Little home garden

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Mistana

Rolf 2-Piece Galvanized Iron Wall Planter Set

Now 44% off

$30 AT WAYFAIR

If you've been longing to give vertical gardening a try, now's your chance. Go for one or two planters, depending on just how green your thumb is.

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H&M

Large Metal Candle Lantern

$30 AT H&M

Lighting is important for an outdoor space, especially if it's on the small side. Illuminate yours with this stylish metal lantern that fits one large pillar candle.

A Beautiful Mess

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Herb Garden

There's something special about an orderly display of potted plants, especially when they're in vibrant colors that showcase the beauty of the season.

Get the tutorial at A Beautiful Mess »

Sugar & Cloth

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Faux Grass Stepping Stones

You might not have a huge lawn, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy a bit of grass — even if it's faux. These faux grass stepping stones are inexpensive to make on your own.

Get the tutorial at Sugar & Cloth »

Crafts by Amanda

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Mason Jar Planters

Add a country-chic touch to your garden with these mason jar planters (pint or quart size), which are perfect for herbs of all kinds.

Get the tutorial at Crafts by Amanda »

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Safavieh

Stella Glazed Ceramic Decorative Garden Stool

Now 61% off

$84 AT AMAZON $110 AT HOME DEPOT $111 AT BED BATH AND BEYOND

You can't go wrong with a versatile piece of decor like this garden stool that works for resting drinks, reading material or even a plant or two. Plus, it's designed to withstand the elements, which means you'll be able to use it season after season.

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Terrain

Canvas Carry-All Garden Stool

$48 AT ANTHROPOLOGIE

Small gardens call for double-duty essentials. The perfect example? This nifty tool bag that doubles as a foldable chair.

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Lattice Green Wall

Obsessed with lattice? For an unexpected touch to your garden, let the pattern set the foundation for a green wall.

Lisa Romerein

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Fold-Out Shelf

Brian Woodcock

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Patterned Hanging Planters

andreusKGetty Images

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Hammock

Play up your garden's cozy factor with a stylish hammock, designed for an afternoon nap or getting lost in a good book.

Alex LevineGetty Images

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Globe String Lights

Any outdoor gathering would be so much more fun if classic string lights are in the mix, whether you choose to hang them on a fence or under a pergola.

Courtesy of manufacturer

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Fence Planters

Window boxes can be used in so many creative ways. Fill one with vibrant blooms—a great match for a white picket fence.

GAP Photos/Clive Nichols

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Vibrant Chairs

Outfitting a small space doesn't mean you have to settle for drab furniture. The brighter, the better is the way to go to bring your space to life.

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Sol 72 Outdoor

Aanya Hardwood Dark Red Meranti Potting Bench

Now 57% off

$108 AT WAYFAIR

With a roomy shelf underneath, this wood piece doubles as a mini garden "shed" for storage.

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Society6

Floral Still Life Sling Chair

Now 25% off

$131 AT SOCIETY6

When it comes to an impromptu yard game, consider folding furniture, like this floral style, to easily free up space in an instant.

ArterraGetty Images

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Square Foot Gardening

This highly efficient method divides raised beds into a grid. Vegetables then get planted in one or more squares at a density based on plant size (e.g., you’d plant about 16 radish seeds per square, but only one tomato plant).

RELATED: The Pros and Cons of Square Foot Gardening

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Buy Ecopots Hanging Pot

$35 AT BLOOMSCAPE

Ditch those unsightly plastic hanging pots for a sleek bowl like this waterproof design that's available in four colors: charcoal, stone, clay and slate.

Mike Garten

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Flower-Filled Planters

Instantly boost your home’s curb appeal with bright blooms on each side of your front door. Expecting guests? Steal these tricks
from our home team: Add stems from a supermarket bouquet for extra fullness and mint for a fragrant burst.

Buff Strickland

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Container Gardening

SHOP POTS

Green up your patio or deck with oversized terracotta or plastic planters overflowing with anything from tomatoes to wildflowers. (The lush lineup here creates a pretty privacy wall!)

RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About Container Gardening

RazaRaGetty Images

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Potted Fruit Trees

SHOP ORANGE TREES

If you've got a tiny patio or balcony, you can grow a fruit tree. Calamondin orange or fig trees especially do well in pots at least 1 foot in diameter and 1 foot deep. Just watch out: Choose a variety that can survive at least two zones colder than where you live, because planters will freeze faster than the ground.

RELATED: 8 Fruit Trees You Can Grow Right on Your Porch

nicolas_Getty Images

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Companion Planting

Placing flowers and veggies together in the same beds doesn't just save space. It'll help boost your yields and keep plants happy by attracting more pollinators.

Mike Garten

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Fairy Garden

Think small — really small — with this adorable project. Outfitted with a mini birdhouse, rustic stones, and teeny-tiny accessories, this planter is the perfect thing to make with kids.

Get the tutorial »

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The Backyard Homestead

$19 AT GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

If you have ¼ acre of land (or even less!), you can produce your own vegetables, fruits, grains, eggs, and more — this book shares garden plans, landscaping tips, planting tricks, chicken coop ideas, and more.

Craig McCauslandGetty Images

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Dwarf Trees

Averaging about 15 feet tall and wide, many ornamental or dwarf tree varieties can handle tiny spaces. Crowd-pleasers like dogwoods, camellias, crepe myrtle, and crabapples offer both flowers and foliage too.

RELATED: The 9 Best Trees for Small Yards

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AMAZON BEST SELLER

Mkono

Mid Century Plant Stands

Now 14% off

$25 AT AMAZON

Amazon shoppers are obsessed with this cute wooden plant stand that can fit just about anywhere. Consider your yard officially Instagrammable. (Note: The plant and pot is not included. )

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Habit + Form Rectangle Trough

$48 AT TERRAIN

If your outdoor dining spot could use a little green, try adding one of these long planters to the table. The cold-rolled steel can stand up to the elements, and succulents will adapt to even the shallowest containers.

30 space-savvy ways to max a tiny garden |

(Image credit: Future / Polly Wreford)

Small garden ideas have lots of advantages – the main one being they're wonderfully low-maintenance. 

Small gardens, city terraces, balconies and even unloved corners can all make enticing outdoor spaces with a little care and attention. Visual tricks, good lighting, interesting planting and comfortable seating will play to the strengths of the most awkward or compact of gardens. 

Whether you're looking for garden ideas to create an impressive balcony garden, want to introduce some garden furniture to your patio or love to be surrounded by greenery, you'll find lots of inspiration for your small outdoor space below.

Small garden ideas – 30 compact spaces big on style

Even the smallest outdoor space can become a beautifully designed garden. The key is to keep things simple and fuss-free. 

Limit landscaping materials, such as paving and decking, to no more than a couple of styles and select a pared-down color palette. Use the concept of the ‘slow reveal’, too. If you can’t see all your garden at once, it creates a sense of space as you’re not sure what lies around a corner. A secluded seating spot behind a large shrub, for example, gives the sense of a ‘journey’ through the garden. This works in even the smallest of spaces. 

Choose the right plant for the right place, so check how sunny or shady your garden is first. Then take advantage of vertical growing options to make more space for plants. A combination of structural evergreens and seasonal planting works well.

Below we share our favorite small garden ideas, as chosen by the experts.

1. Plan the layout to perfection

(Image credit: garden Club London / Joanna Kossak)

'Plan the location of seating and lounging areas before landscaping a small garden,' advises Rachel Crow, Homes & Gardens' Gardens Editor. 'Set these back so that they are not protruding on to walkways and terraces.

'Understand, too, the movement of the sun and shade in your small garden and position seating accordingly.'

2. Pick a one-color scheme

(Image credit: Sue Townsend)

'Though it's wonderful to plant a wide range of flowers in a small garden, a one-color planting scheme can work wonders at making a tiny space feel sleekly designed, less chaotic and calmer,' says Lucy Searle, Editor in Chief of Homes & Gardens. 

