Gardening – Small space gardening

Our community has seen a building boom in recent years, and many are finding only a small area left for a garden. 

Even the smallest of spaces can become beautiful and productive with a little creativity and time. Here are a few tips to get the most out of your tiny plot: 

• Small spaces can be easy to manage and incredibly rewarding. Start by evaluating the space you have. Is it a balcony or a small decked area, a windowsill, courtyard or backyard? Ideally the space needs to have sunlight 6-8 hours a day, if not look for plants that grow well in part shade. The key is to think about every inch of space you have – it may be split into different areas of your home. Think creatively by looking up as well as down.

• Vertical gardening is a way to maximise your space. Is there a fence or walls? Can you add a trellis or hanging basket to make the most of the vertical space? There are so many plants that will climb – plants like passionfruit, boysenberry, grapes, kiwifruit, nasturtiums, or jasmine.

• Container gardening is a great way to easily manage a small space. Choose containers that suit your space and aesthetic – from upcycled items to pots from the garden centre. We have a drought heading our way this summer, so if buying pots, look for the ones with a built in reservoir to keep roots moist in the hot days to come. Otherwise make sure they have good drainage holes and are sitting on a shallow tray to retain water. You will need to feed regularly and replace the soil each year. A wide variety of plants are happy in containers, ranging from dwarf fruit trees to annual vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, zucchini, spinach, strawberries and carrots, along with flowering plants such as marigolds, calendulas and lavender. 

• Choose a sunny spot and add your favourite herbs to a space near your kitchen. Great herbs for a small garden are parsley, sage, thyme, mint (contain mint, as it spreads like mad), basil, coriander, rosemary or be adventurous and try pineapple sage, Vietnamese mint or Shungiku (a Japanese herb).

• If you want to garden in a larger space consider joining your local community garden to learn and share gardening tips. It’s a great source of cuttings, seedlings and produce which is often shared with volunteers. We have several community gardens you can join on the Coast, or you may want to set one up with your neighbours on a spare common space (don’t forget to seek permission form the landowners of course). This can be a great way to connect with neighbours and your community. 

However, you maximise your small space, remember to enjoy the fruits of your labour! As your plants grow, so will your sense of achievement. Small space gardening is not only rewarding but also productive, great for your health and wallet – as food prices rise, every little helps.