Urban Gardening Ideas - They're Not Just For Growing Vegetables

Urban gardens encompass a variety of plants in a limited amount of space within the city. Some gardens include flowers, cacti, herbs, fruits and vegetables. Whether growing a garden on a balcony, using the rooftop or another available small space, there are many ways to display your urban gardening ideas.

Urban Gardening Ideas

If you are new to the urban gardening scene, the first thing to consider is the size of your space and how you’re going to utilize it. Once you know the amount of space that you have to dedicate to your garden, you can begin to research what plants grow best in the climate where you live. In addition, it is necessary to know the amount of space they will need to flourish. For visual learners, it may be beneficial to draw out the area you are going to be working with. Sketch out where you want to plant everything to give yourself a different perspective of what your new urban garden will potentially look like.

Urban Gardening on Display

The way you display your garden can be as unique as you are. You can use everything from regular pots to hanging baskets, or even vertical gardens.

Vertical gardens can come in an array of shapes and forms. You can stack planters, use trellis, and buy a vertical plant tower. Other options are to hang wall pockets, use ladder shelving or even attach tin cans to a wall. Vertical gardens help you fully utilize your space, and bring aesthetically pleasing height and dimension.

Urban Gardening Plants

Some gardens are filled with produce, and some are known for their bounty of florals, while others are a mixture of each. Herb gardens are another popular urban gardening choice. Choose the type of garden that works best for you.

It’s important to take note of what plants grow well in pots or smaller spaces, since urban gardening is all about bringing a vibrant, green thumb to the city. Spatial relation is also an important factor to consider, because some plants need a little more growing room than others. Depending on the amount of space you have, certain plants may be able to grow in the same pot.

Edible Gardens

Some edible plants you might want to consider incorporating into your small oasis are strawberries, blueberries, rosemary, lemon and lime trees, and petite rose bushes. The plump juicy red berries of the Galletta Strawberry plant are the perfect addition to any size garden. They are especially good for those with limited space because of their adaptability to pots or other confined spaces. The Climax Blueberry bush provides instant gratification and will produce fruit the very first year. This sun loving fruit bush is ideal for warmer climates. A Meyer Lemon tree is surprisingly easy to grow, and will produce juicy sweet lemons up to 4 times a year. Another surprisingly great recommendation is the self pollinating Dwarf Key Lime tree.

Floral Gardens

The Petite Knock Out Rose bush is an ideal addition whether you have been gardening for years or gardening is a new adventure. It only grows to 18 inches tall and is perfect for tiny spaces. Butterfly bushes, azaleas, and viburnum are all great flowering options, depending on your growing zone.

Plants For Trellis

Climbing plants like the White Climbing Hydrangea Vine or Amethyst Falls Wisteria Vine add beauty along patio walls or on trellis.

Plants For Beginners

If you are a beginner and want to start with tougher plants, Barberry bushes and lilacs are good starter plants. Succulents are also extremely low maintenance and can be quite beautiful.

Plant Care

Plant care will vary depending on plant choice, space, growing zone, etc. Be sure to give your plants enough water but a common problem we see in urban gardens is overwatering. If your plant looks like it’s wilting, it can be natural to give it more water. However, first you’ll need to determine whether you’re over watering or under watering. If there is water spilling into the pot’s saucer, you may be over watering and causing root rot.

The beauty of an urban garden is that you can start small and expand as you become more comfortable. Look for pots and planters that match your style and spatial availability. Have fun with this new adventure. Experiment and don’t be afraid to change things up.