'Just as we tend to keep small rooms inside our homes minimally furnished and to a limited color scheme if we want them to feel larger, we can apply this to our small garden ideas to enhance them.'

3. Use repetition to your advantage

(Image credit: Leigh Clapp)

Repetition is used in interior design to make rooms feel well-designed, balanced and cohesive, and this is a trick that can be used, just like the one-color scheme, to enhance small gardens.

'Why does repetition work in design?' asks Jennifer Ebert Homes & Gardens' Digital Editor. 'It's pleasing to the eye and therefore a wonderful way to create a smart-looking space that in no way jars. Repetition in small gardens can be created with flower colors, plant varieties or simply the choice of furniture.'

4. Devote attention to an outdoor living space

(Image credit: Sandtex)

More than in a large garden, attention should be given to outdoor living room ideas. It may be that you have little room for both planting and seating, so seating, surrounded by space-savvy container planting or borders is a real must. Plus, since your small garden is going to be very visible from indoors, unlike a large garden, which can rely on long-reaching views, it really is vital to get this space just right.

'Choose simple, low-lying furniture that fits with the lines and style of the landscaping,' advises Rachel Crow. 'Dress with cushions that complement the surrounding flowers and greenery. '

5. Steal elements of cottage garden style

(Image credit: Clive Nichols)

Cottage garden ideas were designed for small gardens, with cottage garden plants characterized by their bright exuberance and the juxtaposition of vegetables, fruit and flowers in borders.

'Flower bed ideas in cottage garden style will bring plenty of interest to small gardens,' says Melanie Griffiths, Editor of Period Living magazine, and one of Homes & Gardens' gardening experts. 'But you can steal other cottage garden tropes, such as arbors, to bring vertical interest. This is a great way to make small gardens pack a punch.'

6. Turn a small garden into a leisure zone

(Image credit: Kate Anne Designs / Jeffrey Brian Riemer)

What is the most important element that you can design into your small garden? Unsurprisingly the answer is that it depends what you want to get from your garden and how you will use it. 

So, if pool ideas have seemed out of reach for your tiny space, have a rethink about how you could create the perfect pool area, or seating area or dining area (or all three) while still making your space feel green. Here, it is achieved by privacy hedges, which provide evergreen color, planting between pavers and container gardening ideas.

7. Use trellis to help you borrow a view

(Image credit: Future / Polly Wreford)

Trellis ideas are wonderful for small gardens because they allow you to put up a barrier without it feeling solid, looming or limited. Not only do they let you see a beautiful view beyond your small garden, they also can be used to disguise unsightly features, such as a compost heap, without making the garden feel smaller.

8. Divide a small garden into rooms

(Image credit: Benjamin Moore)

Dividing even a small garden into defined 'rooms' can make it feel larger. The key to doing this isn't with obviously visible barriers – different flooring materials from space to space or overhead treatments can create zones. You can create the latter with draped climbers or look to attractive pergola ideas that can create neat-looking shade and privacy solutions, too.

'Use living walls and decorative filigree screens to create shelter and enhance privacy,' says Homes & Gardens' Gardens Expert Rachel Crow.

1. Zone a small garden with decking

(Image credit: Annaick Guitteny/Future Publishing Ltd)

Decking does more than provide a space for sitting, drinking and dining — it can also help divide up a small garden into zones, helping the space feel curated, functional and possibly even a little bit bigger. 

In the small garden with decking above, the decking weaves a path through plant bedding, creating multiple terraces within a compact space. 

2. Add color with pretty paintwork

(Image credit: Tim Young/Future Publishing Ltd)

If you’re looking for an aesthetic shake up that doesn’t break the bank, grab yourself a pot of outdoor paint. Giving unloved woodwork a few coats is one of the most cost-effective ways to make a big impact within your small backyard ideas, turning that all-too-close back fence or shed into a feature backdrop.  

Lighter colors can make a pokey garden feel lighter and brighter, while going bold will make a serious statement. 

3. Make space for a rock garden

(Image credit: Annaick Guitteny/Future Publishing Ltd)

Rockeries aren’t the most contemporary of water feature ideas, but their scalability makes them among the easiest to squeeze into smaller spaces. 

