If you have a smaller garden than most then you will be pleased to hear that many gardeners in similar situations to you have been growing their gardens vertically. A bit like the Chinese and Japanese with their residential arrangements, they actually build their apartment storeys into the sky and storeys into the ground, not much of a view though down there.

A trellis or wooden fence can be purchased from your local DIY store and attached to your wall or existing fence and you might try growing a honeysuckle or there are other climbing plants. This will act as a great place for birds to nest and insects to live. Or perhaps consider replacing an existing fence with a hedge of mixed growths. If you prefer the single species hedges holly is an option or any other berry-giving shrub.

Whatever you choose there’s a whole space of fun waiting above your typical, regular garden ready for your enjoyment, just buy some small steps to make it easier on you if you are the shorter gardener.

The colours and scents you use in your garden are not only there to please you and your neighbours the viewers and consumers of the garden’s aesthetics. It is also useful to have colours and scents to attract the wildlife and insects in the area. The insects will be attracted by the colours and come in search of pollen and nectar. Like opportunist thief-like magpies they will take full advantage of the delights your garden has to offer.

Marina Christopher, trained ecologist and owner of Phoenix Perennial Plants says “Select plants that have simple flower structures, double-flowered cultivars are often less sterile and don’t produce a lot of nectar.”

She says to plant your flowers into groups as the aggregated strength of all the flowers make it easier for insects to detect and they will come to investigate.

If you look to nature for guidance you will see that white-flowering plants such as viburnum, hawthorn and crab apples are often found near berry plants which give food for birds and other animals in the wild.

Why is it so important to garden for wildlife? It’s an age old question. Your garden is very important for the survival of the UK’s wildlife. Whether your garden is big or small it is equally important, in fact small gardens in the UK make up the majority of the UK’s green space. So everyone can do their bit.

At many of the RHS flower shows this year’s conserving wildlife and sustaining wildlife were the running themes there. Highlighted were insect-loving primulas and artificial (created by hand) beehives. It isn’t just a fly-by-night whim making these the hot topics this year, and eco-friendly garden promotes pest and disease control in your garden.

Marina Christopher, trained ecologist and owner of Phoenix Perennial Plants, thinks too many people are deterred by wildlife gardening because they do not want a messy garden. “I don’t think you need an untidy garden to attract wildlife. It’s the choice of plants that makes a difference.”

 

Planting nectar-rich flowers and shrubs that produce berries are some of the simple changes to your garden you can do to promote more opportunities for wildlife wanting to make a habitat in your garden.

You can have the best garden in the world with perfect lawns and beds of flowers, worthy of a place in a fancy magazine. But if you over do it, like many of us have, digging, weeding and planting then you won’t be able to enjoy it, and with this summer set to be a warm one that’s something you definitely want to do.

You can easily burn off 300 calories in an hour when you are gardening, so an hour in the garden is the same as an hour in the gym jogging or cycling. It is about keeping active, it doesn’t matter what you do.

Just like in the gym though you need a warm up to get your muscles ready for the off.

I recently took up Pilates and I specifically asked for exercises that would help me with the gardening movements I make every day. Also to avoid spinal injuries there are movements in pilates that help keep the spine straight rather than slumped over like when you are gardening, so it trains you to use these movements when gardening.

As more and more people give up living in large houses with gardens and swap them for apartment living, many of them refuse to give up their gardening lifestyles.

Urban people are growing their vegetables and flowers in container gardens, on their balconies.

Bev Worsley does just this because she wanted to maintain her organic diet. She doesn’t want to compromise on the quality of her food so she made certain her new apartment had a container garden installed when it was built. She will continue to grow her herbs and vegetables.

“Just because I am moving into the city does not mean I want to give up on good, healthy eating,” she says. “I am not giving up on my lifestyle.”

With urban gardens they are smaller which is better for finding problems quicker and easier. So fungal infections that are more common in these container gardens are not allowed to spread and cause havoc.

“In an urban garden, you are always up-close and personal with your plants.”