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Photo Credit: ©2000 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard

When gardening space is tight, go vertical. Shrubs that have been grafted into treelike forms (“standards” in nursery grower parlance) are good examples. Be sure to consider the plant’s mature height, the size of the container’s base and its total weight, as well as how pruning and training can keep the plant growing upward (drawing the eye with it).

Just because you don’t have much space doesn’t mean you can’t garden. In fact, some of the most wonderfully rich gardens can be found on small patios, rooftops, decks and porches where space is not only limited, it’s downright tiny. The key is to use what space you have properly. And that means planting up – and down.

Many people think having a container garden on a deck or patio will make their space seem even smaller. But arranging items vertically uses little space while making the area more attractive. This design principle holds true whether you’re planning a container garden indoors or out. Consider these ideas for enhancing small spaces:

• Hook hanging baskets to walls and along the rim of a porch, patio or balcony roof overhang. Choose plants that either drape down or climb the cable support. (Make sure the structure can support the weight of the potted plant, and use recommended fasteners. Also make sure that water drains away from high-traffic areas.)

• Hang shallow, lightweight boxes under windows and along deck and porch railings to soften the sharp lines of those areas. On railings, consider boxes that hook onto or strap over the top of the balustrade, providing more-secure connections than screws or nails. Filling window boxes with annuals takes only a few hours of planning, purchasing and installation. Choose plants that either trail over the edge or mound high up into the window opening, where they appear as though in a frame.

• Fill a corner, front a blank wall, or enclose an outdoor area on one side with a lattice or an arbor, then plant climbing flowers and other plants with vertical-growth habits to cover it.

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Photo Credit: ©2000 Dolezal Publishing/Tim Butler

Annuals quickly fill window boxes with color. Remember to fertilize your pot plantings every other week throughout the growing season for the best displays.

• Use small pots in groups instead of just a few big ones. Smaller containers are easier to move and rearrange. Cluster them in one area to focus the effect, or spread them out to enclose and define a space.

• If you favor big planters, use them to plant shrubs or trees in containers. Consider nursery standards (trees or shrubs grafted into treelike forms). They’re great for filling a blank corner, providing a backdrop for smaller containers or focusing the eye on key features.

• If you favor big planters, use them to plant shrubs or trees in containers. Consider nursery standards (trees or shrubs grafted into treelike forms). They’re great for filling a blank corner, providing a backdrop for smaller containers or focusing the eye on key features.

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Photo Credit: ©2000 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard

Hanging planted baskets from posts is a clever and interesting way to use vertical space in small gardening areas.

• Hang baskets from tree limbs, fence posts, slats and gates. Use a chafe guard (a length of discarded garden hose or other hosing) to protect the trees from abrasion as the wind sways the baskets (or the structural integrity of fence or gate components). Just feed the plant-hanging straps, cables or chains through the guard instead of using nails to secure the containers.

• Build or buy a tiered or multilevel support structure for your containers. This is a great way to show off lots of plants. In addition to the traditional pyramid or cone shapes, consider the inverted pyramid, “twin peaks,” or other creative arrangements.

The key to planting in very small spaces is to keep scale in mind in every choice: plant, pot and placement. Use thin-walled containers rather than those that are massive and thick. Choose naturally diminutive or dwarf species, such as viola, shamrocks and dichondra. Make your statement an accent rather than a feature. A single exquisite bloom will draw more attention than a mass of color.

No matter how small your back yard, patio or deck, it can still be big enough to garden in – you just have to be creative. After all, your garden is only as small as your imagination.