A small rock garden idea – particularly if partially hidden among whimsical planting – can add a sense of wonder to the garden, as well as the relaxing ambient soundtrack of rippling water. 

4. Dedicate a flower bed to edibles

(Image credit: Annaick Guitteny Photography)

Keen cooks, get yourself a vegetable patch. You don’t need a rolling kitchen garden to grow your own food, just an area of bedding dedicated to edible delights. 

Great small vegetable garden ideas include chillies, runner beans and tomatoes because they all offer high yields in a small space. If you’re really short on square footage, potted herbs can be stacked up on outdoor shelving.  

And if you encounter problems with plant growth, it may be worth knowing how to add calcium to soil, as this simple method (often involving cracked eggs) can ensure your small garden ideas continue to grow healthy and strong. Calcium encourages strong cell walls that ensure the plant grows upright while making your plants less prone to diseases and pests. And this is particularly important in terms of small vegetable gardens and flower beds. 

5. No grass, no problem

(Image credit: Brent Darby/Future Publishing Ltd)

Swapping turf for a patio doesn’t mean you need to ditch green for grey. Making your garden patio-first is a low maintenance life-saver, meaning you can focus on bringing a wider array of greenery into the space. 

Here, easily cared-for paving slabs are lifted with raised bedding and climbers weaving across a trellis. 

6. Keep it simple in a small garden

(Image credit: Future / Spike Powell)

Don’t get too carried away when planning a small garden. A carefully chosen palette of materials and plants is often the most satisfying. 

However, this doesn’t mean you can’t be adventurous and experimental, just be mindful that trying to squeeze everything into a compact space will make it cluttered and decrease usability.

7. Plant smart in tiny spaces

(Image credit: Future / Colin Poole)

The choice of planting is essential in smaller gardens. Use plants that won’t overcrowd the space. 

However, you also need to ensure you are not always looking at fencing or boundary walls as somewhere to plant. A really useful plant is the evergreen climber Trachelospermum Jasminoides, commonly known as star jasmine. It will offer year-round interest with an abundance of white flower from mid to late summer.

8. Pot up in a small garden 

(Image credit: Future / Paul Raeside)

Try large pots and planters in a compact garden. The bigger they are, the better their impact will be as this will give your plants room to thrive and you’ll have less watering to do. Big statement pots give you a real focal point and that sense of lush greenery en masse. Use matching materials for the containers, or at least materials and colours that complement each other.

Using plants in pots provides additional flexibility in smaller gardens. They come into their own in balcony gardens or if looking for courtyard garden ideas where there is no earth to plant beds in. 

You are able to position the pots around your dining terrace and relocate them easily whenever you need to, as well as vary the planting from season to season.

9. Consistency is key

(Image credit: Future / Emme Lee)

Continuity of approach from the inside out will help make the garden feel part of your home. 

This can range from paint colors and materials to simply using plants whose flower color complements the interior. 

Be mindful that although some paving materials can be used both internally and externally, the stone outside will tend to weather over time.

10. Create interest with a water feature

(Image credit: Future / Colin Poole)

Introduce focal points, which can include sculpture or water features, specimen trees and even an outdoor fireplace. 

Correct positioning is important. Some will be most successful as the design centrepiece while others are better tucked away within planting so that you aren’t fully aware of them until you enter the garden.

11. Light right 

(Image credit: Future / Emma Lee)

Dan Bowyer from Fisher Tomlin & Bowyer explains how clever outdoor lighting ideas can transform small spaces: 'Lighting specific areas and focal points will create interest and provide a backdrop to the house all year round, even at times when you are not in the garden.'

'It is important to not light the whole space, areas of darkness are essential to the success of a garden lighting scheme,' he advises.

12. Create a shady corner

(Image credit: Future / Mark Bolton )

Think about a shaded spot as a multisensory experience of sight, sound and scent.  

Trees provide excellent coverage without blocking too much sun, and can be trimmed back to suit your needs.

