Making the most of your outdoor space can be difficult if you’re living in the urban jungle, high-rise buildings tend to only leave you with a balcony or a section of a communal garden to unleash your green fingers. It can be disheartening if you’re someone who loves gardening to be left with only a small area to work with. However, there’s no reason you can’t create a beautiful, flourishing garden with limited space.

Here’s how to make the most out of your small garden:

Vertical Gardening

Vertical gardening has become an absolute saviour for those with a small garden. This new gardening trend involves innovation and creativity, perfect for those who love a project. Essentially, vertical gardening is all about planting all the flowers and greenery you love – but upwards. There are no set rules, other than you need a solid structure to work around. Many people have thought of unique ways to bring this to life. From bookshelves to stacked pallets, there are endless possibilities to get stuck into this trend.

All you then need to do is choose a selection of your favourite flowers and either plant them in pots, trays, jam jars or even wellington boots. Then place them on your vertical structure for a striking addition to your cosy garden. If you’re pressed for ideas, then you can always cheat a little by heading to your local gardening centre and getting your hands on pre-made vertical gardening stands that feature various sections for your plants.

Alfresco Dining For Two

Who said you can’t dine alfresco with a small garden? Make the most of your space by investing in a two-piece set of luxury garden furniture – this should last you years to come with regular cleaning and care. This will come in handy once the summer comes around and you’re able to utilise the extra space more. What’s more, having all-weather furniture means you don’t need to worry about storage space indoors during the winter months, simply cover it with a protective sheet.

A Focal Point

Creating a focal point to your garden can help to give the space purpose. If you have room for a small pond, it can make all the difference to the aesthetics of your garden while also encouraging wildlife! Simply dig up a small area and add some fresh water to create your very own miniature pond. If you’ve got a balcony then practicalities will mean you definitely can’t have a pond – so instead why not consider a large plant such as aloe vera? Their leaves can grow up to 34 inches tall for a wonderful masterpiece in the corner of your balcony. Additionally, they generally require very little upkeep, ideal for the lazy gardener.

Window Boxes

If you’re searching for something to fit snugly on your balcony without taking up too much room, then there’s nothing better than a window box, or two. They’ll have clips on that would typically attach them to the outside of a windowsill, but you can just as easily attach them to your balcony.

They’re also perfect for starting your very own herb garden. You can grow lots of different herbs and fruit in window boxes. Strawberries, thyme, rosemary, mint and cherry tomatoes all grow wonderfully in a window box that gets plenty of natural sunlight.

Hanging Baskets

Hanging baskets are used as a way to add levels to any garden, but they work especially well if you’ve got limited space. Even the cosiest of balconies can be lifted with an arrangement of sweet peas, pansies or begonia. You should mix and match a range of colours to make a striking statement piece that will brighten up your small garden. Don’t forget – you can even grow herbs in your hanging basket too.

Create An Illusion

If you can’t physically extend your garden, then how about creating an illusion? One of the best ways to give the impression of a larger garden is to cleverly trick the eye. This works best is small gardens with a brick wall or fence. All you need to do is get hold of an old, vintage mirror large enough to cover one side of your garden (or at least the majority of it). You can then hang it on the wall to give the illusion that your garden is bigger. Alternatively, use lots of smaller mirrors to design a wall display, this is not only going to give the illusion that your garden is bigger, but also creates a beautiful look. An extra tip would be to add a garden corner sofa into the seating space you have rather than the conventional table and chairs, and the corner option helps to fill more space.

What Steps Will You Take?

There are plenty of ways to make the most of your small garden with these innovative gardening methods. You can still make even the smallest of spaces into a cosy oasis with a variety of plants and flowers. Vertical gardens are also extremely affordable ways to decorate your garden without spending a fortune. So, take a look around your local garden centre for inspiration and try your hand at some arts and crafts to take your space to the level.