Make It Portable
Big container gardens make a big impact but can also take up a big amount of space. Use smaller, portable containers (such as these hanging on a deck rail) to provide color where you need it most.
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Hide Clutter
A clean yard, just like a clean house, feels bigger. Try the old trick of hiding clutter behind a screen to keep your landscape neat and tidy. This simple bamboo screen is an elegant way to hide tools, wheelbarrows, and other items.
Trick the Eye
Like the garden on the other side of this lattice? It's actually in front of you. Hang mirrors in strategic places to double the impact of your favorite blooms.
Do Double Duty
Look for clever combinations to save space. Here, a stylish container for a garden hose has a lid so it doubles as a birdbath when not in use. Watch for such products at your local garden center or get creative and make some yourself!
Grow Up
Espalier -- an old French way of growing trees on a horizontal plane -- looks and sounds complicated, but is actually pretty simple. While it takes a bit of extra time shaping them when they're young and keeping them pruned, but you can pack in apple, pear, or other trees you may not normally have room for.
Hang It Up
You can grow a water feature with a couple of fish and a water lily in any good-sized water-tight pot. But if space is tight, try hanging a fountain on your wall. It takes up virtually no space, and fills your space with the lovely sound of trickling water.
Layer It On
Layered cakes are an irresistibly tasty treat. Take advantage of the concept in your garden for an equally delightful result. Here, three layers of container plants fill a tight space with lots of color and provide a greater impact than just one set of pots would on any of the three levels.
Scale It Down
Patio furniture can quickly eat up a small deck or patio. Keep your outdoor living accessories on the small side to make the most of your space. However, don't be afraid to use color to make an impact and keep them from feeing too tiny. Here, the startling red chairs helps distract from their small, simple design.
Select Narrow Varieties
While a full-grown spruce can get more than 50 feet tall and 30 feet wide, columnar varieties such as this get no more than 6 feet across. Look for these upright (often called fastigiate) types to save space.
Look for Wasted Space
In small spaces, every inch counts. Look for creative ways to add plants or garden decor. Here, planters with ivy geraniums decorate an otherwise bland privacy fence. Though they're small now, by the end of the season they'll grow together and form a lush curtain of color.
