If you’re looking to start a garden at home, there are a few things you should figure out before you run out to buy plants. If, however, you feel like you cannot have a garden because of the space you lack, you may be in luck! This blog will examine a few ways to figure out what kind of garden is ideal for your home, and what steps you can take to figure out the right types of plants for you.
Condo and Apartment Gardening
The smallest place, and often the most demanding of creativity, is an apartment or condominium space. For many people, apartments and condominiums do not include yards, which can be limiting when it comes to gardening. Don’t give up! Focus on the space you do have. Does your unit have a balcony or patio? A balcony garden may be the perfect solution. If you prefer to have an indoor gardening setup, look into vertical garden planters, or perhaps your windowsills. It may be possible that your apartment building has an outside wall facing away from the general public. If so, ask your property manager (something you should do before setting up any of these gardens) if it would be possible to setup a garden in that unused space, away from view.
Townhomes and Small Yards
If you’re home has a small grass area, you have a few things you can do. If you do not own the space, be sure to check with your property manager before building anything, as they may not want you digging up grass for the dirt you’ll need in your garden. Check the sunlight (something we’ll cover in the next section) the small area has and measure the amount of space. Consult your local nursery to find out what plants will thrive. If you’re unable to remove grass for your garden, consider pots, containers, or garden walls. Many plants will work as effectively in pots as in the ground.
How Much Sunlight?
Once you’ve figured out the space you’ll be using, it’s important to determine how much sunlight that space gets. Figuring this out will take a day, but is pretty easy to do. Wake up early enough to discover the moment sunlight arrives at your garden space and write down the time. Continue to check on your garden space as the day moves on so that you are able to discover the time direct sunlight stops being available. Write down the time again. The difference between those times will directly relate to the types of plants you should include in your garden. All plants have a shade tolerance, an ability to tolerate low levels of sunlight. The amount of time your garden space gets direct sunlight will tell you what types of plants you can get based on their shade tolerance.
It’s time to get some plants! You know what size your garden is, the types of garden containers you’ll be using, and how much sunlight your garden will get on a day-to-day basis. Visit your local nursery and talk with an expert about that information. In most cases, the horticulturist (a scientist that studies plants) or plantsman/plantswoman (plant enthusiasts) will be able to narrow the list of optimum plants for the garden you’re creating. All that’s left is to choose your favorite from the list they give you.
Enjoy your new garden!
Resources:
https://www.aarpmedicareplans.com/aarpoptum/gardening-and-your-health
https://www.aarpmedicareplans.com/aarpoptum/dig-it-yard-work-and-gardening-for-exercise