Photo: ItzaFineDay / Flickr

Having very little space doesn’t have to mean having no greenery. If you feel like you need to get away from chaotic urban living and spend some time in nature, you can create an oasis for yourself at home, even if you live in a small apartment. Chances are you have a courtyard or at least a balcony you can put to use for an urban garden, and with a little careful planning you’ll soon have a tranquil spot you can spend time in to relax.

Your style

First decide on your own personal garden design style. There are loads of different ways you can plan a green space, so start off thinking about what you’d like to see growing. If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, consider growing vegetables or herbs. If you’re looking for a little colour, consider flowering shrubs. Look online for inspiration.

A clean slate

The first step to creating your urban garden is clearing up the space you’re going to use. Courtyards and balconies tend to accumulate clutter, so dedicate an hour or two to cleaning up before you get started planting.

Garden retreat tips

Photo: Gabriel Kamener, Sown Together / Flickr

If you’re living in the city, not having a lot of space is a given. So it makes sense to make the most of any features you do have. It’s likely that your courtyard is surrounded by walls, so make use of them. Encourage vines or other creeping plants to grow up a trellis – this can work on a balcony, too.

You may not be able to plant directly in soil, so invest in some eye-catching containers for your plants. To save money you can visit markets and pick these up on the cheap. Also consider raised boxes. Just add soil, use a garden trowel to dig space for the plants of your choice, and water. An instant garden.

Once you’ve decided on your urban garden design style and planted your garden, all you need to do is remember to water your plants and, most importantly, enjoy the your new space.