Making the Most of Gardening in a Small Space

Growing in a small space is all about scale. With the right approach it can be as rewarding as any large garden, with much less work. The most important tip to remember is that the smaller the area you are working with, the greater an impact a considered design and layout can have. Here are some tips and tricks that will help you get the best from your available space. 

Layout is Key 

Whether you have a small garden, a courtyard or even a balcony the first thing to do is to make a list of the things you need and would like to see in that space, consider which are the most important, which might not look great and could be screened or hidden away and which of those thing could be made into a feature. 

 

Things to place out of a direct line of sight in a garden or courtyard might include a storage shed or box, tools, and other utilities. If that’s not possible then they could be screened off, hidden away, or smartened up. A lick of paint and an ornamental gable on an old shed for example can do wonders. Where possible use neat and tidy options, such as an attractive storage box for compost or tools on a balcony, retractable clothesline, or hose reel.  

Screening options could include a trellis, wicker screening panels, or even tall evergreen plants like bamboo. In a small garden, bamboos and any other spreading plants are best grown in something to contain their roots and to prevent them spreading and using up unnecessary extra space. On a balcony or paved courtyard, tall evergreen plants in containers create useful, moveable structures that provide screening, a backdrop or suggest a division of the space.

 

Eye-catching features can be made of things like paths, paving or flooring on balconies, by using beautiful materials or a lovely paving pattern, there are countless style options to choose from. The same goes for seating areas or patios. Seating ‘cubes’ can look good and are compact when packed away, those with boxes as extra stools, greatly increase garden storage. An ornamental water butt can make a lovely and extremely useful garden feature too.  

Tricks to Create an Impression of Space 

Be sure to make the most of any view outside of your garden space, ‘framing’ landscapes, trees or interesting building like distant church spires, with planting or other structures. This is a great designers’ trick to help to lead the eye into the distance and extend the impression of space. 

 

If there is no view to make use of, then an excellent hack to give the illusion of greater distance is to make a path which gets narrower as moves down the garden. A curved path and rounded beds and border edges will also give everything greater length, further maximising that feeling of space. This is especially good advice for a small rectangular garden which can often feel boxed in. 

A subtle but very effective planting trick is to use plants with big leaves nearer the house and plants with small leaves further away. This can work in the very smallest of spaces and again creates and illusion of increased distance. Colour can be used in a similar way, with bold eye-catching colours planted nearby and more subtle, misty pastel colours further away. 

 

Screening tall fences or walls with plants will also soften and blur the edges of a small garden space. Trellises with roses (pick a thornless type if near a path) will provide gorgeous and classy summer displays. 

 

Use evergreen climbers to provide some essential winter cover too, for example plants like a dark ornamental ivy on the shaded side of the garden and deliciously fragrant Clematis armandii on the sunny side. A trellis with an evergreen climber across a corner will further reduce the boxy feel of a square or rectangular space. Choose a few compact evergreen shrubs to give any flower beds or prominent containers a permanent year-round structure. In winter, the garden should have volume and look great too. 

 

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A Small Kitchen Garden 

There’s no reason a small garden space can’t be productive too, just be selective and grow compact varieties where possible. Stick to your favourites and those that taste best home-grown, like tomatoes, peas, strawberries, and sweet corn. Also choose those that you are most likely to use, like salad crops and herbs. Evergreen herbs like rosemary, sage and thyme are super useful as they can provide some year-round structure in flower beds and borders and be harvested all year round. Be sure to plant them in a sunny part of the garden though. 

 Lots of vegetables can be grown in mixed borders alongside flowers too, many can be very pretty, like a wigwam of beans in  full bloom. It’s the ideal way to maximise use of space. 

 

 For a dedicated space in which to grow crops. raised beds and parge planters are the best way to go. Especially those crops  that benefit from protective netting, like cabbage, kale, and soft fruit.  Both watering and weeding are much easier in a raised  bed too. For best results be sure to grow any vegetables in a sunny spot.

 

To make best use of space, think vertical too, many crops 

can be grown up a trellis wigwam or other support, Cucumbers and tomatoes, even melons are perfect for this, especially for container crops on a sunny and sheltered urban balcony. Climbing French and Runner Bean are incredibly productive and their flowers, or the pods of purple or yellow varieties are really ornamental, giving you the best of both worlds.

 

With that in mind, consider mixing ornamental plants in containers with vegetable crops, some things like pots of colourful, leafy Kales and chilli peppers look great in their own right, but herbs, salad leaves and even things like radishes can be planted in and amongst the flowers.

