You can grow an interesting garden in an old sink, trough or container that you have to hand. In the case of the photograph above all the plants chosen were small compact alpines. They include small varieties of normal garden favourites such as Asters, Pinks (Dianthus), Campanula, Gypsophilia, Primula, Sempervivum and Pelargonium (Geraniums).

Types of Small Garden

1. Container
A collection of plant pots on hard standing can look exceptional. The choice of plants is massive, fruit trees, trailing annuals, bulbs, conifers the list is endless. Hanging baskets also fit in this category of containers and as an idea try a herb garden in a basket near your kitchen door.

2. Window boxes
If you have ever seen Swiss Chalets in summer they will probably have been brimming with red geraniums and brilliant trailing flowers. Free window box plans are available for DIY experts to try and make their own.

3. Bonsai

Bonsai is the art of developing woody plants shaped as miniature trees by growing them in containers. You can grow a whole forest of Bonsai trees or just a few air plants (Tillandsia) on a piece of tufa rock. Most Bonsai trees are best grown outdoors as you would with normal trees. Bonsai are created from partially-grown or mature stock to help with the appearance of age and aesthetic qualities, seeds is rarely used.

4. Sunken garden
I haven’t yet found a suitable photograph of a sunken garden as they all seem too large. I remember in the 1960’s my father dug a sunken garden and paved a small area at the base to create 4 surrounding beds that were accessed from the base. I think he created more planting space this way by gardening in 3 ‘D’.

5. Alpine
Alpine plants tend to be small and attract specialist growers. You can plant in individual pots or place a collection of pots in a raised sand and gravel bed which makes viewing and cultivation easier. Alternatively you can grow plants amongst rock in a raised area or a mound of soil simulating a mini-mountain.

6. Courtyard
Decking was promoted by garden make-over programmes and popular in courtyards during the last decade. To increase the feeling of space a mirror or trompe oeil can be used at one end. Mix up any pot planting with some architectural specimens and evergreen plants.

7. Patio
The edge of my patio is a two skinned wall with just enough room between the skins for rough soil. The trailing phlox and aubretia like the crevice feel and it extends the garden with this mini-garden collection of plants on the patio boundary.

8. Conservatory
You do not have to garden outside but a conservatory is a bonus even though a windowsill may have to suffice. Under this section for small gardens I would include any collection of houseplants but if it is a cold conservatory area choose your plants with care. Very hot and dry in summer and cold to freexing in winter is not a good recipe for many plants although many cacti can survive extreme conditions.

9. Rooftop or Penthouse
Beware of extra weight on the roof structure if you are going to use more than a few plant pots. Growbags may be useful for growing vegetables and large pots can contain fruit trees grown on dwarf stock. Wind can be a problem so think about protection to stop things blowing off the roof or damage to plants.

10. Vertical
With limited ground space ‘Vertical gardens ‘ have recently become popular. Even on a blank wall you can mount containers or train plants on wires. The BBC has more detailed information available.

Finally with apologies to the Monty Python team this is not a not garden, it is a knott garden! No its not its a knot garden.

‘And now for something completely different’ a big garden made small by the car parking.