How to Make the Most of Your Small Garden

Many of us learnt the value of outdoor space during the pandemic. Whether it was enjoying a local park, a garden or a balcony, being able to spend time in fresh air, surrounded by nature and greenery was a simple pleasure. Our appreciation for the outdoors hasn’t waned as restrictions have eased, with people keen to give their garden a makeover so they can enjoy their outdoor space. If you have a small garden, you can still create an eye-catching and welcoming environment. Here’s how.

Moving On Up

Adding height is a fantastic way to utilize space in a small garden. Not only does it add depth and create a more visually appealing space, but it also creates more growing room. Use pergolas to grow grapevines or climbers or, for an easy way to use walls as growing space, invest in an outdoor vertical farming system to grow your own vegetables.You can also use staging such as stepladders to bring height to your space and create a feature shelving unit for your potted plants.

Lights and Mirrors

Clever lighting can create the illusion of more space in a small garden, so get creative! Use hanging mirror balls to give a disco vibe and cast magical lighting over your space. Hanging fairy lights can also make a garden or balcony look roomier by drawing the eye upwards. Another well-used trick to make the most of a small outdoor space is by using mirrors – not only does this help light bounce around the garden, which creates a brighter, airier feel, but reflecting greenery gives an illusion of a bigger garden.

A Burst of Colorful Flowers

Whether you choose to create a classy collection of potted bedding plants (pansies, begonias and marigolds are great for easily adding color) or go wild with blousy dahlias and towering sunflowers, adding color to your garden will make it feel like a larger space. It also has the benefit of attracting pollinators which is not only great environmentally but reminds you of the importance of nature’s ecosystems.

Use Your Senses

Creating a multi-sensory space can help you fully appreciate your garden. We have long been creating visually appealing gardens and many enjoy the scents of the great outdoors, whether that’s the delicate fragrance of lavender on a summer’s day, a citronella candle on a balmy evening or the smoky aroma of sausages sizzling on a barbecue. Develop your sense of touch by adding tactile plants such as pampas grass, your sense of taste by growing fruits such as strawberries and blueberries that can be eaten straight from the plant and your sense of hearing by introducing a water feature, no matter how small. A sensory garden can transport you and inspire you, so be creative.

Making the most of your outdoor space can help you appreciate all that nature has to offer, so when you next decide to give your garden a makeover, don’t do things by halves. Even the smallest outdoor space can become a haven.