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In a Tight Spot: Resources for Gardening in Small Spaces

Provides tips for gardening on patios, balconies, and other small areas.

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Updated:

November 17, 2021

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With the right resources, any home gardener can turn the smallest scrap of patio into a vibrant oasis. Over the years, Penn State Extension has put together a number of articles, fact sheets, and videos to help you make your outdoor space the envy of the neighborhood. Check out these quick tips for different types of small space gardens, and see the links below for additional resources.

Gardening in Containers

Containers are perfect for patios, stoops, and balconies. When choosing plants for a container, the most important things to consider are the light and temperature conditions of your space. A south-facing porch with no cover will need very different plants than an east-facing, covered balcony.

Whether you want to grow flowers, herbs, or vegetables in your container (see Figure 1 for an example of a combination), it will need a lot of water and fertilizer. Plan to water your container daily and fertilize every two to four weeks.

Container garden with peas, lettuce, and violas — Figure 1. A part-shade spring container garden with sugar-snap peas, lettuce, and violas. Credit: Erin Kinley

Strategies for Small Yards

Small yards, especially in urban settings or new housing developments, have a number of challenges. Not only are they typically hot and dry, but they often have high salt content from winter sidewalk and road salt. They also tend to be compacted from construction or years of foot traffic. Rebuilding the soil through methods such as sheet composting can be a helpful first step to making your yard a more hospitable environment for plants.

Even with healthier soil, you will still want to choose hardy plants that are well adapted to the sun and temperature conditions of your yard. Plants recommended for “hellstrips" (strips between a sidewalk and a street or driveway; Figure 2) also do well in small-yard conditions.

Figure 2. A hellstrip with shade-loving plants, including hostas. Credit: Holly Thorp

A word of caution: Small yards often cover space over utility and water lines. Before doing any new, major planting, it is wise to contact your state's “Call Before You Dig" Hotline. In Pennsylvania, you can dial 8-1-1 or see the link below for the Pennsylvania 811 website.

Gardening in Raised Beds

Raised beds are an excellent choice if you have a small yard with contaminated soil or drainage issues that make in-ground gardening a challenge. They can also make gardening more accessible if you have trouble kneeling or bending over in regular garden beds.

Raised beds are similar to container gardens in that they will need a steady supply of water and fertilizer to keep plants healthy. Plan to water daily and fertilize about once a month.