5 Best Small Space Gardening Ideas

Looking for creative ways to garden in small spaces? Look no further! These five unique garden ideas will help you make the most of your outdoor spaces.

I love to garden. It wasn’t something I grew up doing, but I was hooked when I graduated from college and rented my first house with a yard. The first things I planted were a cherry tomato plant and a six-pack of zinnias. I’ve loved digging in the dirt ever since. Every home I’ve lived in has had a garden, each one growing a little bigger as I experimented and learned along the way.

The image above is from a section of our vegetable and cutting garden at StoneGable. I also enjoyed container gardening while living there, but it wasn’t until we moved to the Tanglewood House that I truly discovered the magic, beauty, and bountiful harvest that comes with container gardening. At first, it was out of necessity—learning to grow things in limited space. But before long, I fell in love with the art of it!

Now is the time to consider adding beauty to your outdoor spaces with flowers, herbs, and plants. Even if you have limited space around your home and yard, you can still enjoy digging in the dirt and enjoying the fruits of your labor. Here are five colorful and unique small garden ideas that will help you make the most of your outdoor spaces.

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Container Gardens

Container gardening is my favorite way to garden! It’s amazing how many annuals, perennials, herbs, and even vegetables you can grow in pots. If you have a small outdoor space or want something easy to manage, container gardening is perfect. Planters are ideal for low-maintenance gardeners and anyone looking for small space garden ideas that really work.

Advantages Of Container Gardening

Container gardens let you grow plants where traditional gardens won’t work. Think balconies, patios, porches, or tucked next to a sunny garage. Even the smallest deck can become a perfect small garden with a few thoughtfully placed pots. Choosing the correct container is important because it affects how your plants grow and thrive. The size, material, and how well it drains all matter when creating a healthy home for plant roots.

Other reasons to love container gardening are…

• Container gardens significantly reduce the likelihood of weed growth.
• Container gardening is suitable for people with limited mobility, as it can be done at waist height. It’s so much better for our knees.
• Using self-watering containers (I LOVE these) makes water much easier and keeps the soil hydrated.
• Containers add visual interest to outdoor spaces.
• These self-contained gardens can be moved to areas where they will thrive and add to the beauty to our outdoor spaces.
• The flowers and herbs in a container garden can be cut and brought inside for arrangements and culinary purposes.

Choose The Right Container

A container that’s too small can crowd roots and stunt growth, while one that’s too large might hold on to too much water and cause root rot. The best choice is a pot that fits your plant with just a little room to grow. You can use everything from traditional flower pots and hanging baskets to something more unique. I used a blue and white Chinese fishbowl that had been in my basement for years, and it made the prettiest container for our small patio garden.

Size

A container that’s too small can crowd roots and stunt growth, while one that’s too large might hold on to too much water and cause root rot. It’s best to choose a pot that fits your plant with just a little room to grow. You can use everything from traditional flower pots and hanging baskets to something more unique. I used a blue and white Chinese fishbowl that had been in my basement for years, and it made the prettiest container for our small patio garden.

Material

The type of material your pot is made of also matters. Terracotta is breathable and helps with air circulation, while UV-resistant plastic is lightweight and durable. Just be sure that whatever container you choose has a way for water to drain out. Those drainage holes are important! They help prevent soggy roots and keep the soil at just the right moisture level.

Now, this is a bit of “do as I say, not always as I do.” I’ll plant in just about anything! And if the container doesn’t have built-in drainage, I’ll often add empty nursery pots to the bottom to create a buffer so water can drain away from the plant’s roots. It’s an easy fix and works like a charm.

In late spring until the early frost, our patio is filled with an assortment of floral container gardens surrounding our seating area. They bring so much life and color to the space and are such a joy to care for.

Growing Vegetables In Containers

If you’ve never grown vegetables in containers, you’re in for a treat. You can grow so many delicious things in pots. Tomatoes, peppers, green beans, and even potatoes. We’ve even planted bush cucumbers in a container and added a little trellis so they could grow upward. This is one of the smartest small space garden ideas because it makes growing your own food so simple and doable.

To help you with container gardening, you might like to read The Ultimate Guide to Container Gardening. And Herb Container Gardening Guide.

Use Every Space Available In Your Garden Beds

If you have foundation beds or landscaping planted with shrubs and perennials, don’t overlook the opportunity to tuck in seasonal annuals or herbs. This is one of those small-space garden ideas that works beautifully without adding more containers or digging up new garden space. Look for open spots in your garden beds and tuck something pretty and seasonal in.

Adding plants among existing greenery creates a fuller and layered look. It also gives your landscaping fresh pops of color and keeps your garden feeling alive and intentional.

This year, we are planting red geraniums alongside our home. These showy blooms draw the eye, especially when nestled between green shrubs. The red flowers pair beautifully with the deep purple salvia growing nearby and other vibrant red and white blooms planted in pots on the patio. Together, they create a cheerful red, white, and blue palette that is perfect for summer.

When summer begins to wind down, it’s easy to swap those warm-weather blooms for fall favorites like mums, marigolds, or ornamental cabbages. These seasonal touches keep your flower beds looking fresh and welcoming well into autumn.

