Do you ever feel as though your garden could be larger so that you could truly make the most of your home’s outdoor space? Or that this part of your home is unloved? Maybe on the flip-side, are you of the belief that you’re never getting the desired results no matter how long you spend in your green space?
If you have answered yes to any of these questions, then Suttons are on hand to give you some advice on how you can enjoy your garden — whatever its size:
How to make gardening efficient
Being efficient may be second nature if the space is quite small. For example, you may have a few tips yourself on how to find new spots to utilise your garden plants in the available space that you have.
There are ways where you could possibly make more of the available space. First, make sure that you’re attending to your priorities. For example, do you have areas of gravel that could be used for new flowers or other ornamentation that could create a focal point in your garden?
It may also be wise to give your garden a good clean — do you not care about those garden gnomes that have populated your outdoor space for years, for instance? Anything that is taking up available space will always make your garden look smaller. Alternatively, when there’s a small gap between ornaments or flower pots, then why not try planting a flower bed in-between, that will help you to save space, but will also direct your eye to somewhere new within the garden.
How to create focal points around your garden
An interesting feature of your garden that will stand out and will instantly draw the eye can be achieved no matter how limited the space available to you. A focal point can provide the illusion of space by creating defined areas within your garden and immediately direct the eye towards it. Here are some of the best, quick and easy features to implement:
A cluster of plants. This may take the form of a collection of all white flowers, such as the Mexican fleabane, or alternatively, lavender could fill this space full of colour and fragrance.
Bird baths. A bird bath is a great way of attracting wildlife that you wouldn’t otherwise see in your garden, especially in the summer. Or alternatively, other ornamentation is likely to attract birds that like to perch when resting.
A bench. If space is limited, why not try placing a bench in the corner so that you can sit down as part of the garden. Not only will this solve the problem of not being able to move around freely – you’ll always be able to enjoy your garden in comfort.
How to grow vertically in your garden
Have you ever considered that the solution might be to grow vertically as opposed to horizontally? Here’s just a couple of ideas with that point in mind to get you started:
Upside-down planters
Your garden could make for a set of a sci-fi film once you’ve decorated the space with some upside-down planters. By growing your plants upside-down whilst they are hanging, your garden is provided with a futuristic aesthetic that is sure to turn a few heads.
Whether you choose to hang these planters along your garden fence or from trees, the goal of saving on valuable ground space is still achieved. They can also be used for planting tomatoes, so if you don’t want a trellis to take up too much space, this could be the perfect solution for you!
Growing food
Not all food that you grow in your garden needs to come from the ground. In fact, squash, beans and the types of cucumber that aren’t of the bush variety can all be planted on a trellis, while bean tepee plant supports can be used to grow pole beans. Bamboo can be formed together at the top, so that the beans can grow to at least 5 feet tall. Whether you’re using a trellis, or a tepee, be sure to guide the fruit or vegetable carefully as you don’t want to break their stems.
