Growing plants requires a little bit of time, a little bit of planning, but surprisingly, not a lot of space. Your small-space garden may be on a porch or patio, even a balcony, or it could be a narrow alley leading to a small backyard. No matter the size, if there’s a will to grow plants, there’s a way.
As long as you have sunlight, access to water and a bit of soil, plants will grow. Experienced gardeners know that every site has its challenges, whether it’s a roomy backyard, or a high-rise balcony. Begin by putting the right plant in the right place and you will be on your way to a garden tailored to your space.
“Start with the right plant,” advises Justin Hancock, horticulturist for Costa Farms. “Pay attention to the plant’s tag about the plant’s eventual size so you know what you’re getting into. As obvious as it sounds, avoid plants that will quickly outgrow their allotted space, even if you really love them. If there are big plants you absolutely adore, go with compact varieties.”
If your space’s sunlight is limited, look for plants that thrive in shade. If your land is limited, try containers. If your space is extremely limited, try vertical gardening.
Most flowers and fruiting vegetables like tomatoes and peppers need 6 to 8 hours of sunlight or more a day. Root vegetables and tender greens can take less, on the order of 4 to 6 hours of sunlight. Additionally, there are plant options for shady areas, from perennials to vines or shrubs.
More tips for Small-Space Gardening success:
1. Consider the container. The size of your plant’s container helps dictate how big and fast it grows, Hancock says. Much like bonsai, you can keep many plants smaller by growing them in pots that are a touch too small. Do your research, though, as some plants tolerate being root-bound better than others.
2. Garden up. If you don’t have a lot of ground area, utilize vertical spaces. Grow vines up trellises, train a favorite tree flat against a wall as an espalier, or affix gutters to a fence as planters to get more plants in a small footprint.
3. Grow in layers. Layering plants by growing tall, medium and short plants together creates more visual interest than focusing all your efforts on plants of similar heights.
This makes your plantings more appealing—and lets you use different plant varieties without having a breadth of plants become overwhelming.
4. Control the colors. When you’re planting in a small space, it can be easy for it to feel messy because the eye doesn’t have a place to focus, Hancock says. To avoid the hodgepodge look, edit your design using a color scheme.
Sticking to colors that play well together makes your space feel put together.
5. Plant pot toppers. Dress up the base of tall, narrow plants (including hibiscus standards, money tree, corn plant, Madagascar dragon tree and yucca cane) by planting living mulch of a low-growing plant beneath them. Pot toppers to look for include low-growing sedums, mercadonia and verbena.
6. Edibles as ornamentals. Look for double-duty plants like herbs that are ornamental as well as edible. This is foodscaping at work: Look in the Garden Center for Bonnie Plants’ salsa garden and salad garden containers, or plant your own with seedlings. When pairing, choose vegetables and herbs that have similar soil and light requirements.
Read more about Small-Space Gardening:
- 4 Easy Growing Edibles for Your Patio or Balcony Garden
- Pot Up a Delicious Herb Container Garden
- Make Room for Roses in Your Small Space Garden
- 6 Top Houseplants for Small Spaces
- 6 Top Container Plants for Small Space Gardens