Designing a Pocket Garden for Reading and Relaxing
There is nothing like sitting on a comfortable bench, taking in the beauty of nature, breathing in the smell of grass and flowers, and maybe reading a book with a cup of tea on the side. Even better when you can experience it right in your backyard, kind of like a mini-vacation that only requires you to travel a couple of steps outside your house.
If that sounded like a dream to you, you may want to consider designing a pocket garden for your daily relaxation and reading. Pocket gardens are becoming more and more common in households, giving its dwellers a small corner to unwind and escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
What is a Pocket Garden?
A pocket garden is a small corner in your backyard meant to be a place for quick escapes, somewhere you can enjoy peace and quiet while being surrounded by nature. Also called a literary garden or Shakespeare garden, these small nooks are the perfect spots to do some morning or afternoon reading.
Aside from a comfy chair and coffee table, it’s not a pocket garden until you are surrounded by a lush landscape filled with trees, greenery, and patches of plants. It’s a common landscape design for small yards, creating a cozy space where you can indulge in a good book and escape from the noise that surrounds you.
How to Design a Pocket Garden
Pocket gardens sound like a difficult proposition to build, but considering their minimalist nature, and of course “pocket-size”, it’s a project that you can complete with the help of a landscaping contractor. If you want to create your own personal nook right in your backyard, here are the steps that you need to take.
1. Plan
Just like in any big project, the first step to creating a pocket garden is planning. You need to lay down the foundation of the work that needs to be done, as well as your priorities in terms of the final result. Some crucial pieces of information that you need to figure out during the planning stage include:
- Who will be using the pocket garden?
- How big does it need to be?
- Where do you want it to be located?
- Sun exposure
- The types of plants you want to have and what works best for your yard
- How to incorporate existing elements and features in your yard
Considering these factors will help you make a decision as to how to design your pocket garden. A good place to start is to first find the most relaxing place in your backyard and determine how you can improve the space and incorporate a pocket garden that serves your preferences and priorities.
2. Choose a Theme
There is a plethora of different plants and greenery that you can add to your garden, which almost makes it impossible to choose which ones you should plant in your little nook. It will be easier to determine the right greeneries and pieces of furniture to incorporate by choosing an overall theme for your pocket garden. Some good ideas include:
- Butterfly garden
- Tropical garden
- Native garden
- Edible garden
Setting a theme will help you zoom in on the elements that you should prioritize. You’ll be in a much better place to make decisions about the plants to include, decorative elements to add, etc. If you want to — and if space permits, you can also have multiple pocket gardens each with a different theme!
3. Identify Fixings and Furniture
Now that you have a good foundation for coming up with your pocket garden design, you can start thinking about the fixings, furniture, plants, and decorative elements that will fill your nook. Let’s start with greeneries.
When identifying plants to incorporate, you want to make sure to select breeds that don’t require too much maintenance. Otherwise, you’re defeating the purpose of having a relaxing and calm space. Succulents are the most recommended because they’re low-maintenance and can thrive in small spaces. You should also consider the blooming season of the plants you choose to ensure that your pocket garden retains its natural beauty all year long!
Because your pocket garden will be primarily used for reading and relaxation, you’ll want to add elements that will foster peace and quiet. Some things you may want to include are hedges, tall planters, barriers, soft surfaces to absorb sound, etc. Lighting is an important element to consider as well, especially if you prefer reading after the sun goes down.
Probably the most important aspect of a pocket garden is comfort. If you’re going to spend hours reading, you want to make sure that you’re comfortable and have enough seating space. Popular seating options include rustic twig furniture, retro gliders, and Leopold benches. You can also add cushions for extra comfort!
Seek Advice From a Landscape Designer
Your pocket garden should reflect the things that you like and whatever makes you feel relaxed, warm, and comfortable. A landscape designer can help bring your vision to life and give advice on the right fixtures and greeneries to incorporate in your reading nook. American Landscapes can make your pocket garden a reality. Read more about how we can help on our website.
