Photo: erix! / Flickr

The problem of space is a big one for many gardeners in the UK. Having a small garden doesn’t mean you can’t garden, though – you just need to know how to make the most of what you’ve got. Take advantage of vertical space, coordinate your palette, and don’t abandon the idea of growing fruit and vegetables. With some careful planning you can have a productive garden no matter its size.

Aim for the sky

If you take advantage of vertical space, you’ll be able to get a lot more out of your small garden. Grow plants against fences and walls, and invest in a few trellis frames. Don’t limit yourself to traditional climbers, though. Cucumbers and squash can be trained to climb and take up less space, while small shrubs will grow beautifully next to a wall or fence. Also consider hanging plants – many kinds of dwarf vegetables will grow happily in a basket, as will dwarf bulbs like tulips and narcissus.

It’s all about palette

When planning the layout of your small garden consider the colours and textures of your house. Coordinating your palette will help you maximize space. Consider using a single colour to avoid clashes or choose plants that complement the colour of your home. Learning about colour and using the colour wheel when planning your garden will go a long way towards making it a beautiful space. If you’re lacking inspiration, play around with colour schemes by spinning the Color Wheel.

Grow your own

You don’t need acres to grow fruit and vegetables. Consider training soft fruit bushes into shapes. Grow salad leaves and herbs in pots on shelves to save space and choose quinces and crab apples if you want to grow fruit trees.

If you’d like to learn more before you take the plunge and start planting, About.com offers free lessons on designing small gardens.

Tags: gardening