Living in Rhode Island means loving charm over square footage—and that includes the backyard. My lawn’s not much bigger than a picnic blanket, but that didn’t stop me from turning it into a lush little escape.
With a few clever tricks and compact plant picks, I squeezed style, function, and even fresh veggies into a space I once thought was too small to matter. If your lawn’s tiny but your garden dreams are big, these space-saving ideas might just change everything.
1. Vertical Herb Gardens Using Rain Gutters
Old rain gutters make perfect channels for growing herbs on fences or walls. Simply clean them thoroughly, drill drainage holes, and mount them in a sunny spot.
Rhode Island’s moderate rainfall keeps these naturally watered during spring and summer months. Plus, having fresh basil, thyme, and rosemary within arm’s reach makes cooking with homegrown ingredients super easy!
2. Hanging Basket Flower Towers
Why grow out when you can grow up? A hanging basket tower uses vertical space brilliantly for Rhode Island gardens. Start with a strong shepherd’s hook and hang multiple baskets at different heights.
Choose flowers that thrive in our coastal climate like petunias or sweet alyssum. The salty air actually helps certain flowers bloom more vibrantly! Stack three or four baskets for a stunning floral column that takes up just one square foot.
3. Pallet Vegetable Gardens
Wooden pallets transformed into vertical gardens are perfect for growing vegetables in limited spaces. Stand a pallet upright, staple landscape fabric to the back and bottom, fill with soil, and plant between the slats.
Leafy greens like spinach and kale thrive in Rhode Island’s spring and fall temperatures. One pallet can grow enough veggies for weekly salads! Mount it against a sunny wall or fence to maximize your tiny lawn’s potential.
4. Spiral Herb Gardens
Spiral herb gardens create microclimates in just a few square feet – perfect for Rhode Island’s variable conditions. Build a small spiral mound with bricks or stones, creating a path that winds upward.
Plant drought-tolerant herbs like oregano at the top and moisture-loving ones like mint at the bottom. The unique design means different herbs get exactly the conditions they need! During summer heat waves, the stone retains warmth, extending your growing season well into fall.
5. Tiered Container Gardens
Stacking containers at different heights creates a garden that rises upward instead of spreading outward. Use sturdy crates, barrels cut in half, or purpose-made tiered planters.
Rhode Island’s coastal breezes help prevent fungal issues in these dense plantings. Mix flowers and edibles for both beauty and function! Try growing strawberries in the top tier – they’ll cascade down beautifully while saving precious ground space in your tiny lawn.
6. Windowbox Salad Gardens
Windowboxes aren’t just for flowers! Mount them on deck railings, fences, or actual windows to grow salad greens within arm’s reach. The shallow depth is perfect for lettuce, arugula, and radishes.
Rhode Island’s spring and fall temperatures are ideal for these cool-weather crops. Harvest outer leaves while leaving the centers to regrow for continuous harvests. A 24-inch windowbox can produce enough greens for a salad every few days throughout the growing season!
7. Espalier Fruit Trees
Espalier is an ancient technique of training trees to grow flat against walls or fences – perfect for tiny Rhode Island yards! Apple and pear trees work wonderfully in our climate and can be trained into beautiful patterns.
The trees take up just inches of ground space while still producing full-sized fruit. Against a south-facing wall, the extra warmth helps ripen fruit even in cooler coastal areas. One espaliered apple tree can produce 15-20 pounds of fruit in a mature season!
8. Trellised Cucumber Arches
Create a living garden feature by building an arch from cattle panels or sturdy wire mesh. Plant cucumbers or small squash at the base and train them upward.
The arch becomes a green tunnel covered in vegetables and flowers! Rhode Island’s humid summers help these vining plants thrive without extra watering. You’ll save valuable ground space while harvesting pounds of vegetables from vertical space that would otherwise go unused.
9. Stackable Strawberry Planters
Specialized strawberry towers let you grow dozens of plants in just one square foot of space. The stacked design has openings on all sides where strawberry plants emerge and cascade downward.
Rhode Island’s moderate summer temperatures are perfect for June-bearing varieties. One tower can produce several quarts of berries! Position these in a sunny spot away from the salt spray if you’re near the coast, as strawberries prefer fresh water over brackish moisture.
10. Keyhole Gardens For Vegetables
Keyhole gardens are raised beds with a notch cut out for easy access – imagine a circle with a pie slice removed. The unique shape lets you reach all plants without stepping on soil.
Perfect for growing vegetables in Rhode Island’s sometimes unpredictable weather, the raised design warms up earlier in spring. Add a compost column in the center to continuously feed your plants! This efficient design can grow enough vegetables for daily harvests in summer from just a 5-foot diameter circle.
11. Living Wall Succulent Gardens
Transform a sunny fence or wall into a living tapestry of succulents using special pocket planters or modified pallet designs. Hardy succulents like sempervivum and sedum survive Rhode Island winters with minimal protection.
The vertical orientation means water drains quickly, preventing rot in our sometimes rainy climate. Create patterns with different colored varieties for a true garden artwork! Living walls add insulation to buildings too, helping moderate temperatures in both summer and winter.
12. Repurposed Rain Barrel Planters
Cut old plastic rain barrels in half to create deep planters perfect for tomatoes or small fruit bushes. Drill drainage holes, fill with quality soil, and position in the sunniest spot of your tiny lawn.
Rhode Island’s rainfall patterns make these self-watering when positioned under roof downspouts. Paint them bright colors to add visual interest! One half-barrel can support a full-sized tomato plant that produces dozens of fruits in our warm summer months.
13. Hanging Gutter Strawberry Systems
Mount lengths of PVC gutters on sunny fences to create perfect strawberry growing channels. The elevated position keeps berries clean and away from slugs common in Rhode Island gardens.
Drill drainage holes every few inches and plant strawberries 8 inches apart. The runners will cascade down, creating a beautiful edible display! Alpine strawberries work especially well in this system, producing small, intensely flavored berries from spring through fall in our moderate climate.
14. Corner Pyramid Gardens
Unused corners become productive growing spaces with pyramid-shaped structures. Build a simple frame with decreasing-sized square tiers from bottom to top.
Plant sun-lovers at the top and shade-tolerant varieties at the bottom. Rhode Island’s maritime climate keeps these structures from drying out too quickly. A 4-foot square base can support dozens of plants while taking advantage of otherwise wasted corner space in tiny yards!
15. Bottle Tower Gardens
Recycle plastic bottles into vertical growing towers by cutting openings in the sides and stacking them on a central pole. Fill with soil and plant leafy greens or herbs in each opening.
The tower design lets you grow dozens of plants in just one square foot! Rhode Island’s regular rainfall helps keep these naturally watered. Position in a sheltered spot as our coastal winds can sometimes topple taller versions unless they’re properly secured.
16. Cinder Block Herb Gardens
Arrange cinder blocks in interesting patterns to create instant planters in their openings. The blocks retain heat, creating warm microclimates perfect for Mediterranean herbs that love Rhode Island’s sunny summer days.
Paint the blocks in bright colors for added visual appeal. The concrete material slowly releases calcium, which many herbs appreciate! A simple 3×3 foot arrangement can create up to 20 individual planting holes – enough for a complete herb collection in minimal space.