How to Maximize Smaller Garden Spaces

March 25th, 2025

By Oliva Wilson

Staff writer for Wake Up World

If you want to do some gardening but don’t have enough space to start your new hobby, you’re not imagining things. New houses and apartments are getting smaller. Last year, architects downsized 25% of their floorplans to cut costs. That’s because homebuyers now have to pay more for space—the median price for a square foot increased by 3.4% between 2023 and 2024. That’s why homes are shrinking: so that, amid rising costs of living, they can be more affordable.

Fortunately, that doesn’t mean they have to be impossible to garden in. With the right supplies and strategy, you can maximize even smaller areas to create beautiful spaces where you can get away from the hustle and bustle of your daily routine—and even grow your own food!

Strategically select your plants

Though compact varieties, like herbs, berries, and plants described as being miniature—like bonsai trees and dwarf hydrangeas—are obvious choices for smaller gardens, you’ll also want to choose what to grow based on where you live. In Brighton, for example, some gardeners get their gardening kits from Resource Central. Each kit contains seeds for 30 low-water starter plants, which are considered the best option for Colorado’s drier climate. Making similar decisions on what to grow based on not just plant size but also the kind of soil that’s available, the amount of water you have access to, and how much sun your area gets can help you create a garden that thrives in the space you have.

Leverage vertical spaces

Even if you’re limited to a patio or balcony or live in an apartment, you don’t need to stress about where to put your plants. As long as you have a wall, you’re good to go! With vertical gardening, you can easily create zones of lush greenery while still leaving lots of floor space for the other items in your home. Though you can definitely get started with vines or hanging planters, you can also go the DIY route by simply using some plastic bottles and setting up a drip system for irrigation. Since the sizes of the bottles you’ll use are up to you, you can easily accommodate more or fewer plant varieties depending on what will fit your space.

Invest in multipurpose tools

Gardening also requires essential equipment like gloves, spades, and trowels, and squeezing them all into your home alongside your plants can be equally challenging. To truly maximize the space you have while keeping your small garden pristine, consider investing in multipurpose gadgets. QVC, which offers gardening tools for everything from weeding and watering to trimming and fertilizing, shows that the best ones combine similar functionalities into a single device. Aerobroom, for example, offers a cordless, 2-in-1 garden sweeper and blower tool specifically designed for cleaning patios, porches, and other areas ideal for tinier gardens. Roberta’s also provides folding pocket multi-tools that can prune, saw, and weed, and they’re the perfect size for nurturing plants in smaller spaces.

Go for space-saving furniture

Though small gardens are great to decorate—you can easily add some fairy lights or set up wind chimes, for example—they’ll be harder to furnish given your space limitations. Fortunately, there are lots of space-saving pieces you can consider. Aside from foldable chairs, collapsible tables, and corner sofas, you can even consider getting garden benches that offer additional storage. These are easily available from the likes of IKEA and Walmart—but if you want to get your hands dirty, you can similarly make one on your own. As per a DIY project from TikToker Kylie Katich, you can easily turn something as simple as an old wooden pallet into a garden bench that stores your tools and supplies while perfectly fitting into your small garden.

About the Author

Olivia Wilson is a passionate writer with a green thumb and a heart for healthy living. Through her articles, she aims to inspire others to cultivate vibrant gardens and nourish their bodies and souls through the power of nature. When she’s not tending to her garden or experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, she can be found exploring local farmers’ markets or enjoying a peaceful hike in the great outdoors.