Giving Yourself More Garden Space

Not all of us are blessed with vast gardens. And small gardens have their own challenges when it comes to design and space. However, with small spaces, you have more opportunity to play around with the space. You can still create a relaxing and inviting space, without the extra meters. 

Rooftop gardens, balconies, courtyards, and just generally smaller gardens have a lot to offer. And, with more people opting to grow their own fruits and vegetables, it is an exciting time. 

Most smaller gardens have fences on all sides, as typically they are in the cities. Interesting you can give the illusion of more space, by adding more buildings. Greenhouses, garages, and small workshops – you can make these yourself with metal building kits. They are a great option if you work from home.

“A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all, it teaches entire trust”. –  Gertrude Jekyll.

Here are some other great tips and ideas:

Start small

If you have a small space, then start small. Purchase plants and pots in smaller amounts, and slowly add them in. There is nothing worse than buying too many and covering more space than you had intended to. You’ll need to put them in the place that gets the most light too. 

Seating

There are thousands of seating options that you can use for your garden. But if you have specific dimensions that you need to work with, then you might like to think about building your own. More people are creating bespoke garden furniture, and it isn’t as hard as you think either. Wood is the material of choice for most people, and there are so many youtube tutorials for different styles you are bound to find something that you like. 

If you like to get a bargain, you can pick up wooden pallets and prep them yourself rather than buying wood that is ready to be used. 

Chairs and tables that are in second-hand stores, or on freecycle can also make a great addition. They will need a quick waterproof coating, but after that, they will last for years. 

Planters

There are a few clever options for maximizing your green space. Tiered planters, plant pots on ladders, and fence/wall leaning trellis with plant pots hooked on are all smart ways to give yourself more bang for your buck in terms of green. Most of the time you can move these around the garden too, so you don’t have to commit to one place. 

Paving

Using clever placement, you can make your garden look more prominent. Typically a trick that people use is laying slabs on the point so that they are diamond-shaped, against a grass area, cut the same way. The change in color and the direction of the points draw the eye further. Tricking the brain into thinking it is more prominent. 

Your garden can be a source of joy, once you have sat down are really thought about what you want to get out of it. Even the smallest of spaces has a lot to offer.