Gardening is an extremely versatile activity. You don’t need a large outdoor space or traditional garden to enjoy it. Balconies, tiny patios and windowsills can all be productive spaces for plants. Size isn’t everything!
If you have a small garden space, you may need to give some extra thought around suitable plants and how best to grow them.
For many people with small garden spaces, container gardening is key. If you are growing on a balcony or patio for example, there may be no possibility of planting in the ground.
Growing plants in containers can bring many benefits. A collection of well-chosen pots can offer great opportunities for growing, from deep pots to long troughs or even hanging baskets. There are many different colours and styles of container, so you can choose to suit your space. Light-weight options are available for those with weight-limits on balconies.
If you have a selection of containers, you could position the smaller ones in front to create a tiered effect and cosy enclosed feel.
For detailed advice, you may find our guide to container gardening helpful.
If you have difficult bending, a container raised well off the ground might suit you. Or you could use long-handled tools to help reach containers that are lower to the ground.
Big containers can be heavy to move. Pot movers on wheels / trollies can help avoid back strain.
When choosing plants, there are a few important questions to think about. This is the same in a small garden space or huge garden!
Consider:
Choosing a plant that is well suited to the location is so important. A big part of this is how sunny or shady the space. Some plants need masses of sunshine to grow well, while otherwise prefer to sit in the shade.
Some flowering plants need more maintenance than others. That might be through regular deadheading or lots of watering. This might be perfect for you, if you would like regular activity. If not, choose lower maintenance plants like ornamental grasses.
When it comes to appearance, it’s always a good idea to choose what you like looking at! Think about the style and colours you find appealing.
If you have a small garden space, a tree may be the last thing you would think of growing. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t.
Some small trees will grow in containers. These include:
When choosing a small tree for a container, look at the plant information before buying. It should let you know how tall and wide it will eventually get. Look for dwarf or small varieties. Many of these will not get much more than 1m high x 1m wide.
Some varieties of fruit tree are also available as dwarf / small versions. These include:
If you have a wall or fence to grow along, you can get trees in pleached or espalier form.
A pleached tree is one that grows on a single straight strem. The branches and leaves start high up the stem and make a flat ‘wall’ of green. Pleached trees are good for screening.
Espalier trees stretch from side side. They can lie flat against a wall. This can be especially helpful for fruit trees in a small space, as you can more easily harvest the fruit.
Pleached and espalier trees are usually more expensive. This is because more effort is needed to create the shape before it is sold.
Any small tree will need a bit of care, including pruning, watering and feeding regularly. This may not be the best choice if you want a very low maintenance garden.
It can be a good idea to have a number of evergreen plants. These stay green all year round. This way your space will look great from the window even when it’s too chilly to be outside.
Many shrubs make good evergreen plants for small gardens, including:
You could also grow ornamental grasses. Opt for small versions that are attractive all year round, such as:
If you are growing in containers, there are really no end of flowers that you can grow in a small garden space. Be sure to check how much sun or shade any plant needs vs how much your space gets.
For a small sunny space, you might like to try:
For a small shady space, good choices include:
If you are making use of walls, you could fill a hanging basket with bright flowers, like begonias, dwarf dahlias and geraniums.
There are also climbing plants for both sunny and shady spots, such as star jasmine and climbing roses.
If you have any sight loss, you may find you can see yellow, white or blue flower colours the best.
You don’t need an allotment or big garden to grow food. Containers can do a good job too. Well-chosen pot-grown vegetables can produce a stunning display of interesting foliage as well as delicious, nutritious food.
Herbs and many salad crops are all great for container growing. You can even grow potatoes in bags.
Read our guide to growing vegetables in pots and containers for even more advice.
If you’re very short on space, you might want to go for crops that grow vertically, such as:
Many food crops can be grown from seed or small plug plants. If you want to grow herbs, you could also try using supermarket pot-grown herbs. Take the herb plant from its pot and gently divide the rootball into three or four separate plants. Re-pot in 9cm pots filled with multi-purpose compost and water well.
Do you have a small garden space? What plants have you had most success with? Share your tips by emailing info@thrive.org.uk
In this guide we take a look at how to make the most of small gardens. It's also useful for helping to make the most of any space within a bigger garden.
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