With a smaller garden, there is less space to take care of, but you don’t have to sacrifice what you can do with the space available. You can grow your own food, have blossoming flowers, and make the most out of the garden area that you have. Today, we’re going to talk about 5 tips to easily help you achieve just that!
Plant What You Can Eat
One of the top ways to get the most out of a small garden is to plant fruits and vegetables. Not only is this convenient for the space, but you’ll save money at the grocery store as well. Depending on where you live, you’ll be able to plant tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, parsley, mint, rhubarb, bell peppers, carrots, and more!
Organic food is becoming more and more expensive. On average, it costs less than $3 to buy a pack of seeds. Seeds often yield a ton of veggies! You can compost what you don’t use or give it away to friends and family.
There is even the opportunity to make money off this. If you grow enough, you can apply to sell your own produce at your local farmers market!
Some Plants Are Friends
Another amazing way to make the most out of a small space is to place plants next to each other that thrive off one another. Before you put any seeds in the ground, do some research to see which plants are friends.
For example, root vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, rutabaga, and radishes can be planted next to each other. So could herbs such as mint, cilantro, and basil.
Many farmers suggest planting lettuce and tomatoes next to one another as well. The lettuce acts as a mulch for tomatoes and tomatoes provide shade from the harsh sun for the lettuce. It’s a win-win!
Think Vertical
When it comes to having a small garden, the amount of space you have to plant things is usually quite compact. To make the most out of this situation, consider planting plants that grow vertically. You can add in a post or fencing if what you’re growing produces vines.
Consider purchasing a small trellis to help the plant thrive as much as possible. The more plants you have that grow vertically, the more space for plants to grow. If you live in an apartment where you’re working with a garden on a small deck or balcony, this is a great tip to follow!
Install Shelves
A fantastic way to add more space to your garden is by installing shelving. How is it possible to install shelves outdoors? There are plenty of tutorials online that teach you easy ways to build extra shelving for your plants with a few nails and pieces of wood.
You could go out to the store and buy a plant shelf, but it’s much more cost-efficient to build one yourself. Plus, you’ll learn a new skill in the process.
There is also the option of building shelves onto the fence or terrace that you already have installed around your garden. You also could build shelving that has built-in pots. This makes maintenance a lot easier and you’ll create so much more ground space.
Use Pots
Speaking of pots, utilize them as much as possible. Don’t be fooled; potted plants are not just for indoor use. An amazing way to create more space in your garden and make it feel more full is by placing plants that are in pots around the space outdoors.
This can be fun because you can buy beautiful pots or even paint some yourself. Terra Cotta plant pots are extremely cost-efficient, great for plants, and can easily be painted or designed right from your own home.
You can also use pots to give your garden a theme. Many people choose to use pants in the shape of specific animals or colors.
There are many things you can do with the pots once you’re ready to place them outdoors. For starters, you can put them on or around the patio table. You also have the option to outline your garden with potted plants. Whatever you choose to do, this is an amazing way to get the most out of the small garden space that you have to work with!
Happy planting!
Author Bio: Sabine Ghali is Director at Buttonwood Property Management, a property management company in Toronto. She is an entrepreneur at heart who endeavors to help investors create real estate wealth over time in the Greater Toronto Area. Sabine is published in a number of media outlets, including Toronto Sun and Gulf News, among many others.
