For many homeowners and renters across the UK, the average garden runs to about 12 square metres - that's roughly the size of a large bathroom. Yet a small garden doesn’t have to mean compromising on colour, wildlife or enjoyment.
With these simple tips from our team at British Garden Centres, your patio or balcony can become a blooming haven you’ll love spending time in.
Plant in pots to maximise space
If you’ve got a patio, balcony or a strip of decking with no soil in sight, container gardening is the perfect place to start. Pots are the most flexible ways to add plants to a small garden because they can be moved around, refreshed with the seasons and even taken with you if you move house.
Terracotta pots are a timeless choice that last well outside, while fibreclay pots offer a lighter alternative with a similar natural finish - perfect if you plan to move your containers around regularly.
For a more interesting display, mix different pot sizes together rather than keeping everything the same height. Grouping tall and short containers creates layers and adds depth to smaller spaces. Add some bold colour with a few 'colour-drenched' containers. Colour drenching is where you match the colour of your pot to your plant choices for a co-ordinated look.
The thriller, spiller, filler planting trick
This simple container planting technique is perfect for creating maximum impact in a small space. It's all about what plants you choose:
Thriller. A tall, eye-catching plant that creates height and drama.
Spiller. A trailing plant that tumbles over the edges.
Filler. A bushy plant that fills the gaps and creates a fuller display.
Using this trick in containers, hanging baskets and window boxes is an easy way to create a display that looks full of colour, texture and interest. Watch Eve's guide to planting summer window boxes.
Grow a vertical garden
When floor space is limited, grow upwards. Vertical gardening is one of the best small garden design ideas for adding greenery without taking up valuable floor space.
Bare walls, fences and balcony railings can all become growing spaces with the help of a trellis, plant support or climbing frame. Fragrant climbers such as jasmine, honeysuckle, clematis and climbing roses can transform a plain wall into a beautiful living feature.
Living walls and plants on shelves are another clever solution for small gardens. A display of succulents or hardy perennials can turn an empty fence into a colourful focal point while making the most of the space available.
Create a sensory space
A small garden can still be full of atmosphere. The best outdoor spaces appeal to more than just sight - adding scent, sound and texture can make your space feel like a relaxing escape.
Fragrant plants such as lavender, rosemary, thyme and jasmine are ideal for small gardens as they grow well in containers and release beautiful scents when you brush past them. Add movement with ornamental grasses or bamboo, which gently sway in the breeze, and include tactile plants such as lamb’s ear for soft, silvery foliage.
Compact, pollinator-friendly shrubs such as Buddleja ‘Little Rock Stars’ are perfect for sunny corners and will get your garden buzzing with butterflies and bees throughout the summer.
Grow your own little veg patch
You don’t need a large vegetable patch to enjoy home-grown produce. Many vegetables and herbs can be grown in containers, making them ideal for patios, balconies and smaller gardens.
Tomatoes, salad leaves, dwarf beans, cucumbers, radishes and herbs will grow happily in pots or window boxes in a sunny spot. Tomatoes are also perfect for grow bags or raised planters where space is limited.
There’s something really rewarding about cooking with ingredients you’ve grown yourself, however small the harvest. Growing your own in a small space is also a brilliant way to encourage children to get involved in gardening.
Make a small garden feel bigger
A few simple design tricks can help create the illusion of more space. Placing a mirror on a garden wall or fence reflects light and greenery, making a small garden feel bigger and brighter.
Lighting can also transform your space after dark. Solar lights, lanterns and string lights are an easy way to create a cosy atmosphere and help you enjoy your garden for longer during the summer evenings.
Plants for small gardens
When space is limited, every plant needs to work hard. It’s easy to choose plants that look beautiful in summer but leave your garden looking bare once the season changes.
Create year-round interest by combining spring bulbs, summer perennials, autumn grasses and evergreen plants. A small tree like an acer or a structural shrub can also add height, shape and interest throughout the year. For easy summer pots and planters choose plants that don't need lots of watering, such as lavender, salvia, echinacea and alpines.
Choosing the right mix of low-maintenance plants for small gardens means your outdoor space will continue to look beautiful whatever the season.
Seating for small gardens
Small gardens can sometimes become display areas rather than places to relax. Adding somewhere comfortable to sit, and a few cosy accessories, can make your outdoor space feel like an extension of your home.
A compact bistro set, folding chair or modular furniture can transform even a small patio or balcony into the perfect spot for morning coffee, evening drinks or enjoying the warm weather.