How To Plant Plant Hydrangeas In The Ground And In Pots, Urns, and Planters will help you plant and care for hydrangeas.

Raised Bed Gardening

Raised bed gardening is a hybrid of traditional backyard gardening and container gardening, offering the best of both worlds. Technically, raised beds are a form of container garden, just on a larger scale.

I’m a huge fan of this kind of gardening. Every morning, I love stepping out the front door to tend the raised beds. It’s one of those simple pleasures that’s good for the soul. And I’m usually rewarded with a handful of flowers, herbs, and edibles to bring back into the kitchen.

Just below is an image of the raised beds and container gardens at the end of our driveway (image from last summer). They’re overflowing with herbs and blooms, and they’re one of my favorite small-space garden ideas for combining beauty and functionality in a small garden space.

Advantages Of Raised Bed Gardening

One of the best things about raised beds is that they allow you to grow many of the same plants you’d put in containers, just in greater quantities. Many perennials thrive in raised beds and will come back year after year with a bit of care.

At our StoneGable home, I planted pink hydrangeas in the raised beds next to the porch, and they returned each spring, more beautiful than the year before. These perennials need the same things as potted plants to thrive: good soil, sunlight, regular watering, and a little deadheading now and then.

Raised beds benefit from a good layer of mulch, which helps hold in moisture and keep weeds at bay. In the winter, that mulch acts as a blanket to protect the roots of perennials.

Planting Vegetables And Perennials In Raised Beds

Vegetables are just as easy to grow in raised beds as flowers. Choose varieties that grow upright or don’t sprawl too much to maximize your space. Raised beds also make gardening easier on the body. Working at a comfortable, almost waist-high height saves your knees and back, which I appreciate more yearly.

If you’re short on space but want a bigger yield, this is one of the most practical small-space garden ideas to consider.

Embrace the benefits of a raised garden bed, as it optimizes your growing space while minimizing your effort.

Window Box Gardening

Window box gardening is another wonderful way to add greenery and color to your small space while also making your home feel more charming and inviting. Whether mounted on the exterior of your home or placed on an indoor windowsill, window boxes bring plants right up to eye level where you can enjoy them every day.

Advantages Of Window Boxes

Window boxes are a smart solution when space is limited, but you still want to enjoy growing flowers, herbs, or even a few vegetables. One of their biggest advantages is that they help you make the most of vertical space, which is ideal for balconies, small patios, or even fences.

Here are just a few more reasons to love window boxes:

• They add instant charm and curb appeal to your home.
• You can customize them to match the style of your home with different plant combinations and colors.
• They’re perfect for herbs, salad greens, and small vegetables—just steps away from your kitchen.
• You can change the plants out with the seasons.
• They’re easy to install and simple to maintain.

Where To Install Window Boxes

One of my favorite spots for a window box is right outside the kitchen window. I’ve filled ours with mint, basil, thyme, and a bit of leaf lettuce. They not only look pretty, but are practical too. I can pinch off a few herbs while I’m cooking or add a sprig to a little bouquet. They create a small but beautiful focal point outside the window.

Another great spot for window boxes is along the railing of a deck. We did this at our Friends Lane home, and they softened the hard edges and helped the deck feel more connected to the garden. The blooms spill over the edges, creating a gentle and colorful transition between the patio, yard, and surrounding landscape.

We also used window boxes as long planters on the sitting wall of our patio, here at the Tanglewood House. We chose them because they were lower in height than many of the other long planters we had found, and they worked perfectly.

Whether you’re adding a pop of seasonal color, growing your own kitchen herbs, or just looking for a cheerful way to decorate a window or wall, window boxes are a favorite for small-space gardening.

Whether you want to add a touch of color to your home, grow your own herbs, or simply enjoy the beauty of plants, window boxes offer lots of benefits that make them a delightful and savvy addition to any home.

Hanging Basket Gardening

Hanging baskets are beautiful and compact vertical container gardens that add color, texture, and charm to any outdoor space. With so many plant options to choose from, it’s easy to match your baskets to your color palette and decorating style. These small but mighty gardens also draw the eye upward, adding vertical interest and helping to create a layered landscape, even in a tiny space.

Advantages Of Hanging Baskets

Hanging baskets are one of the smartest small space garden ideas because they let you grow beautiful plants without taking up valuable ground space. They’re perfect for balconies, porches, decks, and patios, or anywhere with a sturdy place to hang them.

Here are just a few of the reasons to love them:

• They add dimension and a soft, overflowing look that brings life to your vertical space.
• When hanging, they’re less likely to be bothered by pests or affected by soil-related issues.
• They can be hung from hooks, shepherd’s crooks, arbors, trellises, pergolas, or even porch ceilings, giving you so many options for placement.
• They’re a great way to keep delicate plants out of reach of pets or small children.
• Like all container gardens, they’re easy to care for and let you experiment with color and texture in a small space.

I love putting together my own hanging baskets using interesting containers. The one shown below was made in a vintage egg basket. I filled it with tall plants in the center, spreading plants to fill in the middle, and plants, like vines, to spill over the edges of the basket for interest. Just like other container gardens, I always use thrillers, fillers, and spillers in my hanging baskets!

