A Guide to Efficient Garden Design

There's nothing more beautiful than a garden. But you might not have the money, time, or space to spend on one. Check out these tips for the most efficient garden design.

Stacking

For the most space efficient design, you can buy or make stackable planters. Vertical gardens are popular in big cities where you can have custom made planters designed. Take inspiration from trendy farm-to-table restaurants and grow your greens inside in a planter on your wall.

Use Everything

There are so many things you might want to throw away that could actually be upcycled in your garden. Wood pallets make great vertical planters. Paint a pallet with a waterproof finish then screw pots into it. You could also just grow a beautiful vine, like passionflower, up the pallet. If you have retaining walls on your property you can cover them with vines, an English garden or a beautiful tree. Some people also convert used furniture into a garden. Plant flowers in old dresser drawers or put indoor plants in an empty glass china cabinet.

Hanging

Limited on space? Take advantage of the space above your head. Inside, succulents can be hung from the ceiling. Outside, hang bright flowers like petunias from your fence, gazebo, or patio. Flowers like nasturtiums, pansies, begonias, and geraniums love hanging in midair. For a kitchen garden, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, and beans can all grow upside down. Some argue that this actually helps plants absorb nutrients from the soil.

Less Water

If you're concerned with energy efficiency, choose plants that need less water. Not only is this good for the environment, but you'll save money on you water bill. Plus your garden will be drought resistant! Succulents and cacti come in beautiful colors and go great with Southwestern design. For bright florals try poppy, sedum, lantana, and bougainvillea. Growing an herbal kitchen garden? Try sage, yarrow, and lavender.

Budget Friendly

You'll also want to choose budget friendly plants. This means you should choose perennials over annual flowers. Annuals die in the winter and need to be replaced each year. Planting perennials means you'll need to work on your garden less often and won't have to invest in flowers each season. It also means that your flowers will have time to grow to fill the space so you can save money by purchasing smaller flowers.

With these tips you can make the commitment to a garden. Consult a landscape design professional if you want to ensure that your design will be efficient, beautiful, and easy to maintain. 

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