The best trees for a small garden include bay trees (Laurus nobilis), Euonymus Japanese Maple (Acer Palmatum) and the Magnolia Christmas Berry (Photinia ‘Little Red Robin’).

13. Go underground

(Image credit: Future / Darren Chung)

Transform an overlooked or exposed garden space. Sunken gardens make great retreats and are especially useful in urban plots where boundary fences may cast unwanted shade. 

Lowering a terrace by just 45cm makes it easier to create a greater sense of privacy with planting or awnings; if you want to go lower, ask a landscape architect to check the water table level and advise on drainage. In a sloping garden, carve out terraces and create an outdoor room on the lowest level.

14. Instil good housekeeping

(Image credit: Future / Lizzie Orme)

It may not sound the most exciting, but getting on top of tasks such as the cleaning and tidying of pots, sheds and greenhouses is the perfect way to ensure that your small garden is clutter-free.  

Not only will this allow you to make the most of even the smallest of areas but a tidy space can also make a small garden look bigger.

If space allows, why not invest in a potting shed? Take a look at these shed ideas for more advice.

15. Use vertical space in a small garden

(Image credit: Future / James Merrell)

If floor space is at a premium, plant vertically instead. One of the most sought after looks this year – living walls are taking planting to a whole new level. 

To create these vertical gardens, plants are rooted into a structure which is then  attached to an interior, exterior or freestanding wall. Systems can range from  something as simple as plant pots hung on a vertical wall, or highly sophisticated  modular, hydroponic panels where all the water and nutrient requirements of the  plants are precision delivered and monitored electronically.

16. Opt for low-level furniture 

(Image credit: Future / Jan Baldwin)

It is hugely important to get the scale just right in a compact area. Look out how your furniture pieces relate to each other and the surrounding space. 

A neat garden sofa and armless – or single arm – chairs are good options for a small garden or courtyard where space is limited. 

17. Build an office at the end of your small garden

(Image credit: Future / Paul Raeside)

What better way is there to start your working day than a relaxed walk to the end of your garden? You don't need to have a large garden to build one of these, as in the picture above, but if you're looking for long garden ideas then this could be a great addition to the bottom of your garden - as it will be a nice distance away from the main house. 

You can hire a builder to create a simple studio, much like the one shown above, for as little as $7,000-$10,000.

Building an extra room with a view of the garden is now a growing trend. With the current vogue for open-plan, multi-purpose family rooms that combine a mix of kitchen, dining and living spaces, garden rooms and orangeries fit the bill perfectly.  

18. Enjoy small-scale topiary

(Image credit: Future / Mark Bolton)

Often used on a grand and formal scale, try topiary forms in short-on-space areas to dramatic effect. 

In this tiny garden, topiary box has been cut into balls –in close proximity – to create a chess board feel.

19. Play with scale in a petite garden

(Image credit: Greencube)

Play with scale by using large plants in a small space, choosing green plants that create harmony and texture rather than a riot of color. Try acers and tree ferns as well as perennials and ornamental grasses. This garden was designed by Greencube.

20. Plant around pavers

(Image credit: Alice Ferguson)

Planting around and within the paving and decking in this narrow space, designed by Alice Ferguson, softens the hard landscaping. Strong vertical features, including climbers, draw the eye up.

21. Let your planting sing out

(Image credit: The Florence Nightingale Gardens / RHS / Neil Hepworth)

‘Every garden, no matter how small, can be turned into an asset,’ says John Wyer of Bowles & Wyer, who constructed the medal-winning Florence Nightingale Garden for Chelsea 2021. ‘In a smaller space, every millimetre counts. The garden needs to be practical in terms of how you want to use it, but also think about how it will look from adjacent windows as well as from within the garden itself.’ 

He also advises against trying to squeeze in too many ideas. Instead, take bold decisions using a ‘less is more’ approach. ‘Decide on a color scheme and stick to it and you’ll naturally have a more cohesive and impactful garden design,’ he says.

Here, small trees, a simple color palette and soft textured planting in The Florence Nightingale Garden, Chelsea 2021, designed by Bowles & Wyer take center stage.

