A Few Novel Ideas for People With Stamp Sized Gardens

Audrey Tomson
by Audrey Tomson
Large, sprawling gardens are no longer popular with modern home buyers. Time constraints, lack of knowledge and limited space mean that you need to think out of the box if you want to bring a little bit of colour or maybe some fruit or vegetables to your back yard. Most new builds have space in the back garden for little more than a couple of chairs and a table.
Strawberries are one type of fruit that lends itself to being raised in a piece of gutter. They don't need deep soil to grow and if you create a tree style planting area using some guttering they'll cascade down giving you access to tasty fruit and look pretty too. Seasonal plants such as marigolds, pansies or violas also thrive well in little soil. Fixing them to your walls will bring vibrant colour throughout the summer. Hang rain gutters vertically, one above another, and you'll have an innovative hanging garden.
One other good way to make use of guttering is to create an interesting water feature. They can be used to differing effects depending on what you want to achieve. Lying one above another could create tiny little waterfalls or join a load together and make an eye catching spiral. You'll have to make sure the joins are waterproof or you'll be constantly topping up the water. Guttering isn't really big enough to hold fish but you could add some water loving plants for an added dimension. Now you've got some ideas get out there in your garden and bring it back to life. Even the smallest of spaces can be put to good use with a little imagination.
If you want to brighten things up and bring a little piece of nature into your yard there are some interesting ways you can use any unwanted guttering you have lying around. Alternatively pop out and buy some new lengths of guttering. It won't break the bank and you'll have a novel planting area for flowers and even some fruit or vegetables. They are available in a variety of different materials such as PVC, plastic, aluminium or copper. They don't take up much space and can be hung or fixed to the wall. Decorating or painting them will make them even more attractive additions.
Using unwanted or damaged guttering is a budget friendly gardening idea. Give a gutter maintenance company a call and see if they've got any unwanted guttering lying around. They might be happy to let you have it for nothing as it means they won't have to worry about getting rid of it. Brighten up you neighbourhood with art made from guttering could do with a bit of livening up for sure..
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