What’s worse than having heaps of new flowers and nowhere to put them? Nothing! We know how exciting it is to rush out and buy flowers as soon as they hit the Dees’ Nursery, but we also know how important it is to have some vague notion of where to put them. Thankfully, this is where we can help. Our team of experts has put together the following list of planning tips and tricks to help you make the most of your gardening spaces this spring, both large and small.

Gardening for a Small Space on Long Island

Not everyone is fortunate enough to have super-spacious plots of land to garden with—and that’s ok! Some of our favorite gardens are those planted in small containers and raised garden beds, and the versatility you have with them to change things up and move stuff around on a whim is an aspect many gardeners love. There is a slight learning curve that comes with creating container gardens for a small space, however, especially if it’s your first time. Here are a few tips to keep in mind to help you plan out your small garden space and create maximum impact without over-shopping for annuals:

Pick Your Plants Wisely

While it’s ridiculously tempting to buy one of everything when plant shopping, a better approach is to develop a plan of attack before you even set foot in our nursery. Some plants and herbs grow very quickly and will overrun a container in no time, so knowing what flowers or herbs you want to grow in your small gardening space is crucial to help you better prepare for the container you want and ensure each plant is going to get everything it needs to live a happy life. If you ever find yourself stuck or unsure of which plants will work best in your planned small garden space, worry not! 

Our team is always more than happy to help point you in the right direction with the perfect plant recommendations for your unique goals and setup.

Another important part of this planning stage is to pick up the right materials. When preparing your container garden, ensure you use a top-of-the-line potting soil, like Gardener’s Gold Organic Potting Soil, and be mindful of the drainage requirements for your blooms. 

Keep Friends Together

Not all plants are created equal. Some container plants thrive in dry soil and hot sun, while others would much rather bask in the shade with extra waterings on summer days. When planning your small garden space, consider your plants’ unique basic care requirements before squeezing them together with someone that may not be the best roommate. For instance, herbs like mint, thyme, and sage love the hot sun and dry soil, which makes them great company for alpines but not for flowers that require indirect light and frequent watering. Keeping plants with similar needs together will make your small gardening space more efficient and easier to care for, as it will be easier to give everyone the unique care they need. 

Don’t Overcrowd Your Oceanside Garden

Plants are like peacocks: you gotta let them fly! That single small flower head you plant tomorrow is about to multiply exponentially, becoming many, many more over the course of the growing season. To help expand your garden’s proverbial horizons, avoid overcrowding your small space’s containers and give your plants some wiggle room to let them spread their wings. To make the absolute most of your limited space, and avoid a bare-looking garden container, plant some trailing and vining plants that’ll spill over the sides to fill in smaller spaces between those striking summer flowers.

Tell A Story

When you have a small gardening space, container planting with annuals can be a great source of joy and an outlet for creativity! Seasonal containers can be easily moved around whenever the weather gets bad or you simply feel like changing things up. Even if you have a larger space, planting a few container gardens here and there is a terrific way to add visual interest and dimension to your landscape. Think about flower height, texture, color, and overall size when making your container masterpiece for your small garden space, and look for flowers that complement your containers nicely. Here are some of our favorite container garden themes for you to try out this spring! 

• Color stories
• Country charm
• Wildflowers
• Herbs only
• Cottage variety 
• Jewel tones

The Dees’ Nursery & Florists’ team of greenthumbs love seeing the uniquely-wonderful ways gardeners group their flowers together, but if you’re running short of ideas for your small gardening space in Oceanside, NY, stop by and see us for some more cool tips and tricks to help you pull off a gorgeous garden this spring!