Jennifer Sheahan: I have a tiny garden. Here's how I maximise every square millimetre

We need to be creative when our outdoor space is a bijou patio, small courtyard or a balcony. This is the advice that works in our Irish climate

Jennifer's garden with folding dining furniture, tiled bench seating, and vertical garden wall. Picture: Moya Nolan

Summer has arrived, and as always, I want to make the most of every precious sunny moment. My house is over a hundred years old and comes with what estate agents might optimistically call "a compact courtyard garden". In reality, it's a tiny 2m x 2m outdoor space that I've been determined to maximise since buying the house. 

And I'm not alone — many of us in Ireland are dealing with balconies, patios and small gardens that challenge our creativity when it comes to outdoor living.