Inspiration for a small mediterranean courtyard garden in Phoenix with a water feature.

Steve Lambert
Photo of a small eclectic courtyard partial sun garden for spring in San Francisco with a retaining wall and natural stone pavers.

small zen like courtyard turned from a mud puddle to a nice modern simple area to enjoy. small budget, small area, small courtyard.
Design ideas for a small modern courtyard partial sun formal garden in Other with a garden path and concrete pavers.

Corten planter with low bamboo and outdoor lighting
Photo of a small modern courtyard shaded xeriscape for spring in Toronto with a container garden and concrete pavers.

A very private River Oaks couple who loved the simple life purchased a lot and decided to construct a house that reflected their ideals. They wanted the home to be surrounded by as much greenery as possible, with the lawn itself forming a sort of grass courtyard on both sides of the house. They also wanted landscaping around all lawn edges, an aesthetic and concealed drainage system, and a very unique, custom swimming pool designed to preserve as much greenery as possible. The front yard of this home led out to a major street and was characterized by rich San Augustine grass and massive oaks in the front near the sidewalk. The problem was there was no way of draining water from this lot, and the architect had hit a roadblock when it came time to develop a drainage system for the house itself. Standard gutters could not be inDrainage Systemsstalled on the home because it had been constructed with exposed rafters that extended past the sides of the roof. The architect asked us to develop an alternative way of moving water off the property while still maintaining the natural aesthetic of the house and surrounding landscape. We determined that the best way to accomplish this would be to surround the entire front yard with a French drain made entirely of gravel. We laid down the gravel in the shape of a picture frame, creating the aesthetic of a grass courtyard made entirely of natural elements. Functionally, it offered an even greater, hidden value as well. Gravel is a natural drain that quickly pulls water away from vegetation and man-made structures with equal efficiency. On the other side of the home, we were asked to do something even more unique—build a swimming pool surrounded by only a grass courtyard. The owners did not want any more paving than was absolutely necessary, because they wanted plenty of natural play space for their children and pets. So, rather than use paving, we used sod and grass instead to soften the entire area. The only concrete used was what we needed to build a low-profile pool coping. We also designed the skimmer throats with no lids in order to make the pool look flush with the grass. We placed simple water jets on one side of the pool so water would arch over its surface yet remain contained within its boundaries. A variety of plant species were used to add a sense of color variation and containment to our grass courtyard design. In the very front of the yard, we used some very innovative tree preservation strategies to install up lights under the oaks and landscape lights for the front yard. We also created a green border around the French drain using boxwoods interspersed with Crepe Myrtles that added height and floral coloration. In the back, we decorated the far wall with Lantana and Caladiums and planted larger Japanese blueberries illuminated with up lights. Along the wooden fence between the far wall and the house, we trained a Star Jasmine to begin growing across the surface of the wood.

Deana M. Chiavola
This is an example of a large traditional courtyard partial sun formal garden for spring in Phoenix.

Design ideas for a small tropical courtyard driveway in Valencia.

ландшафтный дизайн сада трав с высокими мискантусами сахароцветными и мискантусами китайскими. Изящные соцветия молинии голубой приходят в движение от малейшего дуновения, создавая тонкую игру фактур в ландшафтном дизайне дачного сада. Автор проекта: Алена Арсеньева. Реализация проекта и ведение работ - Владимир Чичмарь

In south Seattle, a tiny backyard garden needed a makeover to add usability and create a sitting area for entertaining. Raised garden beds for edible plants provide the transition between the existing deck and new patio below, eliminating the need for a railing. A firepit provides the focal point for the new patio. Angles create drama and direct flow to the steel stairs and gate. Installed June, 2014. Photography: Mark S. Garff ASLA, LLA

Small garden design @brentwilsonphotography
This is an example of a small contemporary courtyard full sun xeriscape for summer in Melbourne with a garden path and brick pavers.

Buscando una mejor integración entre la parte original y la reformada, se optó por crear unas espalderas con la misma chapa perforada de los cerramientos detrás de las que se introdujo una iluminación lineal.

Ландшафтный дизайн участка 20 соток с садом трав осенью. Уже выросли большие деревья, которые мы сажали. Деревья стали фоном для дандшафтного дизайна всего дачного участка. Фото ландшафтного дизайна сада прошло после завершения ландшафтных работ 10 лет. Автор проекта: Алена Арсеньева. Реализация проекта и ведение работ - Владимир Чичмарь

We were called in to renovate this existing courtyard garden space in leafy Vaucluse in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. There was great existing paving which we cleaned up and our team completely trimmed the trees to allow more light through and tidy up the space. We added new pots and a bridge to allow easy access around the large courtyard. We also installed a water feature to create an inviting sense of calm. Our clients now use this space almost everyday and love their outlook that we have created.

Exotic garden planted up with wonderful tree fern in the corner. The best season may be summer, for the tree fern, but other plants grow year round.
Small tropical courtyard partial sun garden in London for summer.

A water Japanese water bowl "tsukubai" collects water from a "Kusari-doi" or rain chain. The beauty of the Kusari-doi is that it gathers water from the roof and conveys it to the ground, and does so artistically, transforming a dull, enclosed downspout into a visual and auditory delight.

Amanda Shipman
Small traditional courtyard full sun garden in Hertfordshire with a container garden and brick pavers for spring.

Design ideas for a small transitional courtyard partial sun driveway in Other with a vegetable garden.

Design ideas for a small traditional courtyard shaded garden for summer in Atlanta with a container garden.

Marie Philibert-Dubois
Photo of a small contemporary courtyard full sun garden in Montreal with a vegetable garden and gravel.