Here are my top garden tips for getting the most out of your small space…
1. Plan ahead!
Decide what you want from your garden:
- Are you a keen gardener who wants to cram the space full of plants?
- Perhaps you mostly use the garden in the evening as a space to relax after work?
- Do you have children and/or pets?
- Are you overlooked by neighbours?
- Is your space for entertaining?
The more you plan, then the more your space will work for you, take your time to decide what it is you really want from your outside space. You may even what to consider hiring a garden designer or consultant to help you make the most of the space.
2. Hard landscaping
Think carefully about surfaces. Replace large paving slabs with gravel for a softer look. A small, rectangular area can be made to look bigger by adding in curves and round shapes such as a circular patio and this will also add interest. For a narrow garden, wide paving stones laid horizontally create the illusion of a much wider space. Add gravel in between slabs and plant thyme or camomile into it for a scented pathway.
Add raised beds made to break up the space and help create a journey round your garden.
3. Think big!
Many people assume that a small garden can only have small plants, but the opposite is true. By placing larger plants in your garden including shrubs and small trees, you will create the sense of a more generous space. Use structural plants and try to repeat your planting as this gives a sense of cohesion and fluidity.
4. Don’t forget the verticals
It’s extremely easy to just focus on the ground, but don’t forget your walls and fences too. Many climbers grow well in pots, and trellis or wire can be easily attached to provide support. Climbers are great at providing privacy all year round so look for evergreens as well as those that flower in the summer such as sweet peas.
A small row of pleached lime trees will add height, interest and privacy without making you feel hemmed in. If you are growing shrubs and trees in pots, then always use a good quality peat free compost such as Levington® Peat Free Multi Purpose Compost with added John Innes.
5. Design with colour
Using cooler colours in a small garden creates the feeling of space. Blues, whites, and lime green will seem further away whereas the hotter colours can make the space seem smaller.
Try to repeat your chosen colour scheme. This will help your garden flow and will be more restful. Try to plant larger groups of the same colour interspersed with green to make your garden seem less busy. Paint sheds, fences, and furniture in colours to complement the plants. Pale grey is very contemporary whereas a sage green shade works well for a more cottage garden feel.
6. Top of the pots!
Pots are perfect for small gardens and there are so many plants that do well in containers. As well as planting longer season plants, container gardening gives you the chance to mix up your planting every year and you can even grow most veg in a pot. Choose compact varieties such as chantenay carrots, dwarf French beans, sugar snaps, radish, and salad leaves. Courgettes and tomatoes do well in containers and are prolific fruiters. Add edible flowers to the veg pots to include colour and encourage pollinators such as nasturtiums, calendula, and violas. For more information on veg growing in containers follow this link.
Try to choose larger containers and keep to a similar style and colour. Metal planters look great for a modern feel to your garden whereas terracotta have a more traditional look but also are great for Mediterranean plants such as lavender and rosemary. When using containers always make sure you use a good quality peat free compost such as Miracle-Gro® Peat Free Premium All Purpose Compost and for annuals always use fresh compost each year.
Whatever you do decide to grow in your small garden, they will need a bit of extra TLC, especially if you grow a lot in containers. Don’t let plants dry out and always give them a supplementary feed, especially during the growing season. A liquid feed in your watering can every week, especially for pot grown veg is essential. If you’re growing tomatoes, then add a liquid feed like Levington® Tomorite® Concentrated Tomato Food to get a bumper crop.
