Maximizing Your Green Oasis in Small Spaces

I don’t know about you, but when I first bought my little townhouse, I was thrilled to finally have a place to call my own. That is, until I stepped outside and saw the postage stamp-sized yard – if you could even call it that. It was nothing more than a narrow strip of soil, barely big enough to fit a lawn chair, let alone a full-fledged garden.

As the lead horticulturist at Wellfield Botanic Gardens shared, “I have virtually no space to garden at home because my postage stamp yard is surrounded by shade trees. I am thus left with a partially sunny 3×30 strip 5-6 hours of sun next to my driveway – not ideal.”

But just like him, I refused to let a little (or a lot) of space hold me back from creating the lush, bountiful garden of my dreams. After all, as the saying goes, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” And boy, did I find a way.

Thinking Vertically

The key, I discovered, was to start thinking vertically rather than horizontally. As the Wellfield Gardens expert put it, “Vertical gardening and container gardening can maximize space or provide space where there is none normally with little to no weeding.”

So, instead of sprawling my plants out across the ground, I decided to send them skyward. I started by repurposing a couple of 55-gallon plastic drums that I managed to snag for free. I drilled some drainage holes in the bottom, filled them with soil, and crammed as many plants as I could fit into each one.

With a little creative maneuvering, I was able to prop these vertical gardens up on cinder blocks, reclaiming even more precious ground space. And the best part? I even added a composting tube in the middle of the barrels, allowing me to create my own nutrient-rich soil right there on my tiny patio.

Thinking Outside the (Planter) Box

But vertical gardening was just the beginning of my small-space gardening journey. I soon realized that the options for container gardening were truly endless. As the Wellfield Gardens expert noted, “Vertical gardens and container gardens can be made from virtually anything. There may be items lying around the house or locally sourced you can up cycle. Feel free to repurpose things like plastic jugs, containers, old pallets, or that old toilet. Really anything you can put soil in will work.”

Suddenly, my patio was transformed into a veritable oasis of creativity. I started experimenting with all sorts of unconventional planter ideas, from repurposed buckets and barrels to even an old claw-foot bathtub I stumbled upon at a garage sale. The possibilities were endless, and I was having a blast bringing them to life.

As the Wellfield Gardens expert shared, “I remedied my space constraints by using two 55-gallon plastic drums I obtained at no cost through my wife’s work. I stuffed fifty plus plants in each barrel, and they only took up five to six feet of space depending on what was planted.”

Mastering the Art of Container Gardening

Of course, vertical and container gardening come with their own unique challenges. As I quickly learned, not every plant is well-suited for life in a pot or a repurposed barrel. The Wellfield Gardens expert shared, “I learned my barrel set up did not work for everything I wanted to grow, and I wanted to grow lots of different crops.”

That’s when I realized the importance of doing my research and planning ahead. For example, I discovered that tomatoes and peppers thrive in larger containers, like 5-gallon buckets, while leafy greens and herbs do well in smaller vessels. And by drilling strategic drainage holes, I was able to create a self-watering system that kept my plants hydrated without any of the hassle.

But the key, as the Wellfield Gardens expert so eloquently put it, is to “not place a tomato plant in a small container expecting it to produce many tomatoes. I would not use a container smaller than 5-10 gallons. If you give the plant its space and do not over water or over fertilize, you will be surprised at the shade of green upon your thumb.”

Embracing Organic Gardening

As I dove deeper into the world of small-space gardening, I also made the conscious decision to go the organic route. As the Wellfield Gardens expert advised, “I avoid chemical fertilizers and pesticides at all costs. While they seem to perform well, just remember that you will likely be putting this in your or someone else’s body.”

And let me tell you, the results have been nothing short of spectacular. My patio oasis is now bursting with vibrant, healthy plants that I can feel good about consuming. Plus, the act of gardening itself has been an incredibly rewarding and soul-nourishing experience.

As the experts at Chelsea Green Publishing noted, “Gardening is wonderful for the soul and gives us a lot more respect for our food and the work that goes into it.”

Thinking Outside the (Garden) Box

But my small-space gardening journey didn’t stop there. I started to get creative with the way I utilized every inch of available space, even in the most unexpected places.

As the Wellfield Gardens expert shared, “Where we lived in town, although we had plenty of space for gardening, we also had quite a bit of pavement that was no good for gardening. We grew pumpkins and other winter squash at the corners of the pavement and let them creep along the edge where the pavement met a surrounding fence. The vines stayed out of the way while occupying a space that would otherwise not have been useful.”

Brilliant, right? I decided to put my own spin on this idea, planting trailing vines and cascading flowers along the edges of my patio, transforming what was once a drab, concrete-laden eyesore into a lush, vibrant oasis.

A Lesson in Patience and Perseverance

Of course, as with any gardening endeavor, my small-space journey hasn’t always been smooth sailing. There have been plenty of trials and tribulations along the way, from finicky plants that just wouldn’t thrive to unexpected pests and weather challenges.

As the experts at Joe Gardener shared, “Gardening is a lifelong learning process, and every year is different.” But through it all, I’ve learned to embrace the ups and downs, treating each setback as an opportunity to grow and learn.

And let me tell you, the payoff has been more than worth it. Not only do I now have a thriving, bountiful garden that I’m proud to call my own, but I’ve also developed a deep appreciation for the art of gardening and the incredible power of nature.

So if you’re like me and have been hesitant to dive into the world of gardening due to limited space, I encourage you to take the plunge. Trust me, with a little creativity and a whole lot of determination, you can transform even the smallest of spaces into a lush, vibrant oasis that will nourish both your body and your soul.

After all, as the saying goes, with Today’s Gardens, the possibilities are truly endless.