If you live in an apartment, gardening can be a
challenge. Most apartment dwellers have
only small patios or balconies which can make gardening difficult. Thankfully, there are some ways that you can
create a beautiful garden complete with wall art in even the smallest of
outdoor spaces. Use the tips and tricks
below to get you started on the path to fresh vegetables and greener living.
Measure and Plan
The first thing you will need to do is to measure your
available outdoor space. If your
apartment is on the ground floor and you have a fenced in patio, your options
are a greater than someone who is limited to a three foot by four foot balcony. No matter how big or how small your space,
measure it and map it on a sheet of graph paper. Also mark down where in the space receives
the most sunlight and when. For
instance, if the right half of the balcony is in constant shade, you will know
that plants requiring full sun will not thrive there. If you are unsure as to what the sun pattern
in like for your space, spend a day observing how the sun reaches your patio or
balcony. This will help you greatly when
planning where your plants should be placed.
Containers
For most apartment dwellers, placing plants directly in the
ground, as opposed to a container, is just not an option. An apartment garden's best friend is the
container. Recycle galvanized buckets as
containers plants; you can find used ones cheaply enough at garage sales or pick
up some new ones at a hardware store, then paint them in fun vibrant
colors. Your containers must have
drainage holes, so punch some holes into the bottom of those buckets. When
selecting containers, also keep in mind the size of the plants as they mature. A tomato plant that is two inches tall when
you purchase it, may grow to be three feet tall. Choose a container that is big enough to
accommodate such growth. The more
colorful your containers, the more colorful you garden space will be throughout
the summer.
Decorations
Part of the fun of having a garden, whether it is located in
a large backyard or on an apartment patio, is decorating it with
accessories. Outdoor butterfly metal
art, shimmering glass sun catchers and even garden gnomes can all make
their way into your apartment balcony garden.
The key is to select pieces that are size appropriate for the
space. While a three foot garden gnome
may look just fine in a large garden, he would overwhelm a balcony space with
his height and girth. Instead, choose
smaller pieces for the planters and patio floor space.
Decorating your apartment patio with garden plants and decor
is a great way to be environmentally friendly, as well as, health
conscious. Nothing tastes better than
fresh herbs, ripe garden tomatoes and crisp green beans from the vine. Make use of your outdoor space to the fullest
and turn your apartment balcony or patio into a living space.
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