Space saving ideas for the garden
Being short on space doesn't mean you can't have an abundant garden. You just need to be a little more creative and find ways to maximise your planting. Here are a some fabulous ideas to create clever spaces for extra plants.
Dresser Drawer Planter
Old dressers or chests of drawers make great planting bases. You simply put the plants in individual pots and then use the drawers to hold them.
You end up with a multi tiered garden look that is both beautiful and space saving.
You'll need to drill holes in the bottom of the drawers for drainage and be a little careful as to the size and weight of the pots you put in them but you should be able to create a beautiful cascade of plants that will brighten up a corner of your patio or verandah.
Think about the plants you put together to achieve colour and texture and well as variation in leaf sizes. Often a single theme works well. For example a range of succulents make a fantastic show.
If you don’t have an old dresser on hand, you can probably pick one up at a yard sale or flea market for just a few dollars and then all you have to do is start planting.
Old dressers or chests of drawers make great planting bases. You simply put the plants in individual pots and then use the drawers to hold them.
You end up with a multi tiered garden look that is both beautiful and space saving.
You'll need to drill holes in the bottom of the drawers for drainage and be a little careful as to the size and weight of the pots you put in them but you should be able to create a beautiful cascade of plants that will brighten up a corner of your patio or verandah.
Think about the plants you put together to achieve colour and texture and well as variation in leaf sizes. Often a single theme works well. For example a range of succulents make a fantastic show.
If you don’t have an old dresser on hand, you can probably pick one up at a yard sale or flea market for just a few dollars and then all you have to do is start planting.
A Cheap Vertical Garden
A shoe organizer is a great way to build a vertical garden.
Not only does this garden look great and save space, it helps to keep those critters and pets out of your herbs and vegetables. You just have to fill each of the shoe spaces with potting soil or compost and then add your plants.
Work out how to suspend your vertical planter to suit the position you want to put it in. Hooks attached to a fence or wall are ideal or, if you want the planter to act as a screen, then you'll need to attach a pole to whatever structure is available and suspend the planter from that. Just make sure that whatever hooks you use, they're strong enough to support the total weight of the soil and plants.
Pour water into the pockets to check if they drain well. If they don;'t you'll need to make some holes in the bottom of each pocket.
Add a good moisture retaining compost, fill to 1" (2.5cm) below the rim so that water does not pour out over the rim. And then decide what you're going to put in them. Our example has herbs and salad greens which would make a very productive addition to any small space garden, but you could plants annuals or succulents for a vivid display.
Water the pockets very slowly and gently so that you don't wash the compost out of the pockets. You might like to add water retaining crystals to the compost but add water to them first and let them swell up before you mix them in so that they don't push the plants out as they absorb water.
You'll also need to add a bit of liquid fertilizer when the goodness in the compost is used up. If you need to replant any of thepockets, you'll need to put in new compost.
A shoe organizer is a great way to build a vertical garden.
Not only does this garden look great and save space, it helps to keep those critters and pets out of your herbs and vegetables. You just have to fill each of the shoe spaces with potting soil or compost and then add your plants.
Work out how to suspend your vertical planter to suit the position you want to put it in. Hooks attached to a fence or wall are ideal or, if you want the planter to act as a screen, then you'll need to attach a pole to whatever structure is available and suspend the planter from that. Just make sure that whatever hooks you use, they're strong enough to support the total weight of the soil and plants.
Pour water into the pockets to check if they drain well. If they don;'t you'll need to make some holes in the bottom of each pocket.
Add a good moisture retaining compost, fill to 1" (2.5cm) below the rim so that water does not pour out over the rim. And then decide what you're going to put in them. Our example has herbs and salad greens which would make a very productive addition to any small space garden, but you could plants annuals or succulents for a vivid display.
Water the pockets very slowly and gently so that you don't wash the compost out of the pockets. You might like to add water retaining crystals to the compost but add water to them first and let them swell up before you mix them in so that they don't push the plants out as they absorb water.
You'll also need to add a bit of liquid fertilizer when the goodness in the compost is used up. If you need to replant any of thepockets, you'll need to put in new compost.
Vertical Pallet Garden
An old pallet can also be turned into the perfect vertical garden. Not only do they make great use of a small space, they're quite attractive to look at, and quite inexpensive to create.
You'll need an old pallet, some terracotta pots (or whatever you prefer to use) and some hose clamps. Purchase your pots first then go to the plumbing section of your hardware store to get clamps that will accommodate your pot size.
Decide whether you want to do anything to the pallet. You might like to paint it or give it a coat of decking oil to make it look neater, or you might like the rustic look of the raw pallet.
Next, adjust the clamps so that the pots sit comfortable and are securely held. Work you want to position your position and then screw the clamps to the pallet through the grooves used to adjust the size.
Plants your pots up using a good quality compost or potting mix, water in well and then sit the pots into the clamps.
Terracotta pots can dry out quickly so keep an eye on your new planter and keep the plants moist while they establish.
An old pallet can also be turned into the perfect vertical garden. Not only do they make great use of a small space, they're quite attractive to look at, and quite inexpensive to create.
You'll need an old pallet, some terracotta pots (or whatever you prefer to use) and some hose clamps. Purchase your pots first then go to the plumbing section of your hardware store to get clamps that will accommodate your pot size.
