Living in a flat or house without a garden often leaves little room for cultivating beautiful flowers and delicious vegetables - but even the smallest balcony can be transformed into a flourishing outdoor sanctuary. Hayden Salt, a gardening expert at Jacksons Nurseries, has shared some useful tips to maximise a small outdoor space.

He stated: "Even the most modest of balconies can be turned into a lush, green haven. They can be the perfect space for relaxing, dining, and even harvesting home-grown herbs and vegetables.

"Don't neglect your balcony just because it isn't a big back garden - there's so much you can do to make it your outdoor refuge."

Here are Hayden's top tips for making the most of your outdoor space, as reported by the Mirror US.

Start with herbs and easy-to-grow vegetables

Hayden said: "Herbs are a great starting point to get your balcony feeling homely and a space you want to spend time in. They're easy to grow in pots and most are quite hardy, meaning you don't need to be hugely green-fingered for them to grow successfully."

Basil, thyme, parsley and mint thrive in balcony conditions - and can be used in the kitchen, too. There is also a surprising variety of vegetables that can be grown in pots, including tomatoes, beans, peas, radishes, rocket, chillies, and peppers.

Hayden said: "The key is to go for bigger pots than you think you need, and feed them regularly with a liquid feed. For deeper-rooted veggies like carrots, beetroots or even potatoes, just make sure the container is deep and spacious enough."

Don't worry if your balcony doesn't get much sunlight

There are plenty of plants that can flourish without direct sunlight. Hayden said: "We all want an outdoor space filled with plants and flowers, but a lot of balconies don't get huge amounts of sunlight.

"Rather than abandon the idea entirely, choose things like ferns, geraniums, hostas, tiarella, and begonias - they're excellent choices for shadier spots. "These plants not only tolerate low light but bring rich texture and colour to your space."

Consider plants that maximise the available space

Hayden said: "Fargesia, a non-invasive bamboo, is great for height and movement. Fatsia and the eye-catching Fatsia 'Spider's Web' offer an exotic look and thrive in shade."

He added: "With the right plants and a little care, your balcony can become more than just outdoor storage, it can be your sanctuary."