How to Grow a Garden When You Have a Small Backyard

raised bed

If you are wondering how to grow a garden when you have a small backyard then you are in the right place! Keep on reading!

How to Grow a Garden When You Have a Small Backyard

While having a huge garden in your backyard may seem like an amazing idea, most people don’t have the space to spare! Luckily, it’s easy to have an amazing garden in your backyard, even if it’s small.

These small garden ideas are perfect for anyone who doesn’t have much extra space in their yard for a vegetable garden.

Make a Plan

The first step to creating a garden in your yard – no matter the size – is to make a plan.

Start by taking a look at your yard and determining where your garden will be. Whether you plan to till up a small section of ground, add a small raised bed, or use your patio for a container garden, you’ll need to start by figuring out how much space you have to use for your garden.

Then, think creatively about how you can maximize the space to make the most of your small backyard garden.

If you’re planning a small backyard garden, you have a few different garden layout options available to you. Let’s walk through each of them.

raised beds

How to Grow a Garden With Raised Beds

One of the best ways to maximize space in your garden is by planting in raised beds. By planting your garden in raised beds, you’re able to add your own nutrient rich soil to the garden instead of relying on the nutrients in your yard’s soil.

Thanks to the use of nutrient-packed garden soil, which is often looser and more fertile than ground soil, your garden is likely to have a higher yield than if you had planted using traditional rows.

vertical gardening

How to Grow a Vertical Garden

Another great way to make the most of a small garden is to take advantage of plants that can grow vertically. Most vining fruits and vegetables are perfect for vertical gardening, including:

  • Tomatoes
  • Pole beans
  • Peas
  • Squash
  • Melons
  • Cucumbers

In addition to saving space in your garden, growing these types of vegetables vertically can also save you time.

Vertical gardening helps reduce the amount of fungal diseases that plague those plants. And it makes harvesting your crops much easier, too.

To help these vining plants grow vertically, plant using a trellis or create your own trellis with posts and mesh netting.

How to Grow a Garden With Companion Planting

If you choose to go the traditional route with your small backyard garden, one of the best ways to maximize your garden space is to use the companion planting method.

By interplanting crops that are compatible with each other, you can make the most of the gardening space you have available and benefit the plants in your garden at the same time.

One of the most popular methods of companion planting is the “three sisters” method. This method involves planting corn, beans, and squash in the same area.

As your plants grow, the corn stalks will support the climbing pole beans. And the squash is free to vine on the ground, while also shading the soil to keep weeds at bay.

How to Grow a Garden With Succession Planting

Another useful gardening technique for small spaces is succession planting.

Using succession planting in your garden allows you to harvest a variety of plants in a short amount of time. But for this method to work, you’ll need to plant quick-growing crops, such as beans, lettuce, and zucchini.

To maximize your crop, reseed your crops every two to three weeks to keep your plants growing and producing all summer long.

raised bed

How to Grow a Garden With Containers

If you have no space in your backyard to plant a garden, there’s still hope! With container gardens, you can plant a variety of delicious fruits and vegetables right on your patio.

Not all garden vegetables work in container gardens, so it’s important to pick the right plants if you plan to use this gardening method. These plants are best for container gardens:

  • Herbs
  • Leafy greens, like lettuce and spinach
  • Fruiting plants, like tomatoes, peppers, squash, and cucumbers
  • Potatoes and sweet potatoes

Pick Your Plants

After considering all the different gardening options for a small backyard, think about the types of plants you’d like to have in your garden.

On top of considering the space available for your garden in your planning, it’s also a good idea to think about the types of fruits and vegetables your family eats on a regular basis.

Make a list of all the plants your family would enjoy having in your garden, then narrow that list based on the space available in your backyard, as well as the planting methods you plan to use.

Plant and Maintain

Now that all the planning is done, it’s time to start planting! The types of plants and gardening layout you choose will dictate how and when to plant your garden.

Use the guidelines on your seed packets or seedlings to help you plant each vegetable correctly. Water your seedlings daily to keep the soil moist, then begin tapering off your watering as your plants get larger.

Don’t forget to keep weeds at bay by taking time to pull the weeds out by the root and adding mulch or straw around the base of the plants to keep new weeds from growing.

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