Creating and maintaining a garden in a small space is definitely a challenge. For those who want to create a vegetable patch, the main concern is how to use a small space to grow enough food for an individual or a family. For others, gardening may be more about aesthetics and creating an attractive outdoor space. Whatever your reasons for wanting to create a garden in a small space, it’s important that you understand what you are up against before committing yourself.
For starters, obviously, there is going to be very little room, so the type of plants you will want to consider will depend on how much room they require. Here are some tips on how to make the most of your garden if you have a limited amount of space.
Growing a Sustainable Vegetable Patch in a Small Space
Gardeners who wish to grow their own vegetables, particularly in small spaces, need to constantly think about how they can produce a higher quality of food with the space they have. This could include using hanging baskets; or large pots with canes to grow their produce vertically.
Building Your Small Space Zones
Just because you have a small garden, it doesn’t mean you can’t zone areas off. For example, you may want to grab some eComposite products and build a deck or a screened-off area for socializing, but there’s also no reason why you can’t include a few plant pots for vegetables that have pretty flowers (zucchini, for example).
Making the Most of Your Space
No matter how small your garden is, you should be able to turn it into an area that is more than just a pretty space that has no function. A vegetable garden (even in a small space) has the potential to be very productive and provide you with fresh vegetables all year round.
Creating an Efficient Garden
One of the main challenges is going to be keeping your garden from becoming overgrown, especially if you have young children or a small dog that likes to dig up plants.
The only way around this is by continually trimming back your plants. This will help keep the soil clean and prevent weeds from growing up through the soil, which in turn helps prevent pests from getting into your garden.
A few tips include:
- Choose the right plants for your space
- Start small and add plants as you grow
- Use vertical space when you can
- Put in irrigation systems where necessary
- Set up appropriate fences or enclosures for your pets or kids
- Don’t overwater or underwater plants
- Avoid over-dressing the ground
- Use compost to increase soil quality
- Don’t over-fertilize
- Include plants that require little water or nourishment
Of course, some of the points above will depend on what kind of climate you live in. Not every plant that thrives in one region will do well in another; not just because of the heat and cold, but also because of humidity levels and the amount of rainfall.
