Designing your garden isn’t a one-time occasion. You should decorate it whenever you want to upgrade its appearance, match your changing aesthetic preferences or showcase your personality better. You don’t even need an extra large space to start. Use these ideas to grow the plants you love within whatever area you’re working with.
1. Make a Terrarium
Glass containers with lids turn into gorgeous terrariums with the right creative vision. They come in all sizes and fit on porch coffee tables. Decorate one with live plants, soil, rocks and other fixtures. Plants that take root might not need watering for months because the humidity satiates terrarium species. Find a container that works within your front or back porch to upgrade your garden in an afternoon.
2. Plant Herbs in a Wheelbarrow
Stop by your local thrift store or flea market and see if you can spot a vintage wheelbarrow. The older design doubles as a decorative element and a container garden. Drill drainage holes before adding soil for your plants. You’ll create a layered plot anywhere your yard has enough room for the wheelbarrow.
3. Use a Rotating Garden Tower
Garden towers come in numerous materials. They rotate to showcase the many stacked pots waiting for your next favorite plants. You might prefer this option if you have limited floor space and want to grow fruits or vegetables. Turn your tower into a strawberry haven in time for summer. Each berry contains at least 91% water, so they’ll keep you hydrated between glasses of water.
4. Grow Vines on a Trellis
Trellises look beautiful even over the shortest stepping-stone pathways. Place one on your property and start growing vining plants. They’ll quickly scale the trellis, turning your yard into a secret garden getaway without requiring extra space.
5. Liven up Your Porch Ceiling
Using a porch ceiling is one of the best small garden ideas. You could use a simple hook to hang flowering plants or thicker foliage. If you set the mood with creative lighting and add comfortable cushions, you might spend the summer listening to baby birds chirping in your ferns. Choose a hanging planter that matches your outdoor aesthetic to make the final look cohesive.
6. Build Raised Garden Beds
Many people live in smaller spaces where they can’t dig into their yards. Consider building raised garden beds if you live under strict homeowners association (HOA) rules. You can design them as tall, narrow or deep as your space allows. Drainage holes will make them the perfect places for any plant, including those that need extensive root systems.
7. Place Planters on Stair Rails
You don’t need flat porch railings to hang potted plants. Use the sloped rails lining the steps, too. Clip-on attachments hold pots while mounting them to the railings with extra tension. Your stairway garden will also enjoy frequent rain showers if the steps are exposed to the elements.
8. Design a Fairy Garden
While you might love growing fruits, vegetables or flowers, those aren’t the only kinds of gardening. Add some whimsical fun to your yard with fairy gardens at the base of your trees. They’re small garden ideas that don’t require upkeep, so you won’t have to stress about adding more plant care to your daily chore list. Get creative with miniature furniture, water features and hardscaping so every fairy in town knows they can rest in your backyard.
9. Attach Pots to Your Fence
A fence is another resource for expanding your garden. Attach pots along the rails with J hooks or wall mounts. Vertical gardens yield more food per acre, depending on the final size. You could replicate similar results by growing tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes and carrots along your fence while other vegetables remain rooted in your existing backyard plot.
10. Hang a Pallet Planter
Homeowners often have a pallet in the garage or under the house after ordering big supplies for a previous project. You don’t have to break it apart if you’re looking for garden ideas. Use wall mounts to hang it on the wall of your screened-in porch. Succulents, air plants and other small plant species will love growing inside tiny pots attached to each board. You won’t use any floor space to expand your plot and enhance its design.
Upgrade Your Small Garden This Summer
Homeowners can transform even the smallest spaces into stunning gardens with these creative ideas. Collect whatever inspires you and consider whether each idea matches your gardening aesthetic. You’ll find innovative ways to beautify your property and enjoy nature’s bounty.
