Ways to maximize a small garden
Sometimes you may not find enough time to dedicate to your garden. But having a small garden will be convenient for you as it wouldn’t need much attention as a big one. Here’s how you could make the maximum out of your garden:
Pile on pots : green up your patio or deck with oversized terracotta or plastic planters overflowing with anything from tomatoes to wild flowers.
Mix n’ match herbs : Eyecatching as well as edible, herbs bunched together on a table transforms a small patch of porch into hardworking acreage. Burgundy coleus in a timeworn metal tub provides a colourful counterpoint.
Fill a Birdbath : Hardy succulents, which stow water in their stems and leaves, thrive in a shallow birdbath perch. Pebbles — to hold more moisture in the soil — add to the desert-landscape look.
Climb a wall : Liven up a plain patio wall with a sun-seeking climber, like bougainvillea — the twining vertical vines balance the bushiness below. A simple stake in the dirt is all the trellis you’ll need.
Mix in texture : To create contrast and visual vibrancy, situate curvaceous containers on stairs and fill with interestingly shaped plants, from scallop-leafed geraniums to spiky, serrated agave. Or, try combining vertical foliage with one that will spill over the sides to double up on varieties.
Pocket plants : Hang an old canvas or over-the-door shoe organizer on a fence or wall, then fill the compartments with dirt and wispy ferns or vines.
Go outside : For a fast way to perk up a porch, relocate pots of lush flowers from indoors to out. With a limited palette, like the pink and white blooms here, the collection feels cohesive, not chaotic. Pretty up a pallet : Attach clay pots to a pallet with nails and stainless steel cable ties for a living art display that keeps your rosemary and basil at the ready.
Go Mini : Terrariums look exotic and high maintenance but they are one of the easiest horticulture projects to make and maintain.
Raise beds : For backyards with poor (or nonexistent) soil, turn to raised beds for a little help. These simple planters give veggies a little boost that can result in magnificent results. Bonus: Less bending as you garden. Build a green screen : Covered with English ivy, a frill-free chainlink fence acts as a natural privacy barrier to shield a suburban garden from view. Transport a bucket : The handle on this vintage toolbox makes relocating succulents to a sunnier spot a snap. Step it up : Turn a wooden ladder into a space-saving stand for flowers, veggies, and herbs with just a few boards and a coat of paint.
Don’t fight the shade : In shady spots, paving over the plot with no-fuss stone makes more sense than growing a patchy lawn. For lush foliage, hostas and dwarf oakleaf hydrangea thrive with minimal sun.