Most of us are living in a concrete jungle in the city. Little do we realize, our soul is always longing to have a little bit of nature with us. Having a garden at our home can do wonders for us. Not only will you be able to have fresh produce to eat, your home will smell amazing too.
Having a small garden does not mean you cannot have a functional and enjoyable space. In fact, a small garden offers you a challenge to tackle and allows your creativity to go wild. Read on for some tips on how to cultivate your own garden in a small space!
1. Use Raised Beds
One thing you can do is to use raised beds to plant your plants. Raised beds are tall and deep containers, with or without stands. This is a good way to have fertile produce due to the spacing and the amount of loose soil you have.
Raised beds offer a great environment for your plants. Having your plants growing close together means that there is little space for weeds to grow. That also means that you will spend less time weeding, save time watering them and when the time comes, harvesting them too.
2. Grow a Vertical Garden
If you have really limited floor space, fret not, you can still have your garden. Opt for a vertical garden instead. There are different ways you can have a vertical garden. You can either put up a grill against the wall and plant trailing plants like vines, money plants or vegetables like peas. You can also hang pots and plant different types of plants in your vertical garden.
Having a lush, green wall is not only aesthetically pleasing but will also help to improve the air quality in your house. You can also have a vertical garden outdoors or even indoors. Have an indoor herb garden in your kitchen for easy access when cooking.
3. Plant in Containers
Choose container gardening if you have a variety of plants in mind for your garden. The beauty of container gardening is that you can have lush plants anywhere and anytime according to the size of your container. You can arrange and rearrange your containers anytime according to the needs of your plants or your design.
You can use any kind of container – be it terracotta pots, plastic pots or even old cooking pots and kettles. Not only is this a great way to start your garden, it is also a great addition to your zero waste journey.
4. Diversify Your Plants
I get it, you want flowers in your garden or you are set on having only vegetables. But, your garden will thank you if you diversify your plants. Planting your veggies with your flowers would be great for your garden. Sure it will make harvesting just a little bit tricky but not impossible.
Interplanting your plants can ensure you have the best of both worlds. Your veggies will benefit from pollinators from the flowers. And vice versa, having pollinating flowers will help the declining bee population too.
5. Plant in Your Mini Balcony or Windowsill
Maybe you only have window sills or a mini balcony – just enough for the aircon condenser, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have your garden. Having your plants in containers or hanging pots is the best way to tackle this problem. Not only will this allow you to have your own piece of garden, it will look great from the outside too. Imagine driving past a house and seeing a mini balcony overflowing with bright colours bougainvillea – what a sight to behold. It is also a simple and efficient way to keep a garden.
6. Treat Your Soil Like a Baby
Small gardens can yield big results too. If your house is not on a landed property, the soil in your garden might need some loving. Make sure you fertilise your soil to ensure your plants are happy. Avoid using pesticides or herbicides that are not good for both you and your plants. There are plenty of organic fertilizers that you can use. Maybe you could even start your own compost and use it to baby your soil.
7. Location Matters
Where you grow your plants matter. Every plant, just like you and me, has its own needs. If you’re starting a salad garden, be sure to keep it in a shaded space and not under direct heat. Some plants love direct sun while some like indirect light more. Some plants love getting hydrated and some thrive with little water. Get to know your plants and give them what they need.
