In addition to being a wonderful way to enhance your home and save money on groceries, gardening is also beneficial for your mental health. According to AARP, gardening has been proven to lessen dementia risk, battle loneliness, and generally improve mood. So, if you ask yourself how to create a garden, you’ve come to the right place!
But, what if you reside in a city or a small apartment? You might not be able to take use of a vast outdoor paradise if you reside in a home or other structure with minimal outdoor space. But that doesn’t exclude you from having a flourishing, albeit small, garden. Here are some tips for creating a garden in a tiny area.
How to Build an Outdoor Compact Garden
Taking up a new activity or having recently moved to a new location? You must first determine what kind of space(s) you have to work with regardless of whether you carry your garden with you or not.
While some apartment occupants are fortunate enough to have a small outdoor area, others are limited to a narrow balcony or walkway. Be at ease! You may create a garden even with a tiny plot of land or even with no floor space at all.
- Get a location
- To house your garden, think about using these spaces: a side yard
- Stoop/porch
- Deck on the roof
- Windowsill
- Fence/wall
Just make sure you have access to that area exclusively and permission to utilize it. Unless you have permission from your landlord or neighbor, a public side alley or shared yard might not be the greatest option. No matter their size, gardens must have these essentials.
Is the Area You Encountered Congested?
Regardless of the size, organizing your garden properly to give your plants the best chance to thrive is one of the most crucial tasks in creating one.
Your mini-garden must still have the correct kind of room, adequate sunlight, nutrients, and hydration to thrive to its full potential.
Adequate Sunshine
Different plant species require varying amounts of sunshine. For instance, the majority of vegetables require six to eight hours per day of direct sunlight. Leafy greens and root crops are examples of plants that can tolerate light shade. Popular flowers like peonies, geraniums, pansies, and chrysanthemums also thrive in full sun.
Loam soil, which drains effectively, holds the right amount of moisture. And enables adequate air to reach plant roots, which is a wonderful all-around option for gardening.
Some flowers and plants can tolerate partial sun better than others. When your garden area doesn’t get a lot of direct sunlight every day, perennials like violets, forget-me-nots, and hydrangeas may grow best.
Adequate Water
I’m sure you’re aware that gardens require water to survive.
But you might not be aware that the quantity of water a plant receives when watering can also make a significant difference depending on the plant. Tomatoes, for instance, might burst open if they suddenly receive a flood of water after being exposed to dry circumstances. If potted plants are overwatered or don’t have adequate drainage, they may also develop root rot. Not to mention, if the leaves get too moist, your foliage could develop blisters or mildew.
In other words, research your flower variety online, and don’t let a little area limit how you can water each plant.
You Must Be Able to Access Each Plant
You should be able to reach all of your plants in the area you choose for your garden so you can hand water as required. Bearing in mind that some plants may require different amounts of water than others.
Naturally, there should also be adequate room for proper drainage, ensuring that your tiny garden is situated in a location where dripping or standing water won’t damage or distort adjacent surfaces.
Work on Vertical Space
If you don’t have much area on the ground to create a garden, think about growing up rather than merely outside.
With the proper support structures, many plants can grow vertically. For instance, cultivate pole beans and vining tomatoes on trellises. Even sprawling melons, squash, and cucumbers can be “trained” to grow upward! (For that, use wire cages or stakes.) To make use of spare vertical space and create a living wall with plants and flowers, you can also hang pots from a trellis panel.
Advice for Creating a Small Indoor Garden
You’re not out of luck if you don’t have a patio or yard to house your garden! You may also create a garden indoors, whether you have a whole room or only a windowsill available.
The amount of natural sunshine it receives and the temperature are two crucial factors to take into account when selecting an interior location for your garden. You should base your plant selection on these considerations.
Indoor plants that thrive with little sun exposure include:
- Herbs like cilantro, mint, basil, and rosemary
- Lettuces and other greens with leaves
- Low-maintenance houseplants including pothos, Chinese money plants, snake plants, and spider plants
- Succulents, such as aloe vera, zebra plants, echeveria, and panda plants, tend to require more sun but also benefit from being drought-resistant.
To Sum Up
As you can see, having a green thumb doesn’t have to go if you live in a small environment. Some plants can survive in a variety of environments. You may create a lovely (little) garden as long as you do your homework and make the necessary plans. Our professionals will help you move your green friends anywhere!
