The 8 Best Small Garden ideas to maximize your Gardening space

Any space big or small can be transformed into beautiful garden. Your garden may be in a compact space, but don't let this discourage you from filling it with lovely plants and creating a comfy outdoor space. In a small garden, follow a few key principles when designing and planting to make your garden appear larger and less cluttered. From flowing hanging plants and lush window box flowers to compact vegetable beds and deck gardens, there are endless options to grow greenery and improve your space.

With little creativity and smart planning, you can produce a bountiful garden even in a small space. Taking time to choose color palettes, selecting plants that will bloom for months, and incorporating garden design tricks like repetition, structural planting, or adding focal points, will all have a huge impact.

In this blog, we're rounding up creative small garden ideas to help you create the stunning outdoor oasis of your dreams.

1. Try Vertical Gardening

When you're short on space, think outside the box and go vertical. Hanging plants, wall-mounted planters, and trellises allow you to grow plants upwards. Climbing plants such as ivy and roses are perfect for covering walls or fences, whereas herbs and flowers thrive in tiered planters, railing pots, or on shelving units. This type of gardening saves space and adds visual interest to your garden.

Hanging Baskets:

Hanging baskets are lovely and small vertical container gardens that bring color, texture, and beauty to any outdoor space. These small but mighty gardens attract the eye upward, add vertical interest to space, and help you create a layered landscape, even in a small space.

2. Incorporate Raised Beds

Raised garden beds define areas of your garden and provide ample growing space. These beds elevate your plants, allowing you to create distinct zones for various plants, such as a vegetable patch, a flower bed, or an herb garden. Place small raised beds in the backyard, front yard, on the deck, or on the patio. Raised garden beds improve drainage and enable you to control soil quality. You can customize and create your own raised beds using wood material.

Water your raised beds with ready-to-install garden bed irrigation kits!

3. Choose Compact Plants

When you are using a small growing space, selecting the right plants is important for success. Choose plants that will not overwhelm your ground. Avoid planting vegetables that take up a lot of space, such as pumpkins and potatoes. Instead, focus on fast-growing varieties that can be grown in small containers or take up little space. However, don't be afraid to grow moderate-sized or columnar trees to obtain the appropriate scale.

Herbs such as basil, mint, parsley, thyme, and cilantro are well-suited for containers. Additionally, some popular compact vegetables include cherry tomatoes, radishes, lettuce, spinach, and peppers. Flowers like marigolds, petunias, and pansies can also help brighten up your small garden.

4. Add a Living Wall

A living wall works perfectly on a small porch or deck. Creating a living wall is the best way to add greenery to your space without compromising floor space. If you don't have enough ground space to display your plants, consider mounting pots on the exterior wall of your house.

Living walls can be installed on a fence or any wall. These vertical deck gardens will provide a lush, green backdrop perfect for a small garden. From succulents and flowers to edible herbs and ferns, you can grow a variety of plants in a compact area.

Water these vertical plants efficiently with deck garden irrigation kits!

5. Create Year-round Interest

If you like something more decorative, consider year-round interest, something that will grab your eye with its beauty throughout the seasons. Remember that small growing spaces require effort, too.

Focus on growing high-value shrubs, trees, and perennials that offer multiple seasons of interest, featuring charming leaves, seasonal blooms, unique textures, colorful bark, and excellent fall color. This could include growing evergreens, spring-blooming bulbs, summer perennials, and rustic fall colors or textures.

6. Plant Smart with Containers

Containers are versatile, and one of the best things about them is that you can use them anywhere, including on a balcony, patio, or hang them from a wall. They are perfect for growing tomatoes, peppers, herbs, and some leafy greens. Container gardens make it easy for you to move plants around and adapt your garden to the seasons or your changing needs.

To maximize your gardening space, select containers that can be stacked or arranged in various configurations. Consider growing compact variants of your favorite plants in small gardens, as many flowers, herbs, and veggies come in dwarf versions that are ideal for pots.

7. Choose Multi-functional Furniture

Every piece of furniture in a small garden should serve a purpose. Save space in your small backyard by combining seating and storage space or incorporating seating into your design. Choose benches with built-in storage, foldable chairs that can be conveniently stowed when not in use, and tables that can also serve as workplaces.

To save space on a table in the center of your patio, consider using a corner bench or seating around a boundary. This idea ensures you have all the garden essentials without cluttering your space.

8. Add Outdoor Lighting

Create a magical ambiance in your garden with lighting and extend its use into the evening hours. Adding outdoor lighting to a small garden is simple and cost-effective option. String lights and fairy lights are a cheap option to instantly add charm to a compact outdoor space. A soft glow of light among the greenery creates a warm, enchanting atmosphere.

When selecting outdoor lights, choose warm yellow lights over bright white lights as they are less disruptive to wildlife.

Easy Care Tips for a Successful Small Garden

Follow these tips and take your small space garden to the next level all year round.

• Know your USDA planting zone and choose plants that thrive in your growing zone. This helps you select vegetables, herbs, and flowers that grow well in your climate.
• Always use high-quality and nutrient-rich soil. Use a potting soil combination that contains slow-release fertilizer because it gives plants a good start.
• Pay attention to the plant's sunlight requirements as some plants prefer full sun, while others love some afternoon shade. Match the plant's lighting needs with the planting location.
• Feed your plants with the best-quality fertilizer as needed. Container plants are unable to absorb nutrients from the ground, so they frequently require a little boost during the growing season.
• Water all your plants consistently, especially during the summer gardening season. Most container plants require regular watering in the heat of summer. However, don't overwater as too much watering might cause root rot. The soil should feel moist but not soggy. Install a drip irrigation system to water your small garden consistently and efficiently with minimal waste.
• Drainage holes are essential for planting in pots, window boxes, and hanging baskets. They help to prevent waterlogged roots and keep plants healthy.
• Keep the color palette of your landscape simple. Two or three colors, along with green, will look less visually cluttered than a colorful burst.
• Deadhead and trim plants regularly. During the growth season, remove spent flowers and cut away any dead or spindly stems to keep your plants looking their best.
• Make the most of every inch and corner of your space. Add corner planters or use L-shaped benches to utilize these areas in a small garden. You can also add a small corner pond or another water feature to provide an eye-catching focal point that will not take up much space.

The Bottom Line

Creating a small home garden using smart pots, containers, hanging plants, and raised beds is a wonderful way to enjoy gardening, even with limited space. With little planning, the right garden tools, the right plants, and care, you can grow a diverse variety of plants in a small growing space and enjoy fresh produce right at your doorstep. Pick out your favorite small garden ideas and transform your yard into a versatile and beautiful outdoor space.