for their son and the pool loungers needed a dedicated spot.”

The garden lies between the main house and a newly built cottage, with a pool in the middle. The biggest challenges facing Petro were the limited space and the excessive shade in that part of the property. The cottage’s façade needed to be softened, and with a floor level higher than that of the pool, she had to come up with a plan to improve the flow between the house, pool and cottage. >>

Photographs Francois Oberholster Topiary balls of Australian brush cherry are underplanted with Crassula pellucida in round white pots that perfectly complement the modern, clean lines of the garden. WHERE Newlands, Cape Town SIZE OF GARDEN 120m2 TYPE OF SOIL Loam

The garden is regarded as an extension of the house and can be enjoyed from the main house as well as the cottage. When the large sliding doors are opened, the house and garden form a cohesive unit. Plants from Cape Garden; decking and pergola by Leisure Living

Petro Jacobs