Small Garden Formula Review – Student Results: Hilary from the UK

Transforming Small Outdoor Spaces: An Overview

Redesigning a garden, no matter the size, can often feel like a daunting task. With limited space, creative constraints, and the need for efficient use, many homeowners struggle to make their small gardens both functional and beautiful. This is where the Small Garden Formula comes in – an online landscaping program specifically designed for small outdoor spaces. The program claims to make garden design accessible for everyone, even those with no professional background in landscaping. By offering systematic guidance, practical templates, and easy-to-follow instructions, it empowers everyday people to transform their gardens without spending a fortune. Today, we take a closer look at the success of one student, Hilary from the UK, who applied the Small Garden Formula to her own home. Her journey is proof that with the right tools and a little guidance, anyone can design a stunning small garden space.

Meet Hilary: Who She Is

Hilary is a young professional living in a two-bedroom terraced home in the suburbs of Manchester. Like many urban homeowners in the UK, Hilary faced the challenge of a neglected, confined outdoor area that lacked purpose or appeal. As someone who had just purchased her first home, budget and ease-of-use were crucial. Hilary had no professional landscape design experience. Her schedule didn't permit time-consuming weekend courses or expensive consultations. What she needed was a DIY-friendly, flexible solution that could help her reimagine her outdoor space without requiring her to become a design expert. After researching online, Hilary came across the Small Garden Formula. Intrigued by its promise of turning small outdoor spaces into functional and beautiful havens, she decided to give it a try.

Why She Chose Small Garden Formula

Hilary was drawn to the Small Garden Formula for several reasons. First, the platform is designed specifically for small spaces, which aligned with her backyard's dimensions (just under 40 square metres). Second, the course is tailored for DIYers, homeowners, and non-professionals looking for practical results, not theoretical knowledge. She was also impressed by the breadth of templates and toolkits offered. Rather than telling users what a beautiful garden should look like, the program walks them through actionable steps they can apply immediately to their own space. It also demystifies the process of design, breaking it down into stages like layout planning, planting schemes, lighting options, and material selection. Perhaps most importantly, it’s created by Rachel Mathews, a UK-based professional garden designer with over 25 years of experience, meaning the content is highly credible and tailored for UK climates and property types.

Hilary’s Experience Going Through the Program

Hilary began the course with a simple desire: to create a peaceful garden retreat where she could unwind after work and host occasional gatherings. As she explains, the very first module – the “Magic Layout Formula” – was a revelation. Instead of arbitrary suggestions or generic ideas, the course started with Hilary’s unique layout and taught her how to design around it. Using graph paper and simple guidelines from the course, Hilary planned her garden zones – a small deck for seating, a raised bed for growing herbs, and a minimalist gravel path to connect the two areas. The course’s printable templates allowed her to visually experiment with different layouts before committing to any one design. Another standout module for Hilary was the planting guidance. As someone with zero gardening experience, she appreciated the clear, no-nonsense advice on plant selection, soil types, and maintenance. Her chosen plants – lavender, heucheras, and dwarf grasses – created a visually appealing yet low-maintenance oasis.

The Tools and Resources that Made the Difference

One of the key strengths of the Small Garden Formula is the extensive resource library. Hilary found the following especially helpful:

• Editable Layout Templates: Allowed her to sketch and refine ideas without starting from scratch
• Design Style Guides: Helped her identify her taste and aesthetic, from modern to cottage style
• Planting Cheatsheets: Matched plant varieties with the UK’s seasonal changes and soil profiles
• Before & After Case Studies: Provided real inspiration and showed tangible results others had achieved
• 3D Walkthroughs: Allowed her to virtually visualise the end result before the real work began

These resources weren't just informative—they were empowering. They gave Hilary the confidence to make decisions, choose materials and create a blueprint for her garden on her terms.

End Results: Before and After Hilary's Garden Makeover

The transformation of Hilary’s garden was nothing short of remarkable. What was once an uninspiring patch of patchy lawn and cracked paving stones is now a calming backyard escape – complete with a compact deck, a raised herb bed, and artfully arranged plants that provide year-round interest.

Hilary reported that friends who visited couldn't believe the transformation, and the indoor views from her kitchen window now offer a relaxing outlook she appreciates daily. But it wasn’t just the aesthetic impact – it was also the sense of accomplishment. Hilary feels more connected to her space and proud of the work she completed herself.

Is Small Garden Formula Worth It?

For Hilary – and countless others across the UK – the answer is a firm yes. The course isn’t just for homeowners; architects, builders, and tradespeople who want to offer more to their clients will find it an invaluable resource. It’s also ideal for renters looking to improve temporary spaces or young professionals who want to elevate their first home’s value and ambience. Not only does the Small Garden Formula save money on hiring a designer, but it also teaches skills that will serve users for years. With an affordable one-off cost and lifetime access, the value proposition is compelling. The course’s adaptability to different garden shapes, UK weather conditions, and user skill levels makes it a standout choice among the growing clutter of generic advice found online.

Takeaways for DIY Enthusiasts and Professionals

Hilary’s story is a reminder that DIY garden makeovers are achievable – even for total beginners. The key lies in having a structured, flexible framework like the Small Garden Formula. Whether you're a homeowner looking to improve your space, an architect exploring new services for clients, or a professional landscaper seeking to collaborate better with end users, this course can add serious value to your toolkit. For young professionals, the Small Garden Formula offers more than design ideas – it delivers empowerment. You don't need acres of land or thousands of pounds. Just a bit of space, a desire to learn, and the right guidance. In Hilary's words: “If you think a small garden isn’t worth investing in or is too difficult to design – think again. This course changed everything. And I did it all myself.” With results like these, the Small Garden Formula is no longer a secret weapon – it’s a design revolution for UK gardens big and small.