Even if your outdoor space is compact, you could still help to unleash its potential. With the summer holidays rapidly approaching, it’s time to get your garden ready for some quality time together. Whether you’re looking for a quiet space to switch off and relax or you’d like to start a new planting project, we’ve put together a list to show you just how much you could create within a small space.
Make it comfortable
You’ll be more likely to spend more time enjoying your garden if it’s an inviting, comfortable space. Imagine a soft outdoor seating area with plump cushions and cosy blankets, spread around a firepit or dining table to spend evenings together with your family and friends.
Finished with atmospheric solar lights or similar minimalist touches, your garden could quickly become a haven for long, mild summer evenings.
Grow vertically
If it’s not possible to expand the length or width of your garden, why not look up instead? Consider using the sides of your fences, garden walls, or even the outside of your home to grow vegetables, flowers, or climbing plants like ivy or rose.
Discover companion gardening
If you’re feeling green-fingered, it’s a good idea to grow plants that promote the growth of their neighbours. This is called companion gardening, and along with encouraging a healthy ecosystem within your garden, it could also help to reduce the space needed to grow everything you’d like.
The Royal Horticultural Society provides detailed, personalised advice on choosing the right flowers for you and your garden, along with handy inspiration for plant combination ideas. Even if you’re a complete beginner, there’s always a way to invite more nature into your garden.
Add a workspace
It’s well known that nature has a calming effect, so you could utilise this by taking your work outdoors. Integrating a compact, practical workspace could encourage you to spend more time in your garden and help you feel more productive if you’re completing tasks from home. With a refreshing drink in hand and a pair of sunglasses on, your new office space could inspire new levels of creativity in your work.
Create a herb garden
There’s something innately satisfying about planting a seed and watching it gradually turn into a fragrant, organic plant that you can use in your own homecooked food. From basil to chives and from mint to rosemary, planting an array of herbs is also guaranteed to fill your garden with decadent aromas.
Simply destress
Even if you’re not feeling motivated to do anything with your garden, it’s important to remember that spending time in your own outdoor space could seriously boost your mental wellbeing. Nurturing plants should improve your mood, reduce anxiety, and help you connect to your local community, so don’t hesitate to start planning for your garden – regardless of its size.
This is a collaborative post.