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 Even the smallest garden spaces can be rewarding. Whether that’s a little calm, a routine and something to look forward to. A few minutes outside with a pot, a windowsill herb tray, or a couple of containers on the balcony can be a real mood-lifter, especially when you start noticing the small changes week by week. And the best part is, you don’t need a big garden to feel the benefits. Start where you are, grow what you love, and enjoy the journey one small win at a time.

 

Ready to get going? Explore our seeds and plants for small spaces and pick your favourites to grow at home:

 

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How to Grow Daffodils

By Pim Dickson
Fothergill's Blog
Sep 16, 2024

What to Do with Spring Bulbs After Flowering

Spring flowering bulbs like daffodils, tulips, and crocuses are some of the most cherished sights in the garden, creating the perfect welcome to spring and marking the return of warmth and colour. But once their vibrant blooms fade, many are left wondering what to do with bulbs after flowering to ensure they return year after year.

Proper care after flowering can help your bulbs thrive so they come back with a stunning show of flowers the following season. Here’s everything you need to know about caring for your spring bulbs after flowering so you can keep your garden beautiful year-round.

Why It’s Important to Care for Your Bulbs After Flowering

Taking care of your spring bulbs after flowering is key to ensuring their longevity and future blooms. After flowering, bulbs will need time to recharge and store energy for the following season’s round of growth. By following the right practices, you can enhance your bulbs' health for a spectacular bloom next spring. Not only will this help you to maintain a healthy and gorgeous garden, but it’ll also save you the cost of replacing bulbs every year.

What to Do with Bulbs After Flowering

Once your spring bulbs have finished flowering, it’s time to think about how to care for them. Follow these simple steps to ensure your bulbs remain strong and healthy for next season.

Let the foliage die back naturally

After the flowers have faded, it’s essential to let the foliage die back naturally. Their leaves should be left in place, ideally for around 6 weeks after flowering, so they can carry on feeding the bulbs and recharge the energy store for next year. 

Don’t be tempted to smarten up the leaves by tying them up in bunches, as this will severely decrease their ability to photosynthesise and feed the bulbs.

Cutting back and deadheading

Deadheading, or removing the faded flowers, is important for a tidy garden and to prevent the plant from wasting energy on seed production. Snip off the flower heads as they fade, but avoid cutting the leaves. Only trim the foliage once it has fully yellowed. 

When to stop watering

As your spring bulbs enter their dormant phase after flowering, you can reduce watering. Once the leaves begin to yellow, it’s time to ease up on watering. Bulbs no longer need as much moisture at this stage, and overwatering can lead to rot. Keep the soil lightly moist, but allow it to dry out gradually to let the bulbs enter their resting phase.

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Should You Lift Spring Bulbs After Flowering?

While it may be tempting to clear away the bulb beds after the flowers have passed, it's crucial to consider whether or not to lift your bulbs. It’ll depend on the type of bulb you want to lift and the climate you’re in:

  • Tulips will benefit from being lifted and given a dry dormant period in summer for the bulbs to ripen and rest. Lift them carefully, dry them out, and store them in a cool, dry place until autumn to avoid rot.
  • Daffodils prefer to be left alone, and moving them needs to be done with care; otherwise, they may miss a year’s flowering until they have established themselves well again. An alternative to lifting them is to grow them in large containers that can be planted over or moved out of the way once the displays are over.

The best advice for lifting any spring bulbs is to lift late and replant early.

How to Lift and Store Spring Bulbs

Any bulb can be lifted carefully to minimise damage to the roots and the leaves, then replanted into pots of compost and placed out of the way in a partially shaded spot to grow on. Initially, planting them in a bulb planting basket makes the process of lifting them quick and easy. 

  1. Lift the bulbs carefully using a spade or garden fork, taking care not to damage the roots.
  2. Separate the bulbs if clumps are overcrowded or congested. This gives them more space to grow and thrive.
  3. Clean off any excess soil and allow the bulbs to dry out in a cool, dry place for several weeks.
  4. Store the bulbs in a well-ventilated area, such as a paper bag or box. Check them periodically to ensure they’re not rotting.

Replanting Spring Bulbs

Once the leaves have yellowed, the bulbs can be left to dry out and go dormant to give them a rest. Giving bulbs a dry dormant period in summer will protect them from rot and help ripen the bulbs for next year.