22. Consider a view

(Image credit: Bowles & Wyer)

Either exploit a borrowed view beyond the garden boundary or create a strong vista within the space,’ says Artisan Landscapes’ Alice Ferguson. ‘In courtyards, terraces and balconies, such as this one by Bowles & Wyer , the garden and house work more than ever as one entity. Create a view from the house to the garden that’s inviting and evokes curiosity. Layers of planting with height can transform a small space into a green haven,’ says Alice. 

How can I get the most out of my small garden?

In smaller or enclosed spaces, it’s important to draw the eye through simple, enticing design.

Many courtyard or urban gardens can be overlooked. Try obscuring any unwelcome views with considered planting that adds some height but not too much depth so as to avoid eating into a compact square footage. 

Long lasting plants such as Verbena Bonariensis add height and can be contained in small areas with flowers lasting from May through to the winter. Often a combination of hard landscaping, such as stone and brick, with bold, architectural planting, works best.

A terrace planted with a pair of large olive trees and a vibrant herb bed for example, will make more impact than a mass of overplanting. If your garden looks out onto a side return, consider painting the wall white to reflect the light and increase a sense of space.  

Another trick is to mix hard materials. Stone paving interspersed with narrow pebbled strips can look effective, as can juxtaposing angles, such as contrasting sleek decking with paved travertine.

Length will draw the eye, so try to site a standout plant, sculpture or small water feature towards the end of your space. Consider incorporating fixed seating, such as a banquette seating running along an external wall, to instantly increase the useable space, making sure the spot receives sunshine.

How do you make a small garden look nice?

Use planting to soften hard features. In smaller spaces, a sculpted, streamlined look can work best, such as stone paved terraces, or other materials, whether brick or paint, that that reference the property, combining inside with outside. But counteracting these hard materials with a mixture of clipped and more whimsical planting will soften the edges and add texture and interest. Make sure you know where the sun rises and sets in your garden so that you can plant accordingly.  

Balconies and roof gardens can benefit from simple planting, too. Prioritise space for sitting or dining and avoid overcrowding with too many varying pot shapes and sizes – aim instead for one or two statement pieces, such as a pair of bay trees or a sumptuous window box of favorite blooms, be they geraniums, hydrangeas, or overflowing campanulas. Finally, invest in some simple but effective lighting for small spaces to enhance appeal and increase the sense of space.

'Small gardens look great with just a few key elements that link the whole space together,' says ,' says Sean Butler, Cube 1994 Ltd . 'This may be through the use of repeating an accent color or a plant. Sometimes I choose a cushion fabric and then repeat its color through the planting. Clipped box can be used as an all year structural plant, while Zantedeschia thrive in city gardens in small amounts of shade and add a lush feel to the garden.'

Jennifer is the Digital Editor at Homes & Gardens. Having worked in the interiors industry for a number of years, spanning many publications, she now hones her digital prowess on the 'best interiors website' in the world. Multi-skilled, Jennifer has worked in PR and marketing, and the occasional dabble in the social media, commercial and e-commerce space. Over the years, she has written about every area of the home, from compiling design houses from some of the best interior designers in the world to sourcing celebrity homes, reviewing appliances and even the odd news story or two.

With contributions from

• Ailis BrennanContributing Editor

Turn your balcony into a home garden

Many residents of apartment buildings dream of having their own garden. If you have a balcony, making your dream come true is easy. It is enough to purchase some accessories for the balcony, and you will have a garden in which there will be everything you need. To create a balcony garden, you need space, sunlight and your free time.

You can create a cozy, practical garden on your balcony, the maintenance of which will not require much effort, and most importantly, healthy fruits, vegetables and herbs will grow in your garden. First of all, it is necessary to think over the organization of the space on the balcony, provide devices for creating a suitable microclimate, and also choose plants that are suitable for growing on the balcony.

Check which side of the world the windows on the terrace or balcony face. Is the terrace or balcony in the shade or flooded with sunlight? A sun-drenched balcony is suitable for growing any type of plant, while the shaded area is recommended for growing greens such as chicory, lettuce, spinach and arugula so as not to “burn” these plants. In order to harvest a good crop of greens, make sure that the plants have enough space in the boxes. If possible, organize multi-level planting of greenery by analogy with flower and decorative plantings on the balcony.

