Why You Should Consider Dwarf Plants For Your Small Garden Space

Are you mourning a gorgeous specimen that you can't plant because it would dominate your small garden? Or perhaps you're feeling resentful about your inability to grow a wide diversity of plants due to the limited space? Well, it's time you puffed out all that frustration. Among the many brilliant ways to make your small backyard look bigger on a budget, growing dwarf plants perhaps comes foremost. When chosen wisely, they fit right in with the garden's scale, enhancing its aesthetic. Plus, they come in all kinds of forms and shapes, sprawling as ground covers, adding definition to garden beds and borders, or filling out planters and containers. To top it all, they aren't difficult to find, as most nurseries carry them alongside their standard trees.

But before we get ahead of ourselves, let's discover what exactly a dwarf plant species is from Erin Scottberg, who oversees content and education at The Sill and is a horticulturist specializing in urban gardening and plant care. In her exclusive interview with House Digest, she explains, "A dwarf [species] is simply a specific variety of a plant that has been bred to be smaller than you'd usually find it in the wild." But what makes them great for small gardens, and how should you incorporate them into your space? Here's the scoop.

Explaining her reasons for liking dwarf plants in small gardens, Scottberg elaborates in her exclusive House Digest interview: "Dwarf species won't get as big, which makes them more appropriate for smaller spaces. Why? A dwarf size will help the plant remain proportionate to its location (whether it's a container or in-ground), and it will stay at a size that won't overshadow or take over the rest of the garden." That being said, it's worth noting that dwarf doesn't equal tiny. Instead, it works in a more relative sense, where the said plant is smaller than the standard tree it represents. For instance, most fruit trees tower 30 feet high, while their dwarf varieties settle for half their size (about 15 feet). Overall, though, dwarf ornamentals usually stay under 6 feet, but make sure to check the label before buying.

Another reason to grow dwarf plants in small spaces is that they don't ramp up the maintenance. If anything, there will be fewer leaves to clean and fewer pruning cuts to be made, as many of them tend to be slow-growing. Moreover, "Since they're smaller varieties, they usually require less resources like water and fertilizer," points out Scottberg. However, you will need to err on the side of caution for dwarf shrubs. Given optimal environmental and site conditions, they may exceed the stated label size, requiring structural pruning.

Now that we've established that dwarf plants are your golden ticket to a compact, flourishing garden, how should you incorporate them into your stamp-sized space? "It totally depends on what you're looking for and why you're planting," explains Scottberg in her exclusive interview with House Digest. "You can get dwarf versions of all kinds of plants, including popular trees, shrubs, and even perennial flowers. I personally love dwarf varieties of fruit trees, like this Cocktail Grapefruit Tree (the fruits really are great for juices and cocktails!) or this Meyer Lemon Bush (look for the word "compact" in a plant's description to help understand the final size)."

However, before incorporating dwarf fruit trees, bear in mind that they may need stake support. That's because they're usually grafted on dwarfing rootstocks that don't anchor well into the soil. Also, while they certainly fruit sooner than their standard counterparts, the fruit quality may not always be on par. So, check with your local extension or the nursery staff before purchasing. As an aside, you may look into creating a flourishing vegetable garden in a small space — miniature tomatoes and bush beans are excellent options. Another worthy pick is succulents –here's everything you should know before planting them. But if you're keen on growing perennials, consider pinks, coral bells, and bee balms. Keep spreading or rhizome-based varieties potted so they stay a manageable size.