Lots of us are looking for creative ways to use smaller spaces for gardening. Here are some good tips from Josh Krasney, a gardener based and interior designer based in London.
When you first moved into your home, your main focus was probably the house itself; how many bedrooms are there? Will it work for the family? Is it in a good location? The chances are, the garden was the last thing on your mind. After all, if you find the perfect home, most of the time you can compromise on the garden. So, when you’re left staring blankly at your somewhat limited garden space, don’t feel disheartened. There are plenty of space-saving solutions that can transform your birds nest into a flourishing oasis.
Try The “Build Up” Approach
For decades, people with balconies have relied on the concept of vertical gardening to give them some sort of greenery. This idea has now filtered down to those who have small gardens and want to free up more space. There are no set rules for vertical gardening, all it requires is imaginative thinking and easily accessible materials (you can even use household items). How about repurposing an old wooden bookshelf? You can use pots and trays for the shelves and attach hanging baskets from the top. Other vertical garden ideas include: a shoe rack, wellington boots and plastic bottles – all attached to a fence or wall. If you’re not someone who can easily get your creative juices flowing, then there are plenty of shortcuts. Many garden centre’s now stock tall vertical gardening pots with separate sections for you to plant your favourite flowers.
Keep Furniture Simple
It can be tempting to spoil yourself with luxurious outdoor furniture to get comfy in the summertime, but it’s not always practical. Even corner sofa’s can take up too much room if you’re working with limited space. That’s why it’s a better idea to invest in smaller, boutique style furniture such as cane chairs and coffee tables. Go a step further and think ahead by buying all-weather furniture too, so you don’t need to worry about storage during winter.
Windowsill Gardens
Creating your own windowsill garden is the perfect way to grow fruit, herbs and vegetables if you’re working with a smaller space. There’s no need to worry about a full vegetable patch when you can still grow plenty of options out of your window! You can purchase windowsill trays from most good garden centres that can be easily attached with no fuss.
Flower Pot Gardening
Flower pot gardening is one of the best ways to utilise your outdoor space. If you’ve got less greenery to work with and more of a patio area; then potted gardening gives you a taste of a flourishing garden without the hassle of cutting grass. To make your plant pot garden as beautiful as possible, it’s recommended to play around with the shapes and sizes of the pots. Add levels to your garden by dotting them around in no particular order. If you’re feeling crafty, then a great money saving tip is to buy plain clay pots and paint them up yourself, finishing them off with a quick coat of varnish.
Elevated Flower Beds
Creating further dimensions to your garden can be achieved by using elevated flower beds, perfect for those with a little room. Not only will this look great, but much like the windowsill garden, it allows you to have your very own flower/vegetable patch with limited space. You can purchase a pre-constructed elevated garden or try building one yourself with a wooden box and planks of wood for the legs. The best part of an elevated flower bed is that you can stagger them one on top of the other (providing there is enough sunlight for each level).
Here is a simple way to figure out how much soil you need for your raised beds.
Which Will You Try?
There are plenty of ways you can make your garden work for you, no matter how small it may be. Even the cosiest of balconies can be transformed into a tropical haven with these innovative space saving solutions. So if it is time for your garden to have a little revamp, consider some of these steps to make the most out of your space.