This year, we have hanging baskets with strawberry plants in them! You can personalize hanging baskets with your favorite flowers, herbs, or even veggies!

Easy Care Tips

Follow these tried-and-true tips and your small space gardens will thrive all season long.

• Choose plants that grow well in your garden zone. Knowing your USDA planting zone will help you pick flowers, herbs, and vegetables that will thrive in your specific climate.
• Pay attention to sunlight needs. Some plants love full sun, while others prefer some afternoon shade. Match your plant’s light needs with the area where you’re planting them.
• Make sure containers have proper drainage. Whether you’re planting in a pot, window box, or hanging basket, drainage holes are a must. They help prevent soggy roots and keep plants healthy.
• Deadhead and trim regularly. During the growing season, remove spent flowers and trim off any dead or spindly stems to keep your plants looking their best.
• Use good-quality potting soil. I like to use a mix that includes slow-release fertilizer—it gives plants a great start and saves time in the long run.
• Fertilize as needed. Container plants can’t pull nutrients from the ground, so they often need a little boost during the season.
• Water consistently. Most container plants need regular watering, especially in the heat of summer. But don’t overdo it—too much water can cause root rot. Be sure the soil feels moist but not soggy.

These small space garden ideas allow you to turn even the tiniest areas into lush, productive, and beautiful gardens. Embrace your space, get a little creative, and plant what brings you joy.

Choosing Plants For Small Gardens

When you’re working with a smaller garden, choosing the right plants makes all the difference. But that doesn’t mean you need to limit yourself to tiny plants. Regular-sized flowers, herbs, and vegetables can grow beautifully in small gardens if they have the room and care they need. The key is giving each plant enough space to grow and choosing the right container or garden spot.

That said, many small-space gardeners love growing compact or dwarf varieties because they’re designed to thrive in tighter spaces. We plant bush-style vegetables like beans, zucchini, and cucumbers in containers because they take up less room and still produce well. We companion plant them with herbs like basil, thyme, mint, and chives as they keep the bugs away. The image above was our container kitchen garden with pots, barrels, and even vintage laundry tubs filled with everything from flowers to vegetables and herbs of all sizes.

If you’re planting flowers, look for varieties that bloom over a long season and grow well in containers. Petunias, geraniums, marigolds, verbena, and snap dragons are all excellent choices. Don’t forget to mix in some trailing plants like sweet potato vine or creeping jenny to spill over the sides and soften your containers or raised beds.

These small and manageable vegetables are perfect for turning a porch, patio, or sunny balcony into a productive little vegetable garden.

Small Vegetables Perfect For Small Spaces

• Cherry Tomatoes – Look for varieties like ‘Tiny Tim’ or ‘Patio Princess’
• Bush Beans – Compact and easy, and they don’t need a trellis
• Lettuce – Loose-leaf types are great for shallow containers
• Radishes – Quick to grow and fun to harvest
• Baby Carrots – Choose varieties like ‘Little Finger’ that stay small
• Spinach – Thrives in cooler weather and smaller pots
• Peppers – Especially mini bell or compact chili pepper types
• Green Onions (Scallions) – Easy to grow in tight spaces
• Herbs – Basil, parsley, chives, cilantro, thyme, and mint
• Bush Zucchini – Look for container-friendly varieties like ‘Raven’
• Cucumbers (Bush Types) – Try ‘Spacemaster’ or ‘Bush Champion’
• Sugar Snap or Snow Peas – Use a small trellis if needed
• Baby Eggplants – Dwarf varieties like ‘Fairy Tale’ work well in pots
• Beets – These grow nicely in containers with moderate depth

These small and manageable vegetables are perfect for turning a porch, patio, or sunny balcony into a productive little garden.

Common Mistakes

A small space garden is a joy to plant, maintain, and harvest! It can be just as beautiful and productive as a larger one, but there are a few common missteps that can get in the way of success. Here are some to watch out for:

• Overcrowding plants—It is tempting to pack in as many plants as possible, but too many in one container can lead to poor airflow and struggling plants. I’ve learned this one the hard way.
• Choosing the wrong plants for the space – Some plants just need more room than a small garden can offer. Be sure to check mature plant size before planting.
• Not matching light requirements—All plants need the right amount of sunlight. Make sure the plants you choose will thrive in your space’s light conditions.
• Using containers without drainage – Good drainage is key. Without it, water can pool at the bottom of the pot and cause root rot.
• Letting containers dry out too much—Small containers, especially, can dry out quickly in warm weather. Check them daily and water them consistently.
• Skipping fertilizer– Plants in containers rely on the nutrients in the soil you give them. A bit of fertilizer now and then keeps them healthy and blooming.

Avoiding these easy-to-make mistakes will help you grow a thriving, beautiful small garden that adds charm and life to your home.

A small garden doesn’t mean a small harvest or limited beauty. It just means being thoughtful with your plant choices and making the most of the space you have. Now is the time to start planting and enjoy the beauty that your small garden can bring to your home.

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