Growing in flower pots and other practical tips
If you want to grow plants in flower pots, choose varieties that have a moderate growth rate, short roots and small fruits. Spicy herbs are great for growing in flower pots and are popular for cooking. The choice of herbs is very large: basil, parsley, rosemary, thyme, oregano, marjoram, mint, lemon balm, chives. Small-fruited vegetables can also be grown in flower pots, such as cherry tomatoes, peppers, small-headed salad greens, onions, garlic and medium-sized carrots, bush cucumbers, and zucchini.

Wooden crates, for example for wine, which are thrown away one way or another, can be planted with herbs and leafy vegetables. If you want to save yourself and not push yourself too hard while gardening on your balcony, place the crates on a wooden table of a suitable height. This is more convenient than if the boxes were on the floor. You can also increase the space for plants to grow - use wooden boxes to organize a vertical garden on the balcony. It takes quite a bit of skill to create vertical plantings on a ladder: put the ladder against the wall - this way you save space and can grow the most necessary vegetables on a small balcony.

You can also give a second life to household items and use them to grow plants. Glass jars of jam and cucumbers can be used as a wall-mounted mini-greenhouse - this option is very practical and pleasing to the eye. Instead of glass jars, you can use cans, glass bottle bottoms, old pots and even cups.

Of course, one of the most inexpensive and suitable options for "balcony gardening" is to hang an old shoe organizer on the wall. The pockets are just the right size for growing parsley, arugula, thyme, and other herbs.

If you have a very small balcony, use old plastic pipes: cut off the top of the pipe and plant inside the plants.

Please note
Choose the right container for growing the vegetables you need. Large and deep pots are designed for growing root crops and fast-growing vegetables; small pots are suitable for low plants. Do not forget that there should be holes at the bottom of the pot to remove moisture, otherwise the roots of the plant will rot.

Plastic pots are durable and frost-resistant, retain moisture well. Clay pots are beautiful, made of natural material, but the walls of clay pots absorb water, respectively, the soil in the pot dries out faster and the plants need to be watered more often.

Sprinkle the seeds around the rim of the pot as the plants will begin to droop and cover the rim of the pot as they grow. Please note: plant in a container (regardless of type) only those greens and vegetables that require watering at the same frequency.

Enjoy gardening!

Do-it-yourself mini garden in a pot - compositions of cacti and succulents

Friends, in this article we will talk about a garden in a pot. Sometimes it happens that a person would be happy to have indoor flowers, but by the nature of his activity he often leaves and is afraid that without him they will dry out. Often there are very busy people who, when asked why they will not grow indoor flowers, answer - and who will take care of them?

As if specifically for these people, there is a kind of indoor plants that are not very demanding for care, transplanting or watering - this is cacti and succulents . It is about such a mini garden in a pot that I want to talk about, and it doesn’t matter that it looks small enough - you can talk about it for a long time.

Beautiful arrangements of cacti and succulents can form the basis of your mini potted garden, they will not dry out during your long absence and will please you when you return alive and healthy.

The word "succulent" means "juice" in Latin. They are called so because in their leaves and stems they accumulate moisture in the form of juice, and it is this property that allows them to survive in dry desert conditions.

Some people think that growing cacti and succulents is boring, there is even an opinion that these are “ugly plants”. I would like to dispel this opinion by imagining how you can decorate your interior with them.

The sight of a lone cactus in a nondescript pot can really make anyone feel sad. But what if you try to create a composition from them?

A composition of these plants in a wide bowl or any other container, including an aquarium, can become what is called the "highlight" of the interior.

Using decorative pebbles, dusting powder, colored sand, glass aquarium decor - all this will decorate your composition of living plants and fill it with color and attractiveness.

Mini garden in a pot - which plants to choose

Mini garden in a bowl will greatly decorate your home flower ensemble. The composition in a bowl has its own canons. So that all plants are harmoniously combined, let's look at the main points.

