Trying to get the most out of your garden space can be challenging, especially when the area is small. Garden expansion by extending a raised bed is one possibility. Another is to grow up. You can also extend a garden by mixing in both ornamental and edible varieties. That way you can grow food and look at the flowers, too. Other tips on how to expand a garden should see you producing and enjoying more.
How to Expand a Garden
If you dream of growing more food for your table, or just developing an outdoor green space, you can make your garden bigger. Organizing the garden space and providing adequate water are two key items.
Plan the garden so you have the plants you will want to grow. Build or purchase raised beds to consolidate plants and make watering easier. Cut back any existing plants and move any that have gotten too large for the space, if applicable.
Divide the space into sections. For instance, you may want a dedicated vegetable space, a cutting garden, or a site with plenty of greenery year around. You can delineate using pavers, bricks, fences, or any other border material. It could even be plants like low growing boxwood hedges. Make sure the soil is well amended to start plants off right.
Planting a Garden Expansion
Select plants carefully. Make sure they will do well in your zone, the lighting conditions, soil type, and available moisture. Don't buy plants that will require a lot of maintenance, unless you are willing to dedicate your time to that.
Choose plants whose mature size will fit into the garden scheme. Opt for dwarf varieties that will still produce well but fit into smaller garden spaces. Alternately, you can espalier fruit and other trees against a wall or fence. Consider soil cooling groundcovers. If the area is just for vegetables, bring some color in with flowering herbs and other companion plants.
Other Tips to Extend a Garden
Little outdoor spaces can be structured to grow more in a garden. Build or purchase trellises, an arbor, or arch to grow vertically. You can also build a DIY wall garden with burlap pouches. These work well with many herbs, annuals, and succulents. Under plant any vertical specimens to maximize planting space. Containers and hanging baskets can also be used to develop new growing spaces.
When it comes time to plant, stage your selections by setting them out where you want them. Ensure they will have enough space to mature and the correct lighting. Extend the season of your crops by using frost fabric over hoop tunnels. Consider adding a drip system in an enclosed garden. Rotate crops annually and succession plant, for a constant supply of your favorite vegetables.