Afterwards, they can be planted in the autumn to flower again next spring. A good indicator of when to plant out bulbs is when the soil temperature has cooled to at least 13°C; that’s usually when night temperatures are regularly getting down to around 5°C. This will encourage bulbs to make strong roots rather than wasting energy producing top growth. Using a purpose-made bulb planter will make the process quick and easy. Long-handled bulb planters are great if you have a bad back or have a large area to plant.

Be sure to keep the compost moist, as overwatering may cause the bulbs to rot. If in doubt, keep the compost on the dry side rather than wet. Plants can be given a boost at this stage with a top dressing of flower bulb fertiliser or sulphate of potash. Don’t be tempted to put fertiliser in the planting hole, as this may cause root burn and damage the bulbs.

Turn Your Spring Bulbs to Blossoming Blooms with Fothergill’s

Caring for your spring bulbs after flowering ensures they’ll return strong and ready to bloom the following season. By following the proper post-bloom care techniques—such as allowing the foliage to die back, deadheading, reducing watering, and lifting or replanting as needed—you can enjoy a stunning spring garden year after year.

Ready to plant fresh bulbs for next season’s show? Explore Fothergill’s range of spring flowering bulbs for all your gardening needs. With a variety of anemones, lilies, and crocuses, we have everything you need to create a beautiful garden that thrives.
By Pim Dickson
Fothergill's Blog
Apr 30, 2024

How to Stop Tulips Drooping

Tulips are a stunning way to liven up your living space and bring the beauty of the outdoors indoors. But what should you do when even your tulips seem to be lacking that life that you’re looking for?

As beautiful as they are, these flower plants are also known for their likelihood of drooping - making your floral arrangement appear limp and lacklustre. But worry not! You can still enjoy decorating your living room, dining room or kitchen with tulips from your cut flower garden without them slouching like a fed-up teenager.

So, let’s get to it. Without further ado, here is how to stop tulips drooping in your vase!

Why Are My Tulips Droopy?

If your tulips look like they’re in a bad mood, it’s probably because they are! We’ve all experienced the dreaded feeling of being ‘hangry,’ and so have your tulips. So, if you’ve come home to find your once full-of-life tulips drooping, the chances are that they’re dehydrated!

So, the quickest way to maintain the health of your tulips is to make sure that they’re well-fed and in view of sunlight! But what are some other tips and tricks for how to stop tulips drooping?

Keep Them Watered

Tulips are a relatively low-maintenance plant, but that’s no excuse to neglect them! They may be independent, but you’ll find that your tulips really appreciate fresh, cold water. Fresh water works to reduce any bacterial growth, whilst cold water keeps the stems nice and firm.

Cut Stems at an Angle

In order to maximise the amount of water getting to your tulips, cut your stems at an angle to increase the surface area of absorption in the stems. If you notice that your tulips begin to droop again, don’t be afraid to give them a little trim, taking off around an inch and maintaining that 45-degree angle in the stem.

Make Them at Home in their Vase

Choosing the right vase is important! In order to keep your tulips nice and firm, home them in a straight-sided vase to maintain their shape. Like all flowers, tulips require sunlight to stay healthy. You might have noticed your plants in the past reaching for sunny areas of the garden or windowsill! Be sure to rotate your vase regularly, ensuring that all sides of the plant have access to the sun. This way, your tulip plants should maintain their original shape and continue to reach upwards.

The Newspaper Method

Read all about it, read all about it! One of our favourite tips for how to stop tulips drooping is hot off the press. Before putting your tulips into a vase, we recommend wrapping them in newspaper and allowing them to sit in water for a few hours. The paper helps to enforce a shape over your tulips, holding them upright as they hydrate themselves in the vase.

The Pin Method

I like to think of this method as the face-lift of the drooping tulip. If your tulips begin to droop, a nifty tip is to put a pin through the tulip’s stem and into the head of the plant to quite literally prop your flowers up. This, combined with regular maintenance, can give your flowers an undeniably vibrant and lively look.

Shop Tulips at Mr Fothergill’s

What are you waiting for? Your growing journey starts right here at Mr Fothergill’s! Shop our fantastic range of tulip flower bulbs and tubers today, and let us help you bring the outdoors indoors!

If you have any further questions about how to stop tulips drooping or have any curiosities about any of our other products, don’t hesitate to contact us or take a deeper dive into our gardening blog!
By Pim Dickson
Fothergill's Blog
Sep 09, 2024

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