Ideas for Your Tiny Mississauga Garden

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Ideas for Your Tiny Mississauga Garden
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• Gardens in Mississauga subdivisions arent
  necessarily tiny but for the most part, theyre
  not great expanses of green space either. That
  said, there is so much you can do to turn even a
  smaller space in the front or the back of your
  home into an oasis. While some people might
  lament the reality of a small garden, just
  remember that on the plus side, less garden means
  less maintenance, so getting the most out of the
  available space is easier than you might think.
  Yes the backyard of a new-build (or new-ish) home
  often feels like a fishbowl, but no reason it
  cant be a beautiful fishbowl that all the other
  fish will want to visit!

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Go Vertical

• With limited growing space, creating vertical
  gardens for your edibles, herbs and some
  perennials is a great way to use available space
  wisely. You can attach a structure to your garden
  fence, or have a freestanding structure, set in
  the corner of your space. You can even create a
  vertical greenhouse, if you have a spot that gets
  full sunshine, and start your seedlings early.

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• Another option is to add hanging planter boxes
  on the edge of your deck, or under a window.
  Imagine the scent of basil and lavender wafting
  in through your open window in the summer! A
  trellis tied to your garden fence is perfect for
  climbing ivy and roses, creating visual appeal on
  what is otherwise a blank canvas of boring
  fencing.

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Retaining Walls That Serve Double Duty

• If you want to build retaining walls to contain
  your perennials and bushes but also want to have
  some seating, build the walls high enough so
  that, in a pinch with extra guests, all you need
  is some outdoor cushions. Youll have extra
  seating in an instant, set against the backdrop
  of fragrant blooms. What could be more elegant? A
  word of caution Employ a landscape architect
  before randomly building a garden wall of any
  kind. Your lovely spring garden just may become
  your neighbours not-so-lovely spring flood.

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Pot Gardens Add Pizzazz

• Whether for herbs or other edibles, small foliage
  bushes or waving ornamental grasses, planting
  them into pots can really spruce up a small space
  without taking up too much real estate. Pots have
  the added advantage that they can be moved, if
  you decide you want to switch things up a little!
  Use big and small pots, interspersed together, to
  create visual appeal and different heights. A
  dwarf tree can thrive in a large pot and that
  will add some height, while smaller pots filled
  with plants and blooms will add texture and
  dimension.

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• Corner spaces can be awkward, but add in a large
  terra cotta pot or two and plant your favourite
  perennials, or even small topiary style trees, to
  fill in an otherwise difficult to use space. Or
  what about placing a bird bath in a corner,
  filling it with soil, and adding some smaller
  plants and succulents? It would look elegant and
  be easy to manage, all season long.

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Dont Be Afraid Of Colour

• While bold colours can be overwhelming in small
  rooms, in the garden, they add so much life to a
  smaller space. With an amazing range of perennial
  and annual blooms to choose from, at different
  heights and growing periods, you can make sure
  there is always a splash of bright and
  invigorating colour in your tiny oasis. Youre
  not limited to plants either! Brightly coloured
  garden furniture or accents can make a great
  statement image a large red umbrella, throwing
  comforting shade over your favourite chair for
  reading. The key is to stay within a maximum of
  two or three colour palettes, so that the colours
  dont clash and overwhelm the eye.

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Pathways Create Style

• Stone or brick pathways make a lovely addition,
  particularly to front yards. They add definition
  to your entryway, creating a welcoming path to
  your front door. Flagstones or patio stones in
  the back can help you create a seating area when
  a deck isnt in the offing, which is easy to
  maintain. If you create a curved pathway, rather
  than a straight line, it gives the sense of space
  as walking on it feels more like if you turn the
  corner, there will be a lot more garden than
  there actually is. Its a bit of a visual trick
  of the eye that will add a wonderful dimension.

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Choose Easy To Store Furniture

• While its important to be able to enjoy the
  space with patio furniture, too much can become
  overwhelming. Having some extra lawn chairs is a
  great idea for when you have a few guests over,
  but make sure they can be stacked or folded as
  being able to put them out of the way, in the
  shed for example, will free up space when its
  just you and your family.

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Hide The Trash

• If you arent storing your garbage and recycling
  receptacles in the garage, find a way to
  camouflage them, whether theyre at the side of
  your house, or in the back. Nothing ruins a small
  space more than having to look at the trash cans!

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Dont Ignore The Grass

• Even if your green space isnt particularly
  large, the ability to sink your toes into
  luscious, tender grass is a pleasure beyond
  compare. You can make sure that your grass
  doesnt affect your flower beds by creating small
  walls or garden beds that will create a physical
  separation between the two growing areas. If you
  want to vary what you have on the ground, dont
  do more than three textures.

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• Anything more, in a small space, will become
  visually overwhelming. For example, you can lay
  sod, have some flagstones for a small pathway and
  perhaps a gravel or patio stone area for your
  furniture. This combination would look elegant
  and be easy to maintain.

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• TIP if youre going to go with gravel, make
  sure you lay down landscaping fabric first, to
  ensure that you dont end up with endless weeds
  popping up, all summer long. A small Mississauga
  garden doesnt have to be without charm and
  style. It just takes a little planning and
  effort, but you can create a wonderful elegant
  space to enjoy throughout the warmer days of
  Spring, Summer and early Fall.