How to Design a Small Garden Space

As people age, many find themselves living in small spaces. Baby boomers and seniors may live in RVs parked at their children's homes or permanently on a small piece of property somewhere. If flower gardens have always been an important part of life, this tradition does not have to be left behind. Here's how to have all your lovely flowers around you in a small garden space.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Build a fence around your small garden space to enclose the area and give added possibilities for climbing plants and vines.

2. Choose favorite, old fashioned perennials for the main plants. Classic roses, peonies, azaleas, lilies, stock, nicotiana and lavender are musts. Flowers with beautiful fragrances are particularly lovely in a small garden space, growing near pathways or the front door.

3. Go for the appeal of a typical cottage garden in a small space. It's casual and blousy, meaning the plants tumble and mix forming bouquets of blossoms everywhere.

4. Make arbors and trellises for climbing roses, flowering vines, hanging baskets and bird houses. There is always room to go upward, even in small garden spaces. Use trellises against the walls of your dwelling, whether it is a home or an RV. Wire structures work well for this purpose. Add trellises to fences for additional climbing space.

5. Plant taller growing things in the back of flowerbeds and shorter things in front. Don't worry about crowding. That's the beauty of a small cottage garden.

6. Add vegetables and herbs between the flowers if desired for a true cottage garden effect and include a few small, ornamental trees or fruit trees if room allows.

7. Incorporate some meandering pathways, stepping stones, small garden statues, birdbaths and other ornaments throughout the garden.

8. Find a secluded spot for a small sitting area, even if it is just one chair so you can sit in your garden and enjoy the surrounding beauty.