Real Homemaking

Making the most of a limited garden space is easy. Larger landscapes can benefit from small space solutions too. You can make them more intimate and inviting by defining sections - “garden rooms” - for specific uses, such as entertaining, reading or dining. Here are some small space tips to get you started:

Plant in containers
Choose decorative pots and plant an assortment of trees, shrubs, annual and perennial flowers, and edible plants like herbs and vegetables. Many plants adapt well to growing in containers, and some grow even better in pots than in the garden. Place large containers on dollies or casters so you can move them around to make space for parties and highlight different plants during their peak bloom.

Choose compact plant varieties
Plant breeders have developed compact forms of many trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, fruits, and vegetables. If there’s a plant you want for a smaller space, chances are you’ll find a variety to suit your needs. Read the label to determine each plant’s mature size. Compact tomatoes are perfect for hanging baskets. Dwarf fruit trees grow just six to eight feet tall, produce a generous harvest, and can be planted in the ground or kept in containers. Small-stature herbs like spicy globe basil fit well in window boxes.

Grow up
Growing plants at different heights not only allows you to fit in more plants, it also adds interest to your landscape. Erect permanent structures, such as arbors, pergolas and fences to display perennial vines and climbing roses. Use temporary trellises for annual plants, such as pole beans, vining cucumbers and morning glories. You can also plant window boxes with fragrant, colorful annuals and enjoy their scent and color both indoors and out.

Interplant and succession plant
If you have a vegetable garden, interplant fast-maturing crops between slower growing ones, such as radishes between broccoli plants or lettuce between tomato plants. The radishes and lettuce will be ready to harvest by the time the larger plants need the space. Growing crops in succession is another idea. After each harvest, remove spent plants and sow another crop in the same spot. Follow your spring planting of cool-season spinach, for example, with heat-loving bush beans.

Add plants everywhere
Use shade-loving plants under trees and on north-facing decks. Choose variegated varieties of hosta and coleus to add color and interest. You can also hang plants from branches, bird feeder poles and under eaves, or place a dish garden filled with hardy succulents on your picnic table. If you’ve got a space, you’ve got a place for a plant.

Choose plants with multi-season interest
Trees with colorful fall foliage and attractive winter bark extend the season of interest. Shrubs with bright berries, ornamental grasses with pretty seed heads, and perennials with interesting foliage do the same. Include some evergreen plants to provide winter interest and a year-round privacy screen.