Unfortunately, I am not noted for my self-discipline. The problems of space, or lack of it, often start with the return journey from a garden excursion. Having looked around the garden itself, studiously making notes en-route, I inevitably find myself scouring the nursery side of the enterprise looking for some special treasure to carry home with me. You would think that after years of gardening in a small space I would have learnt the errors of my ways, but not a bit of it! Having succumbed to temptation on a grand scale, the problem of fitting 'quarts into pint pots' begins with finding enough room in the car. Umbrellas, walking sticks, and tissue boxes are shuffled from one side of the boot to the other, seats are tilted backwards and forwards until both driver and passenger appear like figures at a coconut shy. Only then do I finally manage to shoehorn my prizes securely for the journey home. By the end of a typical summer the inside of my car resembles a mobile compost heap, with potting compost, price tags and boxes littering the floor of the boot and seating area.
Once home, my space problems escalate. Having walked around my garden several times during the following couple of days, I come to the depressing conclusion that there is no vacant space anywhere. Undaunted I tour the garden yet again trying to find those camouflaged gaps I know must exist somewhere. Eventually, even in this densely planted garden, I managed to find suitable spots for my new acquisitions, proving that with a little determination gaps can be uncovered.
Small gardens also present other problems besides the lack of space. They are often shady, with poor, badly drained soil and overlooked from all sides. Imagination is the key to transforming such unpromising sites into your own little bit of paradise. Be selective in your choice of plants. Each one should offer double or treble value for the space it occupies. How long does it flower? When not in flower, what else does it offer? Is it scented? Does it have decorative foliage? The small garden calls for plants with more staying power.
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