No Backyard? No Problem. Gardening Tips For the Apartment Dweller.

No Backyard? No Problem. Gardening Tips For the Apartment Dweller.

DC’s hot and humid summers, combined with its sunny springs and cool, crisp falls make it an ideal climate for growing a wide variety of plants and produce. However, many DCers take residence in apartment spaces that don’t exactly come standard with large backyards for sweeping vegetable gardens. Luckily, a small space or 17^th floor address needn’t stop you from growing your own. Check out these ideas for making your space a green one and get started today!

Get Creative with Space

You may be amazed that you were able to squeeze your mini fridge into your itsy bitsy apartment and doubtful that any adventures in gardening are in your future. But, think again – there are many ways to get creative with the space you do have available to brighten your space and bring living, growing plants into your life. As the city-dwelling green thumbs at Urban Organic Gardener point out, a fire escape, small railing, windowsill or even just a strip of sunny wall space can be the starting point for your apartment garden.

Maximize indoor sunny spaces by mounting a planter shelf along an outdoor or indoor wall that gets good sunlight. Utilize air space by hanging plants from DIY beaded plant hangers in a sunny kitchen window, bathroom corner, overhanging outdoor ledge or just about anywhere that gets decent sunlight. A stacking candleholder can serve as the perfect infrastructure for a mini herb or succulent garden that can be moved indoors or out and can live anywhere from a sunny corner to a countertop.

Consider planting vertically to get the most from a small space. Check out vertical gardening ideas here.

Got railings? Get growing. Railing planters come in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit your specific space. From fire escape to luxury terrace, a border of bursting flower blooms or bright veggies will take any outdoor space from blah to secret garden in no time.

Get Creative With Materials

Having a successful small-scale home garden doesn’t require a lot of expensive materials and supplies. Get your gardener goggles on and start seeing everyday items and cast offs in a whole new light when you put them to creative use. Think twice before setting out your recyclables – everything from a 2-liter bottle to a 5-gallon bucket to an old metal garbage can to an empty tea tin can become the home to something that grows (note: make sure that any container you use is food grade safe). Those old wicker baskets you have lying around? Line them with old reusable shopping bags then fill them with soil, add seeds and water then set them in a sunny window for a cheap and easy window box garden (see example here). Also, consider repurposing unlikely, inexpensive supplies to maximize your growing potential. Rain gutters mounted to an outdoor sunny wall or windowsill make for easy shallow-root vegetable and herb gardens.

Contained, raised beds are another great option for small-scale gardening because they use minimal space and keep out weeds. Think outside the traditional garden box by using lined, recycled containers such as crates or pallets. Hit the thrift store for an old bookshelf to turn on its back and fill with soil for instant raised beds or plant in vintage dresser drawers for an eclectic, crafty look.

Take It To Go

Plant in easy to relocate pots for smaller herbs, plants and flowers so you can re-customize your miniature Eden whenever you like. For larger arrangements, try planting in aluminum tubs or trash cans with wheels added to the bottom (check out the DIY instructions here) so you can easily bring in your budding beauties during the colder months, move them about your space for optimal sunshine and roll them back out to your balcony, deck or terrace when springtime comes. Also, if you are renting and see yourself relocating in the future, you’ll be able to bring your garden along to your next home.

Indoor Composting

When you think compost, you might think slimy, stinky vegetables rotting under your sink and making your apartment smell like the city dump. Instead, think slimy vegetables rotting under your sink, turning into stink-free black gold that will do for your garden what canned spinach does for Popeye. When approached correctly, indoor composting is easy (and very satisfying!). You’ll divert waste from landfill while creating nutrient rich superfood for your plants, and you’ll feel like a superhero the first time you glance into your bin and notice your trash turning to treasure. Follow these simple directions from Apartment Therapy to get started.

Set Yourself Up for Success

If a pair of green thumbs is just not in your DNA, start your entry into the world of small-scale gardening with some easy-to-grow plants, herbs and poduce that will stand up to your most earnest efforts to kill them and make you more likely to make it past one season of seed slinging. Radishes grow quickly and easily and will encourage you by offering edible bounty within several weeks of planting. Cucumbers, lettuce and tomatoes are easy to grow in small spaces and provide the building blocks for entirely homegrown salads. Herbs such as mint, basil, rosemary, cilantro, chives, lemon balm and mint grow easily in pots (even on your kitchen counter!) and add amazing flavor to many dishes. If you are looking for the lowest of low maintenance plants, succulent gardening may be for you. The seemingly indestructible plants require very little watering or maintenance and add color and texture to any space. For more tips on what to grow, check out this list of veggies that happily grow in the DC area. Then, get creative, get planting and enjoy your space in a whole new way.

 Another good article on vertical gardening with some amazing design pictures here

(Picture source istockphoto # 40904842 used with license)