Gardening For Small Spaces

Living in New York City, renting a condominium, or simply don’t have a lot of room or time to devote to gardening, you can still have the garden of your dreams. While gardening in small spaces has its limits, it also has many benefits. With a small garden, you can keep on top of maintenance, enjoy the details, and still have the time to enjoy. All you need is a little creativeness, planning and inventiveness and you can have a one of a kind small garden that others will admire.

When gardening in a small space, you need to be resourceful in terms of space and materials. Choose plants that are smaller in statute. Look for dwarf varieties and ones with smaller growth habits. Find plants that have been grafted together, serve more than one purpose all while saving room. For example, you can find a lemon and lime tree grafted together. Or there is a pomato (a graft of a potato and a tomato) plant currently on the market which produces tomatoes throughout the summer and potatoes in the fall.

Container gardens go hand in hand with small spaces. Containers give you the opportunity to experiment and try a variety of plants. And, if you don’t like something or it’s not doing well, you have no commitment. Plus, you can choose any type of container you want. Whether it’s an old basket, a beer barrel, soda bottles, a pot, or a window box it’s your choice. Recycle something or use a container of sentimental value the options are endless.

Most any kind of plant, herb or vegetable that takes up a little space or grows fruit over a period of time is great for a container garden. Also, depending on where you live, some plants should be taken inside during the winter so container gardens are especially handy. You can mix and match plants and flowers making for a very interesting garden in and out itself.

Another way to garden in a small space is to go vertical. Vertical gardens, green facades and living walls have become a gardening trend in recent years. Plant in the ground or use a container. Have a trellis, lattice or some other sort of climbing structure. Wind a vine around a staircase railing or use bamboo poles. Grow ivy up your wall or a climbing rose against your bamboo fence. Hang a basket from your overhang and watch the vine and strawberries flow down. Make sure your hanging baskets are self watering too for easy maintenance.

The possibilities for gardening in small spaces really are endless. Small spaces allow for original, one of a kind and easy maintenance gardens that you’ll enjoy for years to come.