Gardening is good for the soul but what do you do if you have very little outdoor space to play with? Whether you have a postage stamp sized garden or merely a window sill at your disposal, it is possible to create an attractive garden by making the most of the available surface. All it takes is a bit of imagination and a few
Patios, decking and courtyard gardens
You don’t need an expanse of lawn or beds and borders to create a magical garden. Small trees, shrubs and lots of other . But to get that lush leafy effect, you need to use the space well.
Larger canopy trees are ideal to create more height and privacy without taking up too much space lower down. You can then underplant larger specimens with lower growing plants, so every available inch of space is used. Trailing nasturtiums, garden herbs or salad leaves, for instance, can look fantastic when planted around the base of a containerised tree.
Take full advantage of the vertical space. Indoors, we use walls to mount shelving, or to display pictures. Use the same idea in your garden, with creepers and trailers to adorn high spaces. If you add hanging baskets, window boxes or other containers and fill them with colourful blooms, you draw the eye upwards which, in turn, will make your garden feel bigger.
What’s more, can be used to create a secluded seating area while providing useful support for climbers such as clematis, rose, honeysuckle or jasmine. Just make sure that your table and chairs are foldable so they don’t take up valuable space when not in use.
Paving or decking can look fantastic and is much lower maintenance than a lawn. To give the illusion of a bigger garden, pave diagonally; don’t lay the floor with the flat edge towards the house.
Balcony and rooftop gardens
Many flats come with balconies or some rooftop space but how do you turn what is essentially a concrete box into a lush oasis?
Even the most windswept and exposed spaces can be made into a hospitable growing area as long as you stick to low growing plants in containers that can easily be sheltered from the wind. Herbs, alpines and succulents should all work well. You can including taller plants such as bamboos, grasses and climbers. Stay clear of specimen plants unless you have plenty of outdoor space.
Containers are perfect flexible solution for balcony gardening. They’re easy to change and move around and can be used to create quite an impact in a small space. And speaking of impact, add colour! Whether you paint a wall in a vibrant hue or grow bright blooms, make sure you choose cooler colours such as purples and blues that make the space feel larger.
Use railings or walls as support for climbing plants and vegetables such as runner beans. Growing kits and wall mounted frames are available to help you grow flowers and edibles in a luxuriant vertical display. You can also hang window boxes from railings.
Window box gardens
If you’re itching to get your green fingers busy but have literally no space to garden other than a window ledge, take heart. Trough shaped window boxes are available in many sizes, so there’s bound to be one to fit your window sill. You may need to secure it to the outside of the building so it doesn’t fall off.
and more permanent plants. Try a combination of gerberas, begonias, pansies, busy lizzies, fuchsias, hostas, ferns or dwarf conifers.
Alternatively, you can grow edibles on your window sill. From kitchen herbs such as parsley, mint, chives and thyme to low growing fruit and vegetables (strawberries, tomatoes, salad greens, radishes and much more), there is much interest to be had outside your window.
Finally, is there space for a bird box, perhaps on the outside wall? Birdsong and wildlife will add extra interest and another dimension to even the tiniest of gardens.
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