Make the Most of a Small Garden
Easier to maintain and adaptable to any home, small gardens have a charm all their own
Forget grand gardens, expansive rolling hills and giant ranches. A serene or functional garden can fit in any type of space. Here are average living spaces with gardens that are anything but average. They may be tiny and spartan, but they are fascinating. Care to take a look?
Fences, gates and other structures can break up a smaller backyard into sections. This gives the garden a sense of being larger and allows you to create different experiences within one space.
Terracing is one of the greatest tools in a small space. It allows the gardener to add new soil in raised beds on a concrete base, gives varying light to different types of plants and adds dimension to a small backyard. Adding terraces visually expands a small plot into distinct, separate spaces.
This space may be small, but it lives large with a seating area, a charming water feature and a multitude of plantings. Water gives a sense of movement, and the lime-color plants add brightness to a shady corner.
A bonsai garden is a great option for a deck. The plants grow very slowly and look charming in a shelved display. The best part? This entire garden takes up only a few feet.
Do you have an open space without soil? Do you live in an apartment with plenty of hardscaping but no available planting space? Think pots, and think big pots. You can plant just about anything if the pot is big enough (at least 16 inches across), including small fruit trees and other edibles. Choose a single finish to unify the pots as a garden.
Is the cottage look more your style? Cottage gardens are perfect in a small space. Cluster 10 to 15 plants around your doorstep for a charming look. Go for plants with fragrance to create an experience every time you come home. Plants that work well in a cottage garden like this include catmint, Russian sage, lavender, rosemary and rose.
20 Ways to Get the Cottage Garden Look
20 Ways to Get the Cottage Garden Look
Another classic cottage plant is the charming hollyhock. Situate this plant in the back of a small border to add height to your garden. When you grow hollyhocks from seed, expect to see your first blooms in the second year.
Perhaps you want to use your outdoor space to grow edibles. Grow garden veggies and herbs in a raised bed. The square-foot gardening system allows you to grow the most produce in the smallest amount of space.
More about potagers
More about potagers
Think up when you are in a small space. Trellises, arbors and pergolas are great for creating more growing space.
More on vertical gardening
More on vertical gardening
You can have a beautiful garden in a small suburban backyard, a townhome deck, a rooftop garden or a front stoop. Grow vertically, consider large pots and break the space up into rooms to make your garden special.
I'd love to see your small gardens! Please share your garden stories and photos in the Comments section below.
More:
Give Your Small Garden Some Room
Vertical Gardens Raise the Limits for Landscapes
I'd love to see your small gardens! Please share your garden stories and photos in the Comments section below.
More:
Give Your Small Garden Some Room
Vertical Gardens Raise the Limits for Landscapes