How to Make the Most of a Tiny Garden

You can make the most of your tiny garden by miniaturizing the landscaping. In a tiny garden every design element is important. Make your design elements stand out by using high quality and durable plants and accessories.

Use vines to cover walls and add height and color to areas that may otherwise overpower your mini-garden. Clematis on an artistically designed trellis can transform a flat wall into a mysterious jungle. Flowering vines soften solid structural elements without taking up much space. Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus Tricuspidata) clings and climbs and its leaves turn yellow, orange and a lovely wine red. It drops its leaves in the winter to leave a tracery of vines against the wall. Again the effect of vines against a wall in a tiny garden is to offer a softening and texturing effect without taking up much space.

Plant a single dwarf shrub in a deep narrow planter with sleek lines and a punch of color that will contrast with the plant. Use a muted red pot for a deep green shrub for instance. Consider bonsai shrubs in uniquely Japanese containers for a special effect.

To make the most of a tiny garden, make the garden appear larger than it is by placing a large mirror where it reflects the shrubs and vines. The mirror should capture any path, stepping stones or steps to make it appear that the garden goes on and on into the distance.

Attach coat hooks to the wall or fence in a pleasing pattern and hang potted plants from them. Remember that growing plants can get heavy especially after watering so make sure your wall and hooks are structurally strong enough to support maximum weight.

Ferns like shady and moist areas so if your tiny garden is challenged by lack of direct sunlight do not despair. Making the most of a tiny garden area is just a matter of finding what fits and does well in the space and specific mini-environment. Ferns are shade and water lovers and come in an astounding variety of foliage forms and colors. To make a tiny, shady garden into a fern paradise think fountains, birdbaths and mossy areas. Ferns generally do not have big root systems and are great in small containers. If you can set up a misting system for your moss and fern garden they will love you for it.

The whole secret to making the most of a tiny garden is in the miniaturization of the landscaping design. Find tiny accent pieces and plants that are happy with a small root system and combine them with vines or hanging plants for height. A well designed, tiny garden area becomes a jewel worth your every effort.