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Maximizing Small Garden Spaces

Original photographs and presentation by Susan Bell

Maximizing Small Garden SpacesSMALL SPACES

• Townhouse

• Courtyard

• Deck

• Balcony

• Hell strip

CONTAINERS

How to plant and maintain

VERTICAL PLANTING

Using vines, verticals, espalier, artwork

Maximizing townhouse garden

Spring Bulbs

Summerflowers

Why annuals?

I want a different look

every year and it is

more fun

Driveway hell strip

Perennial herbs and sun lovers like

the heat and dryness created by

paved surfaces

No planting beds?

Utilize any sunny spot

with containers

Fall planning decides my spring color

scheme

Fall lettuce for the shady deck

Harmonize beds and pots

Hot colorpalette

Intention: Relaxation on a 7’W x 15’L Deck (in open shade)

View from inside

Use saucers, plant trolleys

or trivets so deck dries

Be careful not to drip on your

neighbors!

Seasonal outdoor decoratingwith fall gourds, pumpkins

and Easter bunnies

Indoor plants outside for summer

(they love it)

Setcreasea pallida, Purple Heart Chlorophytum comosum, Spider Plant

Veggies and herbs grown in partial shade on deck

Ready to harvest‘Red Sails’ Lettuce,

‘Bright Lights’ Swiss Chard,

Golden Oregano and Pansies

Back underdeck area planted with dwarf

Cityline ‘Vienna’Hydrangea macrophylla

for low windows

Before

Shady back yard near creek

Hosta need deer spray

Entrance alcove with containers and accessories

Fine Gardening magazine

Trellis for vertical interest

Clematis vines

Espalier and artwork also solution for tight spaces

Proverbialhomemaker.com

Principle of proportion: using the right scale

Sliding glass doors lead to courtyard, so this space

viewed from living room

Balconies Tomato Challenge

Part two – Container choices

• Terra cotta – dry out too easily, breakage

• Moss lined hayracks - dry out too easily, liner has to be replaced

• Ceramic – beautiful colors, however heavy, have to go inside in winter

• Metal - heavy and usually low volume

• Concrete – no one is going to take it off your porch

• Whiskey barrel - hard to move even before it is loaded with soil

• Fiberstone or fiberglass *

• Plastic *

• Foam *

• Self Watering *

Think “out of the box”

Movable feast

Place containers

wherever you need a burst

of color

Watering and Drainage--1-3 drainage holes

--no stones--newspaper to cover--saucers – empty often--trivet – keep deck dry --trolleys --3’ watering wand --water breaker--rain doesn’t count--don’t wet foliage

Recycling giveslocal compost

Soilless mixture with

moisture control and

timed release fertilizer

Fertilizers: critical for containers, amend beds with compost prior to planting

Read the plant labels when purchasing

NameDescriptionSun, Partial Sun or Shade?Does it like it wet or dry?How big does it get?How far apart do I plant?When does it bloom?Need fertilizer?Etc.

Examine the root structure and color, plant at same level as in

pot. Don’t compact soil, leave 1 inch space for watering

Element of change – grow or die

examine

remove diseasedgrowth

deadhead

thin/cut back

spray/pick bugs

Add flowers to draw pollinators

Beneficial insect types:pollinatorpredatorparasite

Feeding birds and providing nesting (even on a deck!) Kevin Shea

Eureka! Hayrack a pre-made nest

Grow

It

Eat

It Rosalind Creasy, Taylor’s Guide to Garden Design

Plant supports yield from single cherry to

Growing sweet potatoes

in containers

No digging!

5 gallon container with 1 slip yielded 5 pounds

by Robin Ritterhoff

Require: Cross pollinator (two varieties)Patience as they fruit on 2 year old wood

ThornlessBlackberries

Blueberries

Double duty

Maximize your space and design for what you love

Edibles * Cut flowers * Natives * Wildlife * Fragrance * Relaxation * etc.

For more information see “Container vegetable gardening” including size pots required by type of vegetable, etc.

Go to www.ohioline.osu.edu/kyg-fact/1000/1647.html