Potted Garden - Foreground

First, let's choose a tall plant that sets the tone for the entire composition. It's the easiest to choose. Palms, ficuses, cordilinas, philodendrons and monstera can be used.

Medium shot

Now let's choose a medium shot plant. Bright, colorful plants are suitable here. They are also called ornamental. This is both yellow scindapsus, and variegated ivy, variegated codiaum, begonia, coleus.

Creepers can also be a recommended element of a mini garden in a pot, they can be chosen from dwarf ficuses or zebrins, and ivy can also be used as a creeper.

Miniature garden needs very little space! But it will fit both an impromptu pond and a mini-landscape with elves.

And now let's pay a little attention to succulents

Miniature succulent gardens are the most common. This is understandable. After all, they require much less care compared to leafy mini gardens in bowls. Succulents in relation to watering are generally not extremely demanding, they are recommended to be watered no more than twice a month.

Tree-like succulents, such as pachyphytum and crassula , are placed either in the background or in the center of the future composition. For this, haworthia, echeveria, stonecrop, faucaria are suitable. You can also include cacti in the composition. For lovers of these prickly creatures, you can generally create mini cactus gardens in a bowl.

How to transplant a cactus or succulent?

Transplanting should be kept clean - wash pots, drains and pebbles should also be washed and scalded with boiling water. Sand preferably calcined.

It is very important to know - when transplanting, you should not accidentally cover the root neck of a succulent or cactus with soil, this can slow down its development.

Before planting, the cactus must be taken out of the pot , cleaned of damaged roots and dried its root system for 3-4 days. Carefully inspect the root system for pests - in case of any suspicion, the roots should be treated with an insecticidal agent.

The composition is as follows: requires leaf humus (about half of the total volume), the same amount of sand and a little expanded clay and charcoal (about 10%). If you decide to buy a substrate in the store, then it is still worth improving it by adding some coarse sand and charcoal.

Which pots are suitable for cacti

The most important rule is what size of roots you need. This rule applies to both the diameter of the pot and its depth.

Clay is by far the best material. It partially absorbs moisture and then releases it gradually, just what you need for undemanding succulents.

Plastic pots can also be used for young cacti, but they are not recommended for long-term use.

The shape of the cactus pot is preferably spherical, but classic bucket-type pots are quite acceptable. Be sure to have a hole in the bottom of the pot for drainage. Water should not stagnate at the bottom. The earth must be poured already on a layer of expanded clay in order to guarantee the separation of water from the roots. It's better for cacti to be underdrinking than overdrinking.

Sequence of actions during planting

At the bottom of the pot we lay drainage - expanded clay, coarse sand, no more than 25% of the volume of the bowl.

When planting in an aquarium or a transparent container, a decorative layer of small pebbles, colored sand, etc. can be made next.

After that, we pour dry substrate and plant plants in it (without watering), carefully distributing the root system and not covering the root collar with soil (this is important!).

At the end, you can sprinkle decorative powder and decorate the garden with large stones, shells, miniature figures.

The first 3-4 days this garden should not be watered , after this time it can be watered from the tray.

Garden in a pot - Laws of style

When creating a composition of cacti, you need to follow the laws of harmony, it is better to combine plants of different sizes and textures in one bowl . When adding pebbles, sand, shells to the composition, one must not forget that living plants should become the center of the composition. And the rest should serve as a background for them.

You can add some nice detail to the composition - ceramic figurine or wooden netsuke - it depends only on your individuality and imagination.

A beautiful idea for decorating a room with living plants is to plant a composition of succulents in a small vase. They are unpretentious, undemanding to watering, but they love direct sunlight.

Ideas for DIY potted garden compositions

To get inspired, here is a selection of photos of small arrangements and entire "gardens" of cacti.

A somewhat ambiguous composition, the cactus grower turned out to be a joker!

A real work of art - a garden in a ceramic pot.

By the way, you can put bowls in the pot rack and thus decorate the room with succulents.

Seeing a blooming cactus is a rarity.

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