It’s not uncommon nowadays to live in a home or apartment where the backyard or balcony doesn’t offer much space for a garden. But if you have green fingers that are itching to get dirty, don’t let your limited space stop you. Here are a few creative ways on how you can create a garden in a small area
POT PLANT POWER
Research has shown that people who have greenery inside or outside their homes tend to be happier and have less stress – some academics claim it’s the oxygen from the plants while others say that the colour green plays a part in soothing people. Regardless, we can’t dispute that there’s just something about having plants in and around your home.
And a few pot plants can do wonders to create a garden feel in any space – indoors or outdoors. You can play around with the size of pots you use – a couple of oversized terracotta pots with big green plants or shrubs can make a lush statement, while a few smaller pots with succulents or petite plants can actually help make your space look bigger.
TOP TIP: Group your pots together, instead of scattering them around your home or patio/balcony – not only will this look prettier, but it also creates a mini climate for your plants, reducing moisture loss on the leaves and potting mix.
GUTTER GARDEN
If you’re looking for something different, which will also leave the floor space of your garden/patio exclusively for entertainment purposes, then put the walls of your backyard to good use: mount a few plastic or aluminium gutters to it, and fill it with soil and different kinds of herbs, small veggies or colourful plants. Don’t be surprised if that drab wall suddenly becomes the most talked about aspect of your home.
TOP TIP: If you’re not up for mounting a gutter to your wall, get hold of an over-the-door shoe organiser and fix it to your wall with hooks. Then, fill the compartment with sand and delicate ferns or herbs, and watch your back-garden transform into a green hot spot.
BIRDBATH GARDEN BED
Succulents are all the rage nowadays – they’re not only water-wise but grouped together, they can make for a pretty garden feel. But instead of using individual pots to house your succulents, group them together in an empty birdbath. Then select various different shaped and sized succulents and arrange them neatly in the birdbath. The shallow perch is the perfect place to watch your succulents grow. Don’t forget to add a few pebbles between them to enhance your mini ‘dessert-like’ landscape.
RAISE YOUR VEGGIE PATCH
You’ve seen those raised wooden garden beds at your local nursery or on the side of the road? Well, did you know that they’re perfect for those who have a small space and want to create a
veggie patch? You can divide the space up into sections (depending on the size of bed you buy) and plant an array of veggies in each dedicated section. Plus, as these are raised from the ground, you don’t need to worry about grass growing in your garden or that slugs will overrun the garden plus your back will be saved as you don’t need to bend down to harvest your veggies. It can be a gorgeous décor piece for your garden.
TOP TIP: First time veggie gardener? Ask yourself these questions: 1) Where are you planting your garden or storing your raised bed? 2) How much sunlight does that area get? 3) What veggies do you eat most? And how will they grow in this area? 5) What seasons is it and what should I plant now? Your local nursery should be able to assist you, or a simple Google search should help.
PRETTY UP A PALLET
They say that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure… So, the next time you see a pallet on the curb ready to go to the refuse centre, grab it. Because this little wooden box makes for a pretty wall decoration. How? Position your pallet against an exterior wall or, for those who like to experiment with their home décor, against an interior wall (this will look good in an inner-city loft with an exposed brick wall). Next, attach clay pots (this will go well with the earthy colours of the pallets) with nails and stainless-steel cable ties. Then, fill your pots with plants: think gorgeous blooms, pretty herbs (rosemary, thyme and oregano) or cute succulents.
DRESS YOUR WINDOWS
For those really tight on space, kitchen and lounge windowsills provide a great space to house a plant or two – in fact, these areas are generally optimal for growing herbs, lettuce and succulents as they get plenty of sun throughout the day. You can choose between planting your herbs in one box that fits the windowsill or in a few small clay pots grouped together.
CREATE AN ILLUSION
While there’s not much you can do to physically change the size of your backyard, you can help make it look larger with one simple trick: hang one large or several vintage mirrors on your exterior wall or fence. This technique works especially well in a small garden where there’s already some greenery, or in spaces where creepers are climbing up the wall. Place the mirror carefully to reflect the foliage and create the illusion that your garden is much bigger.
