Small Patio Ideas: Which Plants to Use

If you lack outdoor space or don’t want to go through the hassle of maintaining an in-ground garden, you can still enjoy the perks of growing your own herbs, vegetables, fresh fruits, and flowers in small spaces. 

Homeowners and apartment dwellers can spruce up their patios to create a little patch of heaven for many purposes. If you have a bit of extended living space or have a green thumb itching to show what it can do, let’s dive into a few small patio ideas to get you started. 

How Can I Make My Patio Look Nice?

Today, there are many backyard patio ideas to add beauty, color, and fragrance into your home. You can add a plant to your patio for various reasons: 

• They can help create borders between it and the rest of the house, outdoor furniture, or define pathways 
• They can add height to cover up less attractive areas of the yard
• They can even be used to block out noise; a thick bush can lessen noise from a highway

Don’t be afraid to experiment and have fun with many small patio ideas. For backyard space-saving, map out a plan for where you’d like the furniture to be placed. Decide on how big the furniture pieces should be. It’s all in the details.

Incredible Designs According to Your Needs

Flower-Filled Planters

Flowers add life to any bleak or vacant setting and instantly boost its appeal. Why not add some bright blooms to your small patio? Have them hang from the ceiling to provide that fragrance burst as your guests walk in through the door.

Patio Wall Planter

Vertical gardening is a way to utilize your small patio space well. It creates a striking aesthetic to any terrace or patio. Wall planters are also easier to maintain than a traditional garden.

Trained Trees

This is an easy enough substitute for wall planters. It also doubles as a floor space-saving initiative. Through a process called espalier, certain fruit trees can be pruned to grow against a wall. An espalier requires a lot of pruning during its growing season to keep it in control.

It’s advisable to start off with a 1 or 2-year-old (dwarf) tree. Attach two pliable branches to a wire that’s 18 inches off the ground as per the suggestions of the Oregon State University Extension Service.

Potted Fruit Trees

A fruit tree does well in small patio spaces. In particular, fig trees and calamondins can grow in pots that are at least 1 foot deep and 1 foot in diameter. 

One great idea is to pile them up on different kinds of furniture. This will draw attention and make them the centerpiece of your small patio. 

Be sure to choose a variety that can withstand at least two zones colder than your area. This is because planters freeze faster than the ground.

Grow a Snake Plant

For small patio spaces, a snake plant averaging 12 ft in height and 3 feet in width is the best fit. Create an eye-catching display with snake plant varieties such as Black Gold, Twisted Sister, and Cleopatra. Place them on a side table or shelves in your small patio to add flair.

Patio Container Gardening

A small patio space doesn’t have to feel limiting when it comes to plants. Container gardening is amazing proof of that. Put them up on furniture (like a table), besides railings or by the door. 

Add plastic planters or terracotta that overflow with anything from wildflowers to tomatoes! Have fun decorating your containers. Alternatively, buy unique, colorful pots to match your color scheme.

How Do I Maximize a Small Patio With Plants?

When planning for your small patio, consider what area receives no sun, partial sun, or full sun. To yield a successful crop, you need to choose plants that will thrive in the conditions you have. Some plants need full sun for 6-8 hours a day to ensure they have a healthy growing season.  

Plants to Consider

Earlier on, we mentioned some of the amazing ways a plant can add to the aesthetic of your small patio. Here’s a more detailed look at what plant is best suited for each purpose. 

Remember: as you pick out a plant for your patio ideas, pay attention to the variety you get. Some may need slightly different growing conditions.  

If you want to create privacy, height, and block out noise in your outdoor space, check out Honeysuckle, morning glories, or clematis.

• 

• 

• 

Plant	USDA Growing Zones	Flower Color	Sun exposure	Soil pH
Clematis	4-9	pink, purple, white, yellow, burgundy, bi-colors	Full sun but remember to shade or mulch the roots	7.0-8.5
Morning Glories	3-10	blue, pink, white, purple, bi-colors	Full sun	6.0-6.8.0
Honeysuckle	4-9	white, matures to yellow	Full sun to partial shade	5.5.-8.0

To create a small patio border, cluster a few containers in different shapes and sizes. For this, check out geraniums, baby tears, or lady’s mantle.

• 

• 

• 

Plant	USDA Growing Zones	Flower Color	Sun exposure	Soil pH
Lady’s Mantle	3-8	yellow	Partial shade, full sun	5.5-7.5
Geraniums	3-9	white, pink, blue, purple	Full sun to part shade	5.8-6.3
Baby Tears	9-11	Creamy ivory	(indoors) bright filtered light, (Outdoors) part sun	5.0-6.0

Herbs that you can cook with or make salads from is a big plus to have. You get to make trips to your small patio and fix up meals with produce you trust.

• 

• 

• 

Plant	USDA Growing Zones	Flower Color	Sun exposure	Soil pH
Rosemary	9-11	white, pink, blue	Full sun	5.0-8.0
Mint	3-11	white, purple, pink	Partial shade	5.5-6.0
Basil	2-11	purple	Full sun	5.1-8.5

What Can I Do With a Small Outdoor Patio?

Maximizing on the small patio space you have can be a fun and creative experience. It’s as simple as combining clever ideas and techniques to meet your expectations.

By customizing these small patio ideas to your specific tastes and requirements, you will make your space reflect your personality. It’s the best way to make your home feel homier. 

All you need to start with is determining what you intend to use your patio for. 

If your space is for entertaining, relaxing, or dining, you still need to work around a theme or design. The considerations for a small patio space are:

• Its purpose or function
• Designs that help maximize the small space
• The ambiance you want to create 

Take plants for example. How would you like to plant the patio area? What kind of plant would you love to add? Might they interfere with your furniture or fire pit? 

What about your floor space? Would you like to install a brick patio floor or a concrete paver? 

You also need to think about what furniture designs or accessories you want to use. Make sure they match your color scheme and won’t take up too much space. You can have a side table, lanterns, a fire pit, beanbags and so much more. You only have to pick out what small patio ideas work best in your space.  

Here’s another idea for patio lighting. Consider installing fairy lights on the ceiling (if any) along with your flower pots or walls for that magical charm. 

Try not to clutter your space! Focus on small patio ideas that help you find accessories or styles that won’t be taxing on your patio.  

Want More Ideas? 

At Gardening Channel, we’re excited to help you make the most of your outdoor space. We make a great effort to ensure our articles are up to date and full of exciting ideas. Patio, balcony, garden – you name it – we’ve got you covered.

Our vast collection of articles can help you create the perfect home you’ve always wanted. Our small patio ideas are just the tip of the iceberg. Here are more ideas: 

• ‌5‌ ‌Stylish‌ ‌Backyard‌ ‌Gazebo‌ ‌Plans‌ 
• Balcony and Porch Gardens
• ‌Creative‌ ‌Ideas‌ ‌to‌ ‌Grow‌ ‌a‌ ‌Vertical‌ ‌Garden‌ ‌in‌ ‌Your‌ ‌Small‌ ‌Space

Photo from pxhere.com