Decide whether you want to do anything to the pallet. You might like to paint it or give it a coat of decking oil to make it look neater, or you might like the rustic look of the raw pallet.
Next, adjust the clamps so that the pots sit comfortable and are securely held. Work you want to position your position and then screw the clamps to the pallet through the grooves used to adjust the size.
Plants your pots up using a good quality compost or potting mix, water in well and then sit the pots into the clamps.
Terracotta pots can dry out quickly so keep an eye on your new planter and keep the plants moist while they establish.
Tiered Garden
Tiered gardens are great for small spaces. If you only have minimal space for flowers or veggies, you can create a great tiered garden from a few terra cotta planters.
Make sure you stagger the size of each pot so that you have enough room for the plants to grow comfortably.
You can plant whatever you want in the planters. Pansies, violas or petunias look amazing by the front door. Or you could put one beside the kitchen door, stocked with your favourite herbs.
Don't forget to top up with liquid or slow release fertilizer so your plants keep thriving.
Tiered gardens are great for small spaces. If you only have minimal space for flowers or veggies, you can create a great tiered garden from a few terra cotta planters.
Make sure you stagger the size of each pot so that you have enough room for the plants to grow comfortably.
You can plant whatever you want in the planters. Pansies, violas or petunias look amazing by the front door. Or you could put one beside the kitchen door, stocked with your favourite herbs.
Don't forget to top up with liquid or slow release fertilizer so your plants keep thriving.
Wooden Fence Planter Boxes
If you have a fence, you can turn that fence into a garden area by simply hanging planter boxes.
Use old wooden crates if you have them, or can source them from somewhere, or simply nail together rectangles of timber braced at the top and bottom and then screwed to the fence.
Once you have the boxes in place, add whatever planters you prefer. Our example uses plants straight from the nursery or garden section of your local hardware store, so you don't need to spend money of enpensive pots if you don't want to.
This is an excellent solution for those with small courtyards who really want to plant fresh herbs, veggies or flowers.
If you have a fence, you can turn that fence into a garden area by simply hanging planter boxes.
Use old wooden crates if you have them, or can source them from somewhere, or simply nail together rectangles of timber braced at the top and bottom and then screwed to the fence.
Once you have the boxes in place, add whatever planters you prefer. Our example uses plants straight from the nursery or garden section of your local hardware store, so you don't need to spend money of enpensive pots if you don't want to.
This is an excellent solution for those with small courtyards who really want to plant fresh herbs, veggies or flowers.
Hanging Tin Can Garden
Old tin cans can be recycled for use in your garden area. If you just don’t have the space to have all of the flowers, herbs or veggies that you want to plant, you can simply paint some tin cans and use them as planters.
These hang nicely from fences, decks or even the side of your house. You can create an entire garden from the side of a fence using painted tin cans and they are portable so you can move them about as needed.
Start by punching drainage holes n the bottom of the cans. Next, drill two holes near the top of the can just big enough to thread some rope through.
Give the can a couple of coats of spray paint, letting it dry in between coats.
Tie a knot at one end then thread the rope through one of the holes, determine the length you need based on where you want the can to hang, then cut the rope accordingly, thread the end through the other holes and knot that. And there you have your hanging planter.
Old tin cans can be recycled for use in your garden area. If you just don’t have the space to have all of the flowers, herbs or veggies that you want to plant, you can simply paint some tin cans and use them as planters.
These hang nicely from fences, decks or even the side of your house. You can create an entire garden from the side of a fence using painted tin cans and they are portable so you can move them about as needed.
Start by punching drainage holes n the bottom of the cans. Next, drill two holes near the top of the can just big enough to thread some rope through.
Give the can a couple of coats of spray paint, letting it dry in between coats.
Tie a knot at one end then thread the rope through one of the holes, determine the length you need based on where you want the can to hang, then cut the rope accordingly, thread the end through the other holes and knot that. And there you have your hanging planter.
Cinder Block Wall Garden
You can create a beautiful garden wall with cinder blocks. This is perfect for smaller yards and can be built right next to the fence.
12 inch cinder blocks work well for this project and you can secure them together with liquid nails.
You can toggle the blocks however you want to create different planting areas and to make the entire unit unique. This is great for greenery as well as flowers and will create a marvellous feature against an otherwise less then pretty fence.
You can create a beautiful garden wall with cinder blocks. This is perfect for smaller yards and can be built right next to the fence.
12 inch cinder blocks work well for this project and you can secure them together with liquid nails.
You can toggle the blocks however you want to create different planting areas and to make the entire unit unique. This is great for greenery as well as flowers and will create a marvellous feature against an otherwise less then pretty fence.
Window Boxes
For gardening and saving space, nothing is easier than a window box. Not only does this give you additional room for growing, it adds beauty to your home. Window boxes are easy to make and you can grow everything from flowers to herbs and vegetables in them.
They can be plain and simple or as ornate as you like. For example you could use an antique drawer front to create one of a kind pizzazz.
There are plenty of DIY sites you can visit to get advice on how to build a window box to suit your needs
For gardening and saving space, nothing is easier than a window box. Not only does this give you additional room for growing, it adds beauty to your home. Window boxes are easy to make and you can grow everything from flowers to herbs and vegetables in them.
They can be plain and simple or as ornate as you like. For example you could use an antique drawer front to create one of a kind pizzazz.
There are plenty of DIY sites you can visit to get advice on how to build a window box to suit your needs
