Five Tips To Maximize Your Garden Space
Posted on 17 April 2008
“Many things grow in the garden that were never sown there.” ~Thomas Fuller
Easy Gardening For Small Spaces
Many people have shared concerns with me about lack of space in their garden or the amount of maintenance needed for a large garden. Here are some helpful tips to maximize your garden space.
- Be mindful of how much space your plants really need. Many of us tend to leave wide spaces between plants which are not necessary. (See our “how much room your plants really need?” topic for more info.)
- Companion plant to maximize space and minimize maintenance. A good companion planting plan allows you to keep weeds and pests out while making the most out of the resources companion plant groups need. (See our “Companion Plant Guide” for more info)
- Make your plant beds within reach. A general rule is to keep your beds small enough so that you can reach to the center of your bed from every angle (about a three foot radius). This is helpful because several smaller beds are actually much less intimidating than one large one and it makes it so much easier to do maintenance. And, if you adhere to #1 you can plant much more in a small space than you may think.
- Plant seeds that self seed. If you plant seeds that self seed, such as heirloom/heritage or open pollinated plants, you will be doing less work with more results. (See our Seed Saving category section for more info.)
- Make paths throughout your garden. This (along with #3) will keep you from stepping on and compacting your soil. This allow the roots to grow deeper and the nutrients from the soil to be better utilized. This also allows you to enjoy your garden from within, when you create a path between two beds it can be designed to make it look like a path through a large garden bed which surrounds you and fully immerses you into your garden.
© 2007 Andrea Anderson