T I P S F O R C R E AT I N G
small garden spaces
KEEP IT SIMPLE AND WORK WITH THE SPACE YOU HAVE By Abigail Thorpe
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t may have been an awfully grey winter, but with spring just around the corner, we’re all getting a little anxious to get outside and start prepping our gardens for the warmer months—or at least to start thinking about it.
Don’t let the size of your outdoor space discourage you from planning your own spring garden. Whether you have a full backyard or just a porch, there are many ways to add a little color to your space. Here are some tips for creating a welcoming garden retreat, no matter the space you’re working with. Stack and layer. Pots of every size are your friend if you’re working with a small space. If you can’t go out, go up, recommends Anne Gibson of The Micro Gardener. Stack and layer pots in tiers, on steps, terraces or even just a small deck or patio to add some dimension to your space and create growing room for veggies and flowers. Work with your space. If you have a long, narrow space, then choose a planter that mirrors that shape and still allows room for you to work around. You can even utilize an outdoor table to build a small tabletop garden, or install brackets to plant a window box if space is very limited, says Gibson. Think ahead. Succession plant, so you can enjoy fruits, veggies and flowers on a rotating basis, suggests Gibson. For example, if you have a large plant that takes time to mature and spread out, like zucchini, utilize the space around to grow something that matures at a faster rate and can be enjoyed in the meantime, like “cut and come again” lettuce. Pair plants from the same family that you may not want alongside other veggies or plants—like bulb onions, chives and shallots—in a pot or small growing space. Opt for plants that can perform multiple functions, like lavender, sunflowers and chives. Mini size it. If you don’t have the space for a full-sized fruit tree, opt for dwarf fruit trees that will still produce but take up much less space and can even be planted in a pot. Many varieties of veggies, herbs and shrubs or bushes also come in dwarf varieties, like miniature roses. Raised garden beds are a wonderful option if you don’t have a
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