Small Space Gardening Tips

You may not think you have enough space to grow a beautiful garden, but there are some ways you can actually achieve this that may be a little surprising to you. Get small space gardening tips in this P. Allen Smith video:

Basic Tips and Best Practices

With four raised beds, you can grow an unbelievable amount of produce in a single growing season. If you can’t plant directly into the ground, containers are an obvious choice. Use larger containers and use them in groupings for real visual impact. Containers are very handy for tucking into tight spaces, and you can move them around, giving you flexibility. Growing vines on posts can make an interesting vertical element. Using cattle panels to grow vines on can add visual interest to a garden. If you’re feeling ambitious and love to prune, you might grow some trees in the espalier form. Lastly, think of dwarf type shrubs like little lime hydrangeas that are more compact and work great in small spaces.

Planting Cannas in Containers

Cannas are bold and beautiful flowers that bloom starting from late spring and on into the fall. When planting canna tubers in containers, make sure the bulb is pointing upward. Plant them in a rich potting soil with two inches of soil on top of them; cover the top layer with some mulch. After about two weeks, fertilize them. They will emerge in about a week or so. Throughout the growing season, make sure the soil is consistently moist (you can’t overwater cannas). The bold flowers and foliage are an absolute knockout, and they’re a must for every garden.

DIY Pallet Vertical Garden

Take a wooden pallet and a sand block and sand down the rough edges. Spray the pallet with exterior wood sealer and allow to dry for 24 hours. Measure the inside of the pallet and cut strips of landscaping fabric. Using a staple gun, create pockets with the landscaping fabric and staple to the pallet, starting with the bottom and working up. Fill each pocket with soil, then start planting.

Growing Dwarf Butterfly Bush

As its name suggests, the butterfly bush attracts butterflies. The growing dwarf variety called Purple Haze is horizontal and spreads out, filling an entire area (but is not invasive), grows to about 36 inches tall, and has gorgeous long blooms that butterflies love. It is also deer resistant. Butterfly bushes are perennials and will stay in your garden for years to come, constantly throwing off long beautiful blooms. They should be planted in full sun.

Planting Hydrangeas in Containers

Hydrangeas are beautiful flowers that can be grown in containers and will rebloom frequently throughout the season. If you prefer blue flowers, try adding a soil acidifier or acidifying fertilizer; if you prefer pink flowers, sweeten the soil by adding a little lime which you can pick up at your local hardware store.

Macrame T-Shirt Plant Hanger

For this project, you will need a T-shirt, scissors and measuring tape. Cut off the sleeves and cut 1.5-inch strips. Separate the strips and gather at one end. Tie one end 4-5 inches from the end. Separate into two strands and tie together 5 inches down. Separate again and tie together 5 inches down. Tie together two outside strands. Gather the strands and tie all together at the opposite end, creating a loop.

Growing Dwarf Dahlias

Dahlias come in all kinds of flower shapes and colors. Dwarf dahlias are under 30 inches in height have dark foliage and bright flowers, and are excellent for growing in containers. Dahlias require full sun and well-drained soil and should be kept well-watered. When the flowers fade away, deadhead them off; taking the spend blooms away will cause the plant to produce more buds. Dahlias will bloom throughout the summer into the fall and up to the first hard freeze.

Growing Edibles in Containers

There are so many edibles you can grow in containers; in fact, many plants actually prefer it. There are a few things you need to know before choosing the best container for whatever you plan to grow. Bigger is always better as it’s important for roots to have plenty of room to grow and to reduce the need for less frequent watering. Most vegetables will need at least a five-gallon vessel while herbs, lettuce and similar shallow roooted plants can be grown in smaller containers. Also, think about the weight of the containers themselves. If you’re on a rooftop or balcony or if you’re planning on moving the planter or bringing it inside for winter, use a material like a food grade plastic that will be easier on your back and save you time and money with less frequent watering. Make sure your container has adequate drainage.

DIY Hanging Tomato Basket

The Little Birdy series is a cascading cherry tomato that comes in red robin, yellow canary and rosy finch types and can be grown in containers or hanging baskets. Start them by planting two seeds in pots and growing them 5-7 weeks indoors. When they’re 5-10 inches tall, move them outside. Fill a hanging basket with soil and plant the seedlings. Water deeply and feed them monthly. Harvest tomatoes at full color.

Upcycled Wheelbarrow Planters

You can make a planter for spring salad greens by filling an old wheelbarrow with a good rich soil, making sure the bottom has holes in it for drainage. Try buttercrunch, red sail, and red oak leaf lettuce, kale and arugula, spinach, and herbs like flat leaf Italian parsley. Once harvested, replace with tomatoes and peppers.