Are you looking for ideas for an apartment garden? Do you feel like you’re missing something from your usual garden planning? The truth is, many of us feel the same way. Whether it’s a flower garden or a vegetable garden, or a combination of both, it seems like our small garden space can never be as great as we’d like it. Don’t worry; this isn’t the case at all. With some careful planning, you can have the garden of your dreams.
To make your small garden design come to life, first you need to think about what kind of plants you want to grow. You can grow almost any kind of plant, as long as they are not invasive. From colorful flowering plants to herbal plants that can make your breath smells better, there are tons of plants you can choose. From planting and landscaping ideas, to unique, creative designs that will fit a small outdoor area perfectly, we have rounded up 50 smart gardening ideas to help you make your very own ideal outdoor space.
One way to create a unique garden setting is by choosing not just one type of plant, but rather, different varieties of those plants. In fact, you can choose to have many different varieties of flowers, vegetables, herbs, and more. Using elevated wood planters will allow you to maximize your garden’s functionality. These types of planters have a spading height of up to six feet, which allows you to place a wide variety of smaller landscape items on top of them. This way, you can create a variety of habitats for a variety of plants without having to dig through the soil. Plus, using DIY elevated wood planters will make your gardening efforts even easier and less time-consuming.
Potted plants make gardening so much easier, especially if you have a limited amount of space to work with. When you use pots for gardening, you can easily move and reposition plants as often as you’d like. Plus, when you buy plants in small containers, you’ll be able to place them exactly where you want them, maximizing the amount of visual stimulation your yard receives. We like to use our raised flowerpot planters in the main entrance of our garden, surrounded by smaller pots for smaller containers and herbs, and possibly even using some larger pots for perennials and biennials like our Daisy in a pot under our favorite tree.
If you’re looking for ways to bring a little color into your backyard, consider planting an assortment of colorful flowers in pots. Our neighbor always puts spring bulbs in her pots. During fall, she strategically places bright yellow blooms in her terracotta planters. And during the winter months, she puts birch, maple, and black walnut branches inside her large terracotta planter to add texture and charm to her backyard.
Aesthetics are definitely important when considering small garden design ideas. However, think about practicality as well. You probably know what you’d like to plant in your back yard. Now it’s time to decide what those plants will do for you. If you have limited space, then focus on just a few species that can stand alone such as cacti and succulents. Larger, more ornate plants such as English lavender or clematis make beautiful additions to any garden and add color.
If you’re planning on planting a garden in a larger area, don’t forget the ground cover. Pansies make wonderful flooring and are easy to maintain. We also love the effectiveness of evergreens such as blueberries, raspberries, and cranberries. We have quite a few bushes and trees in our back yard already planted with these same kinds of plants. We use them for shade, privacy, and as pathways. We like to walk underneath them and feel the cool wind under our bare feet.
Remember, there are many ways to incorporate plants into your containers garden area without exceeding your space limitations. If you’re a beginning gardener and need a little guidance with plant selection, contact a local nursery that specializes in container gardens. They can offer advice on what types of plants work best in your climate and yard space.