Maximizing Your Space: A Guide to Creating Small Gardens in Compact Spaces
Gardens are more than just beautiful flowers or a source of healthy food. They relieve stress, help boost the immune system, and so much more. They provide so many benefits that it's hard to find a reason not to grow one. Unfortunately, people who live in apartments or homes with minimal yard space often think gardening is out of reach for them, but having a small, or no, yard doesn't have to be a problem. There are ways to build an attractive or fruitful garden within even the smallest of spaces.
Defining Your Gardening Space and Goals
To start a gardening project with minimal usable space, define the area and create gardening goals for it. To do that, one should think of what the garden's purpose is and what part of the space they can adapt to accomplish that purpose. If planning a garden on a small balcony, the goal might be relaxation or to add color. The next step is to consider how to best accomplish that goal. This might involve creating a privacy wall covered in hanging flowers, for example. If the goal is to look out of a window and see splashes of color where there's no balcony or ledge, a window box might best accomplish this.
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Researching and Selecting Plants
People need to make the right choices when buying plants for their gardens. The plants that they choose will need to thrive in the garden. When researching a plant, check that it can survive the climate by checking its cold-hardiness and the Heat Zone Map. One should also know how much light the plant requires in order to grow. People who have minimal time to tend to their gardens need to know how much maintenance each of their plants will need.
Before buying, check each plant to see if they look healthy, needs any type of special care, and if they are susceptible to disease or pests. To ensure the quality of a plant, look into the reputation of the nursery and avoid places with too many negative reviews.
What You Should Know Before You Choose Your Plants
Vertical Gardening
Vertical gardening is a fantastic method of gardening that's ideally suited for areas with little space. Instead of using precious floor space, a vertical garden grows on structures that stand upright. Trellises, walls, fencing, or nearly any standing structure can make a good starting point for this type of flower, or even vegetable, garden. There are a couple of ways to garden vertically, starting with a secured structure that's strong enough to withstand the weight. Use climbing plants that will cover the structure as it grows from the ground up, or attach individual planters or hanging pots to the structure. Whichever way one chooses, avoid making it too top-heavy or allowing it to grow so full that plants at the bottom are in shadow and cannot receive light.
Square Foot Gardening
The square-foot method uses less space and water than traditional gardening methods. This technique confines the garden to garden boxes made of untreated wood, cement blocks, or brick. After filling the box with soil, it's divided into sections where one can plant different vegetables. What makes it a great option is that it allows people to grow a full and varied garden without using too much space. Most boxes are 4 feet long and 4 feet wide and 6 to 12 inches deep for root growth. It is good for growing vegetables that aren't overly large and won't spread out too much. Herbs, spinach, and carrots all do well using this space-saving method.
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The Pros and Cons of Square Foot Gardening
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Container Gardening
Container gardening is a go-to option for many living in areas where growing a traditional garden is not an option. While this type of garden can be a beautiful addition to any space, it is ideal for individuals whose only outside space is a balcony, deck, or a small porch. Flowers, certain fruit, such as strawberries, and even small trees are well-suited for this gardening type. The ability to use a wide range of containers is one of the more appealing aspects of using containers. People can use their choice of container to reflect their personalities or help make their gardening space an even more relaxing place. Regardless of the look of the container, it should have small holes at the bottom for drainage and be appropriately sized for the plant.
Container Gardening
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Contained Excitement
Windowsill Gardening
In some places, particularly more urban areas, people may not have access to outdoor space of any size. Windowsill gardens are a great solution to this problem. A windowsill garden is, as its name suggests, a type of garden housed in containers that fit on the sill of a window. Windowsills provide lots of natural light and are suitable for edible flowers, herbs, and certain vegetables.
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Hanging Planters
Hanging planters are baskets, or another type of container, that are hung on walls, from overhangs, or on attached or freestanding hooks. They work very well in tight spaces. These planters may be metal or plastic and lined to help with hydration. People use clusters of hanging planters to create vegetable or flower gardens on walls or other standing surfaces. Another type of hanging planter is the upside-down planter, which is inverted so that the roots are at the top and are easy to water.
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This page was published by Chad Kremp
