Image by: terren in Virginia
As much as many of us would like acres of sprawling land and miles and miles of verdant land to call our own, this very often isn’t realistically the case.
When it comes to gardening most of us have to work on a much smaller botanical canvas – and that means making the most of a relatively limited patch of green space.
And it’s certainly true that a garden doesn’t have to be large to provide breathtaking beauty, havens for havens for birds and bees, or even some edible food.
So don’t be dismayed if your garden space is the size of a postage stamp—there are clever ways you can make the most of every square inch.
An Architect’s Tip
Take a tip from urban architects: if you can’t expand out, start going up. Just as cities expand upward when land is scarce, homeowners can incorporate vertical plantings to increase their garden’s bounty.
Plants That Climb
Choose plants that love to climb, such clematis, ivy, grapes, honeysuckle and roses. These plants can sprawl upward over garden walls, trees, fences or arbors, and they will also afford some privacy. In fact, a grape arbor gives you a perfect garden trifecta: beautiful vines, compact growing space and fruit at the end of the season.
Florid And Functional
Create a small kitchen herb garden that’s as colourful as it is functional. Even the Queen has an edible landscape at Buckingham Palace. Make yourself a smaller, but no less royal, version by marking out a bed that is 3 to 4 feet in diameter.
Make a cherry tomato the centerpiece and plant your favourite herbs in a circle around it. Most herbs have shallow roots and don’t require a vast amount of growing space. Try basil, dill, oregano, chives and arugula.
For colour, add a few dwarf varieties of peppers, eggplant and summer squash. And don’t forget that many flowers are edible and make great additions to salads, such as violas and calendula. Leave enough space between the lettuces for successive seed planting so that you are harvesting from spring until fall.
Floral Groups
Group flowers to provide eye-appeal and a sense of lushness. Compact clusters of daffodils, daisies and purple cone flowers make a statement. Low-growing ground covers like Thyme, Vinca and Baby’s Breath help control weeds and complement flower groupings.
For shaded areas, plant hostas and ferns for greenery, and intersperse with plantings of Foxglove, Astilbe, Bleeding Heart and Jacob’s Ladder. Dot your small garden landscape with pots of annuals to provide extra colour and an endless summer supply of cutting flowers for your home.
Using some of these tips will help you plan your garden so that you have a variety of colours, varying heights and textures, edibles as well as staggered blooming seasons.
Can you think of any other ways to make the most of a small garden? Share in the comments.
Featured images: License: Creative Commons image source
Paulette Zanderis a writer and avid gardener. She writes for Coblands.