Practical suggestions for nurturing compact outdoor spaces:
Small gardens can be a challenge, but with a bit of creativity, they can pack a punch! Here's a lowdown on space-saving strategies for your pint-sized plot.
Seating and Relaxation
A bistro set is a versatile choice for seating in a small garden. With its compact size and foldable chairs, it can be easily moved around and doubles as a potting bench, making it an excellent investment.
Water and Wildlife
Water features in small gardens add movement, light, and reflections, as well as attracting wildlife. From trickle fountains to ponds in pots, there's plenty of options to delight your senses without taking up too much space. Remember to consider the needs of the wildlife you'd like to attract, ensuring there's a way for creatures to climb out of shallow water features.
Fragrance and Sensory Delights
Scented plants turn a small garden into a fragrant oasis. Plant a variety with different seasons of fragrance to ensure a heavenly scent all year round. Place pots of fragrant herbs near sitting areas or around patios to enhance the sensory experience of your garden.
Space-Saving Seats and Height
Integrated benching against garden boundaries helps maximize seating space, while using plants like shade-loving ferns under benches adds greenery without taking up additional space. When it comes to height, structural features such as obelisks, arches, pergolas, and tall trees or shrubs help lead the eye skyward and create the illusion of a larger garden.
Mirrors, Mirrors, on the Wall
Mirrors are a simple and effective way to make a small space appear larger, reflecting light and points of interest in the garden. To minimize the potential negative impact on wildlife, opt for smaller mirrors and hide their edges with plants or trellis.
Smart and Attractive Storage
Maximize your storage options by covering sheds with plants, such as climbers or a green roof, or using box benches with hidden storage for tools and smaller items. Cover bare walls with shelves, painted cupboards, and hooks to create attractive, purposeful focal points.
Embrace Shade and Trees
Even the shadiest corners hold potential for small gardens. Opt for plants that thrive in low light, such as ferns, foxgloves, and heucheras. Improve Soil conditions by adding compost or leaf mold before planting.
Get Creative with Crevices
Every nook and cranny in your small garden is an opportunity for a bit of greenery. Plant succulents in the dry ground at the base of walls, or fill gaps in paving slabs with compact plants like thyme or creeping Jenny.
To extend the growing season and protect plants, consider investing in a small greenhouse or cold frame. For vertical gardening, try creating a succulent wall on a fence or using wooden pallets, rain gutters, or recycled plastic bottles to grow plants upwards. Lastly, don't forget the importance of wildlife-friendly features and storage solutions tailored to small spaces. With a little planning and imagination, your small garden can there be a true sanctuary!
Small gardens can be transformed into a home-and-garden sanctuary with smart space-saving strategies, like using mirrors to make the space appear larger, or embracing shade and planting low light thriving plants for greenery. With a bistro set that serves as a versatile seating option and provides additional utility as a potting bench, and Ikea-like water features that attract wildlife, you can create a lifestyle haven even in the smallest of plots.
