The Garden Trend To Embrace In 2026 That's Perfect For Small Spaces

According to the United States Census Bureau, 80% of Americans live in urban areas. There are so many great things about living in cities, but one big downside is the lack of outdoor space. Thankfully, a garden trend has arrived to save the day, and it is set to be huge in 2026. This is the micro garden trend, and it's allowing people across the country to connect with nature and grow their own veggies, flowers, and fruits despite not having a big yard.

Micro gardening is all about making the most out of the space you have. It incorporates vertical planting, container planting, and hydroponics, focusing on intensive crop cultivation. These crops can be grown on patios, balconies, and rooftops. Micro gardening is a creative and eco-friendly practice, with many people repurposing scrap materials such as old car tires and wooden pallets as containers. And, of course, there are the delicious crops! As this gardening trend is designed for small spaces, anyone can get involved, regardless of the size of your home or wallet. Micro gardening allows families on low incomes to grow healthy, nutritious fruits and veggies. 

Micro gardening is all about being clever with the size of your patio, balcony, or rooftop, so it is best to do a little planning before jumping into it. If you have a lot of height, vertical planting may be perfect for you. If there is a strong fence on your balcony, you may want to look into what containers you can attach to it. Once you have decided on your technique, have a look at what containers you can recycle and repurpose for your micro garden. Plastic containers, buckets, and wooden boxes can all be used, and pallets and plastic shoe storage systems are perfect for vertical planting. There are so many common household items you can turn into beautiful planters, so have a look around and get creative! However, remember that anything you use will need drainage holes, so add them before planting your seeds.

Another thing to consider when planning your micro garden is location. Is your small space sunny or shady? Does it get any rainfall, or is it sheltered? Keep that in mind when choosing what to grow, and select plants that suit the environment. If there is a way you can harvest rainfall, try to incorporate it into the design of your micro garden. Plants in containers tend to need more water than those in traditional garden plots, so you want to make the most of what nature provides you with. 

Microgreens are, of course, a solid choice for micro gardens, but there are so many other crops you can grow, including lettuce, tomatoes, and cabbage. Micro gardening isn't just for the veggies, either. You can grow loads of flowers and herbs in containers to brighten up your outside space.

When it comes to plants that work well in a vertical garden, opt for crops that are upright or vining, such as pole beans, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Salad greens and succulents are also great for vertical gardens, and look amazing popping out of pallets. For container micro gardens, you may wish to purchase dwarf varieties of vegetables such as tomatoes and cucumbers, as these are bred for small space gardening. However, you can grow most vegetables in containers, so experiment with what you want to grow! Herbs are always a great choice, and there are some beautiful flowers you can grow in containers, such as begonias, impatiens, pelargoniums, and petunias. 

If you are choosing hydroponics for your micro garden, opt for lettuce, herbs, and plants in the brassica family for year-round planting. In the summer, you can grow a wider range of plants in a hydroponic garden, with strawberries, tomatoes, and cucumbers being popular choices.