17 small garden ideas – clever designs for tiny but mighty plots

These small garden ideas will help you rethink your tiny plot and get so much more out of it. Even small urban courtyards and balconies have the potential to become luscious and productive gardens – you just need to be a bit creative about how you use the space and what you grow. 

From planting and landscaping tips, to innovative layouts that will suit a small garden design perfectly, we've rounded up clever gardens to help you perfect your outdoor space with even the smallest square footage. 

 By Anna Cottrell 

Too little room for a permanent raised bed in your garden? You can make yours mobile – by fitting wheels at the bottom. This is a really good solution for plots that are so small that you'd be able to access a fixed raised bed only on one side – which is not good for your back and is just a bit awkward. Caster wheels can be bought on Amazon and fitted to a container of your choice on a DIY basis. 

Not everyone likes the look of traditional wooden raised beds. If you want something a bit different, you can clad yours. There are many different materials and looks to choose from, including metal, stone, and wicker for an easy-going, rustic look.

Growing veg isn't limited to greenhouses, allotments and extensive gardens – almost everyone can have a go at creating a kitchen garden. Whether you have space on your window sill to grow a few herbs, or a spot on your balcony for a tomato plant or two, there are always options for growing (a bit) of your own.

And you don't have to invest in expensive planters either. Here the Samla Box from IKEA, has been used, and it starts at $1.49  But, you could just as easily upcycle something you already have at home.

A garden doesn't have to use all of your outdoor space. If you want more of a backyard setup where you can relax, you can still grow veg as well – just allocate a sunny border for your edibles. If your plot doesn't have any soil, build a corner raised bed to make one. 

Cute, fragrant and tasty, squeeze in a herb garden station on a covered patio or balcony space and you'll be so distracted by the loveliness of it that you'll forget how mini it is.

A small garden should still have all of the things are large garden has – that includes garden paths, fencing, and even outbuildings. Never sacrifice paths in any garden, even if it's tiny – you need to be able to move around freely, so choose garden paths that are functional as well as pretty. 

Growing fruit, veg and herbs near the kitchen door means that when tomatoes, zucchini and the like are ripe and ready for eating, you can access them easily, without sacrificing any of the loveliness from your garden design.

There's great news for those who want to grow their own but don't necessarily like a rustic garden style: you can have a more formal-looking garden and still grow plenty of veg. Choose more upmarket paving and dot your garden with a few sculptural plants like cypress or box hedge, and you'll have a space that is both smart-looking and functional.

If you've ever tried to learn how to grow mint, you'll know that it will take over your whole garden if you don't contain it. Avoid your small garden becoming a monoculture – know your invasive crops and plant them in pots.

Narrow garden? Look to vertical gardens. You can use old pallets or wood planks to build a shelving unit that will house several tiers of pot-grown herbs and veg. Add a few hooks at the top and hang some hanging baskets for more variety. Making use of vertical space is one of the best options if you're figuring out how to make a small garden look bigger.

You can also buy a plant stand from Amazon and use that if you don't feel like DIYing this idea. 

'In a small space, a few large features are better than many small ones. Two or three big pots will have much more impact and look far more stylish than a dozen ill-assorted smaller ones,' says gardening expert and TV personality Alan Titchmarsh. Potting your herbs in a few large, beautiful pots will always look nicer than using lots of tiny ones. 

Think that greenhouses are for large gardens only? Think again. There are plenty of DIY greenhouses that are perfect for small spaces, some suitable for even the tiniest of spaces. And even the smallest greenhouse will make a huge difference to what you can grow if you live in an area with cold winters. 

Not all crops need lots of soil in order to survive and thrive. Many herbs and even lettuces will grow perfectly well in narrow and shallow troughs. We really like this DIY idea where old guttering has been repurposed as an ultra-slim vertical garden. You can also use old plastic bottles or even tree bark. 

If, on the other hand, you are set on crops that need a lot of root space – potatoes, looking at you – you'll need to be flexible with what you use, even if it's not the best-looking container. Grow bags are invaluable in smaller spaces – they give your root veggies the space they need to grow while taking up minimal floor space – and they look great weaved in with other container gardens.

Breaking news: many vegetables are also beautiful plants that you can use to create a living wall. Tomatoes and cucumbers, but also zucchini, beans, and peas all make for lovely climbers that look beautiful grown on a trellis or frame. 

Many outdoor kitchens are suitable for small spaces – and there's no reason why you can't have a veggie or herb patch right next to yours. Just imagine the joy of preparing a fresh salad you've grown outside. Just avoid placing your grill too close to your plants, especially if yours runs on gas.

Finally, a garden can – and should – include flowers and all manner of colorful garden plants – they're not just for decorative backyard spaces. Get some wildflower seeds for a wildflower patch or just dot some of your favorite flowers in between the veggie beds. They'll add color and attractive pollinators.