Small gardens

What is a small garden?

Technically, a small garden is considered to be one that is approximately 100m² (33 x 33ft) or less. While the average UK garden is apparently about twice that size (225m² – almost a tennis court), and most new build etc gardens are about half the size of ‘small’ (50m²), we are based in London and what really defines a small garden is probably more a matter of opinion and perception than exact dimensions. To complicate the topic further, many larger gardens are divided into smaller spaces or ‘rooms’, which will often have features and considerations in common with smaller gardens.

Of course, to join a local ‘amateur horticultural society’ such as CABAHS it’s not necessary to have a large garden, or even any garden at all, just an interest in gardens, plants, horticulture or growing. However, most members are likely to have access to some kind of growing space, whether that’s indoors, outdoors, in the ground or in containers, 30’x30′ or measured in acres. Others will have had that in the past and maintain an ongoing interest, some have allotments but no garden, and increasingly those who work in and are passionate about gardens might not have one of their own.

With all this in mind, I asked CABAHS members to share photos of their ‘small gardens’. Some chose to send a photograph of most of the area, others just a plant or feature that they feel works well in a small space.

In her ‘10 Jobs for March‘ post, Pat showed us her ‘mini wildlife ponds’. Beth B has also made a tiny pond, just 50cm x 30cm, which would fit in any small garden. The RSPB give step-by-step instructions:

Recommended small space plants or planting combinations included Jean R’s pots of hellebores , bulbs and thyme, and Carolyn H’s Hylotelephium, Veronica and Heuchera. Taken to the extreme, you don’t even need soil to enjoy some plants. Maggie E suggests an air plant and a sprig of ‘everlasting’ Statice!

The RHS can offer lots of tips for growing in small spaces, including types of vegetables and fruit that are suitable for containers, suggestions for window boxes and hanging baskets and tips on making the most of limited space such as optimising the verticals with climbers and/or shelves: RHS Planting Design for Small Spaces.

There are also lots of books on the subject, it’s worth taking a look in your local library – mine has quite a large range of topics from growing crops in pots to designing small spaces from scratch, looking after houseplants and propagating for containers. And for more general inspiration, clips from Monty Don’s ‘Big Plans, Small Spaces’ (not the full programmes, unfortunately) are still available on iPlayer.

Ali H