30 Clever Small Garden Ideas That Maximize Space
Good things can come in small spaces!
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If your mental picture of the perfect home garden includes rows of colorful tulips, vine-wrapped trellises, and beautiful, nature-inspired edging, then you aren't alone. But we're here to challenge that idea and prove that a small garden can be just as mighty as a big backyard–at least with some clever ideas for mini gardens. Whether you live in an apartment, have limited grass space, or have a small patio, these small garden ideas will prove that good things come in small packages.
For starters, think about how you want to use your small garden, then approach decorating it as you would any room of your house. Truthfully, there are no rules as to how you should decorate your garden; it’s really about what makes you happy. Is it somewhere you want to venture with your morning coffee or unwind after work? Would you like to be able to grow a few herbs or strawberries? Do you want to surround yourself with beautiful flowers or cute patio decorations?
Once you identify what’s important to you, focus on incorporating some of our small garden ideas gathered here. Whether you prefer raised flower beds or storage benches that'll hold all your gardening tools, we’ve got plenty of small garden ideas that are super-easy and inexpensive. You may even be able to repurpose items you already have around the house, such as Mason jars used for backyard lighting. The goal is to create a garden that you’ll want to spend time in. So go ahead and pull on your gardening gloves and make the most of your space with these creative small garden ideas.
Hanging Baskets
Hanging flower baskets are perfect for small gardens, as they add color and greenery to your garden or deck without taking up ground space. You can take advantage of overhead space and add fun details to your garden with colorful and stylish hanging plant baskets.
Raised Garden Beds
When your outdoor space is already small, committing to an in-ground garden means sacrificing an even larger proportion of your soil square footage. Instead, consider a raised garden bed, which offers improved soil drainage and eliminates the need for extensive tilling typically associated with traditional in-ground gardens.
Look to Ladders
Ladders may have been invented to give you a step up, but they also serve as rustic plant shelves. Stack terracotta pots filled with herbs and flowers on the steps of an old ladder for an easy and cheap means to vertical space.
Utilize Railings
Instead of thinking about your lack of floor space, think about the vertical space in your backyard that you may be underutilizing. If you have a deck or patio, the railings are the perfect place to hang flower boxes that you can fill with colorful flowers or herbs.
Seating with Storage
You may have heard of implementing storage benches in small spaces like mudrooms, but why not bring the two-in-one seating outside? Picking an outdoor bench that doubles as a storage chest is the perfect way to keep all your gardening tools hidden with bonus seating space.
Colorful Pots and Birdhouses
Container gardening doesn't have to be boring. Here, painted birdhouses and DIY planters echo the colors of the flowers to create one gorgeous display.
Hanging Bottle Garden
Upcycle plastic bottles and hang them to create mini-terrariums, which also makes the most of limited space. You can use bottles of any size, and don't forget to punch holes in the bottom for drainage.
Mini Fire Pit
No room in your backyard for a full-sized fire pit? A tabletop fire pit still gives you the ambiance and fun of a fire but in a petite size. And you can still toast marshmallows over it, too!
Double-Duty Potting Bench
A bench makes it easy to repot plants, so you won't have to bend over. Plus, it doubles as a buffet for entertaining. Just use it as a drink or dessert station.
Whimsical Accents
Personalizing your garden is one way to make a small space feel more welcoming. This little herb garden gets a fun touch by balancing tiny clay pots on stakes to add practicality and whimsy at the same time.
Fence Garden
No room to plant what you love? Adorn a bare fence with small window boxes. In this case, the window boxes create a living wall, and keep tulip bulbs up safe from hungry garden visitors such as chipmunks.
Herb Spiral
Elevate the look of your herb garden by planting them in a circle. Here stonework is used to define and accent the design, as well as slightly elevate the center planting.
Lavender Garden
By repeating the lavender plantings throughout this small space, the homeowner created a fragrant and peaceful oasis. Upcycled wo0den pallets are used for the tables and shelves, while salvaged wood makes up the simple fence to define the seating area.
Whisky Barrel Pond
An old whisky barrel is repurposed into a miniature pond, complete with lily pads and other small aquatic plants. It's a great way to enjoy a water feature without having to dig!
Small Dining Area
When the weather is nice, you want to spend as much time as possible outdoors. Even the tiniest patios, balconies or decks have room for a petite bistro table and chairs—perfect for dining al fresco on a lovely summer's evening.
Pallet Wall Garden
A pallet is repurposed into a handy wall garden to make the most of a small space. Herbs tuck nicely into the miniature planting areas, while chalkboard paint allows you to label each one.
Garden Lighting
Make your garden feel magical with string lights and jars hung from branches. You can add electric lights, or place tea lights inside Mason jars and suspend for a perfectly delightful low-tech display.
Bamboo Fence
Hide an unsightly wall or fence by adding a layer of bamboo as camouflage. This also plays well if you want to create a peaceful garden.
Succulents in a Birdbath
Dress up a birdbath with a planting of adorable succulents. It's the perfect accent for a small corner.
Stock Tank Pond
Stock tanks are another way to add a no-dig pond feature. Containers planted with colorful annuals soften the hard edges at the front and sides.
Arricca Elin SanSone has written about health and lifestyle topics for Prevention, Country Living, Woman's Day, and more. She’s passionate about gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
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