25 Garden Design Ideas for Long & Narrow Gardens

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Lengthy, rectangular, or irregularly shaped gardens are increasingly popular as they can transform narrow spaces into living corridors. As these often beckon visitors to take a leisurely outdoor stroll, they can be outfitted with footpaths, border hedges, and manageable ground cover plants. A functional feature, such as a planted island, wildlife pond, or water fountain, is a great way to add interest to the farthest reaches of the garden. Browse through the design ideas below to help get you started!

Maximize the surface area of your fences by using hanging pots or vertically arranged containers. This should enhance the planted look of a narrow space and provide several focal points.


2)

Bird bath in garden
Jolanta Fallach / No copyright

Place a small fountain, bird bath, or miniature water feature at the end of the path or along one accessible side of the garden. Diversifying the non-living elements of your space should create a more organic yet nuanced finish.


3)

Wildflower section in garden
Dave Catchpole / CC BY 2.0

Create sections along the length of the garden. A wildflower area can open up to rows of well-manicured trees and shrubs.


4)

Garden arch
Dave Catchpole / CC BY 2.0

Get creative with arches above narrower sections of paths or walkways. Boxwoods and other tall, dense hedges – particularly ones that keep their shape – are perfect for this purpose.


5)

Circular garden area
Dave Catchpole / CC BY 2.0

Allow some parts of the pathway to swell into more creative shapes. Plus points if these have varied levels. To play with different heights, more pots and containers can be situated on steps.


6)

Symmetrical garden
Dave Catchpole / CC BY 2.0

Provide the illusion of even more length by embracing symmetry. Symmetrical arrangements of pots, fences, and hedge plants bring a sense of order and ease. Maintaining symmetry can also be a welcome challenge for both new and experienced gardeners.


7)

Garden hedges
Dave Catchpole / CC BY 2.0

Break the garden into fenced sections. Tall hedges grown perpendicular to the path should encourage visitors to walk down its length. These will keep them curious about the plants and decorative features that lie beyond their line of sight.


8)

Garden bench
Dave Catchpole / CC BY 2.0

Place a bench at the far end of the garden so that the path doesn’t break too abruptly. If the path is particularly long, a seating area should encourage a quick bout of rest. It should also encourage viewers to take their time as they admire the full length of your garden.


9)

Indoor patio
Dave Catchpole / CC BY 2.0

Part of a lengthy garden can be enclosed in a makeshift greenhouse or an indoor/outdoor patio. These should allow for relatively easy garden maintenance – rain or shine and through the seasons.


10)

Multi-level garden step path
Karen Roe / CC BY 2.0

A multi-leveled step path allows visitors to admire the garden from multiple heights and vantage points. It also breaks the monotony that may be found in gardens with simple, linear, and leveled pathways.


11)

Ornamental grasses in garden
Karen Roe / CC BY 2.0

Grow ornamental grasses in between flowering herbs to add dynamic texture to the borders of a turf path. Evergreen species are fantastic for this purpose as they last throughout the year and gradually expand their coverage.


12)

Central column of flower plots
Karen Roe / CC BY 2.0

Instead of having a single path running along the length of the garden, consider a design with a central column of plots. Paths can run along the outer edges of these, allowing visitors to walk around them.


13)

Rectangular ornamental pond
Karen Roe / CC BY 2.0

Fill in a lengthy plot of bare space with a rectangular ornamental pond. When moderately lined with edge plants and filled with floating aquatics, this can truly elevate a narrow space. Of course, the width of the pond will have to be adjusted to make adequate room for other garden elements.


14)

Ornamental perennials of varying heights
Donald Judge / CC BY 2.0

Add a unique touch to your planted borders by spacing out clumps of ornamental perennials with varied growth forms and maximum heights. Visitors are likely to make stops along the path to inspect the individual rosettes and bunches of vibrant leaves and blooms.


15)

Rows of trees in garden
Dave Catchpole / CC BY 2.0

Who says lengthy and narrow gardens can’t have rows of trees? Of course, regular pruning is an absolute must if you wish to maintain a neat finish and allow ample light to flood into the garden.


16)

Quirky plant plot shapes
James Petts / CC BY-SA 2.0

Experiment with quirky and organic shapes for plots. Boxwood shrubs are usually fantastic for creating all sorts of shapes. A neat, straight line flanks the path on both sides, but the outer sections of the plots are delineated with waves.


17)

Deep multi-species garden border
Karen Roe / CC BY 2.0

Offset the center of a lengthy garden by cultivating a deep, multi-species border. This might be quite challenging to maintain, as it would be difficult to reach the plants growing right along the fence, but it does attempt to replicate a more wild, unkempt, and biodiverse patch of growth.


18)

Uniform garden border
Mark / CC BY 2.0

Uniform borders, with just a few species of native plants, are also perfect for lengthy gardens. These are generally easy to maintain as both sides of the garden would have similar requirements. However, keep in mind that growing more of the same species may have drawbacks when it comes to pest control.


19)

Circular shrubs
Karen Roe / CC BY 2.0

Use circular shapes to contrast lengthy and straight pathways. These should even out long lines to give your garden a more well-rounded and balanced appearance.


20)

Marble planters in garden
Joshua Morley / CC BY 2.0

Marble planters and other types of sculptural décor add charm and character to lengthy gardens. Raise these to draw more attention to their shape, their artistic charm, and the spritely plants they hold.


21)

Circular pond
William Murphy / CC BY-SA 2.0

Break a long path with a circular pond, fountain, or decorative centerpiece. Just as a candelabra or a vase of flowers can transform a lengthy table, a dynamic outdoor feature can take a narrow garden to new heights!


22)

Stone garden path
Karen Roe / CC BY 2.0

Set your path apart by giving it irregular edges. Multiple types and sizes of stones also add character.


23)

Garden trellis
Selena N. B. H. / CC BY 2.0

Place an arbor or trellis to create shade along lengthy paths. These can be left bare, creating a clean look, or serve as structural support for trailing plants and flowering vines.


24)

Small seating area in garden
Andrew Malone / CC BY 2.0

A maintenance shed and a modest seating area may be nestled at the far end of a lengthy garden. This should offer gardeners a chance to have outdoor meals and catch their breath in between bouts of serious gardening.


25)

Raised garden patio
jeffreyw / CC BY 2.0

A raised patio should also be a fantastic spot from which to peacefully watch your narrow garden thrive and flourish through the seasons! This can be perched at either the far or near end of a lengthy pathway. Miniature rock gardens, with some sedums and stonecrops spilling onto the path, can be grown along the edges of the steps.


Final Thoughts

When gardens are longer than they are wide, they draw the eye to their farthest reaches. These are sites where a story can be allowed to unfold. Lengthy paths can lead to relaxing vistas and visually striking plots of blooms. When space is limited, length can be maximized to create structure. Incorporating organic shapes and broken lines can distinguish your narrow garden from any other!

Angeline L
About the author

Angeline L

I'm a passionate researcher and scuba diver with a keen interest in garden plants, marine life, and freshwater ecology. I think there’s nothing better than a day spent writing in nature. I have an academic and professional background in sustainable aquaculture, so I advocate for the responsible production of commercial fish, macroinvertebrates, and aquatic plants.

Read more about Pond Informer.

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