By George Graine, Fairfax County Master Gardeners
“…a tiny garden does not have to be short on ideas.” -- Martyn Cox
Many books have been written about gardening in small spaces and they
tend to place emphasis on design and often do so at the expense of
plants. Martyn Cox’s book Big Gardens in Small Spaces: Out-of-the-Box
Advice for Boxed-in Gardeners (Timber Press, 2009) takes a divergent
approach. Cox, an Englishman, gardens in London in a “big-little” garden
with about 250 different plants growing in 600 square feet. This
postage-stamp-yard is similar to some backyards in Georgetown (Washington, DC)
and historic homes in Old Town, Alexandria, VA.
Plantaholics will be pleased to read about practical solutions on how to
take advantage of limited space. Employing a simple garden philosophy,
the point is to squeeze as many plants as you can into the garden by any means
and wherever possible. Obviously grass is out. Fruit, vegetables
and herbs are in (to save money and because they taste good). Bulbs,
flowers, ferns, small ornamental grasses, alpines, succulents, interesting ivy,
climbers and even bonsai can fit albeit in a confined space. Consider using
pots including hypertufa to grow some of these plants. You need to think
big in order to think small. That means avoiding plants with huge leaves
or really tall perennials because they will be out of scale and also shade out
other plants. Use a vertical surface such as a fence, trellis, metal
railing, dry stacked stone wall and even the side of a shed as suitable places
to grow plants. A window sill that is wide enough to accommodate some
pots should also work. Try your hand at growing a green roof over your
shed too. Some full service garden centers have many selections of
groundcover plants that will grow in a snug environment. Plant them
between pavers or even remove a few pavers. If you have a spot where
mortar has worked itself loose, this is another opportunity for planting.
The big gardens in small spaces book is an entertaining read and the
color photos support the advice and effect that can be achieved. Perhaps
more importantly you will come away with some ideas on how to improve your own
landscape. That shady nook or retaining wall that stares back at you
could be a candidate for a garden makeover. Remember, size is not
everything.