Tips for Garden planning for small spaces

 Small Space Garden  No Responses »
Jun 272010
 

These tips are used in all my gardens but for small space gardening they seem to work very well. When making a small space garden you need to make sure each plant compliments the others and really does the work of two plants.

mailbox planting 2
Creative Commons License photo credit: normanack

I am redoing my entire front yard due to severe flood damage and many of the garden area will be small. Although the hillside terrace garden will be about 35 foot long by 5 to 15 foot wide I will be creating small space garden areas, many with different uses.

So here are a few tips or garden practices I will be using in all my garden areas, especially my new small gardens.

Edging.

Any garden bed or border will be easier to maintain if they are edged. This will help keep the surround grass and weeds from invading your garden beds. You can select brick, metal plastic or stone and an edging. Your chose will be influenced by cost, materials on hand or prior landscaping.

I usually go for what I have on hand or what I can use at the best price. For me that is free. Recently I used old round metal hoops I found. And in my current project most of my edgings will be rock.

And if you have lawn around your bed you may want to add a 6 to 12 inch edging of stone or masonry, which you will set even with the surrounding soil. This will give you a wide mowing strip around your garden making lawn care easier. And this also looks nice.

Mulch

Using a mulch in your gardens will help control weeds, cut down on watering, help prevent erosion and water runoff (a problem in my yard) and will give you garden areas a common look and flow if they are scattered on your property. Once I mulched a garden I was hooked. It just simplifies lawn work.

I use mainly organic mulches as I find them for free in my area. Organic mulches include leaves, leaf mold, shredded bark and aged sawdust. You could also use compost. These materials have to be topped with a fresh layer every couple of years as they tend to decay and settle.

Mulches that are more permanent are crushed stone, masonry or brick. These hold up well over time but do not improve the soil like organic mulch will. To find free rock or brick you may want to contact a local construction company.

Garden plan

A garden plan is beneficial to any garden but in a small space garden is almost a necessity. With a plan you can make the best use out of you space. It’s also a great way to make plans for any seasonal changes what you may have in your growing climate.

With a little planning you can tuck a small space garden into any corner or unused space in your yard or patio areas. Even urban dwellers will be able to have fresh flowers and vegetables in their home.

My first new small space gardens will be a mailbox garden and a barrier end garden.

Posted by Denise at 2:04 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,

Growing tips for healthy Perennial flowers.

 Backyard Garden  No Responses »
Mar 142010
 

Perennial flowers have an advantage over annuals if you’re looking for low maintenance gardens. I often place perennials in tucked away areas of the yard or on hillsides. I also find a perennial garden work perfectly for a small space garden.

Lupins en fleur.
Creative Commons License photo credit: DubyDub2009

But just because a flower is a perennial does not mean they take no care. I also add a few annuals to a perennial garden area to fill in holes and give you those bright splashed of continuous color annuals are known for.

Perennial planting tips:

  1. Perennial flowers are best planted in mid to late spring. This gives them time to adjust to their new home and get a solid roothold before the heat of summer.
  2. Perennials are generally in a root ball form. You will not see many roots unless the plant is root bound and this will create problems with the plant growing properly. You may have to divide the plant to loosen the roots.
  3. Plan ahead and count how many plants you plan on putting into the ground. If there are more than 5 medium sized plants, you want an area about 7 1/2 feet to plant in. Measure out the area of your yard that gets good morning light and evening shade. Perennials thrive in this lighting situation.
  4. Find the area in your yard that will accommodate the area needed for your number and size of plants. If your perennials were bought in a store, refer to the tag as to how much water and light each plant will need. You may want to research the perennial plant varieties more to aid you in plant placement.
  5. When planning your garden area create the garden in an oval or flowing shape instead of square or rectangular, unless you are setting up a formal garden look. Flowing lines create a more natural look.
  6. Plant you perennials varieties in groups of 3, 5 or 7. Odd planting numbers look more natural.
  7. Group perennial varieties instead of spacing them out one by one have a richer fuller look in the garden.
  8. A good rule is for small plants are to plant them 6 to 12 inches apart. For medium plants, space them 12 to 18 inches apart and for large or tall plants 1 1/2 to 3 foot apart. This will give the plants ample room for roots to expand and grow.
  9. Remember that if you plant your perennials too close, you will have to divide them up later so the roots do not become overgrown.  If you must divide, do so in the late spring and early summer with plenty of water available. As a rule of thumb most perennial varieties will need divided every 3 to 5 years.
  10. After you have divided the plants move them to a portion of the yard that has ample light and room for the plants to grow. If you have more plants than you want you can always trade them with neighbors for new perennial varieties you may not have.
  11. If you are planting seeds and have no plant tag, read the instructions on the seed pack for the type of flower you are raising or research online.
  12. When I plant perennial seeds I always add annuals to the garden area. Perennials grow slow form seeds and will not be as showy the first year so annuals will add color and a full look while the new plants take root.

Each perennial has different specifications for light and water. Check with a local greenhouse for more information on specific flowers, or use the Internet to search your perennial plants needs.

Posted by Denise at 4:44 pm  Tagged with: , , , , ,

Shabby Chic Backyard Garden Wall

 backyard oasis  No Responses »
Mar 042010
 

Inexpensive garden décor is in and one reasonably priced backyard project is a Shabby Chic garden wall. Am old window door will make a great DIY project for your garden areas at a reasonable cost.

Old Red Dirty Window
Creative Commons License photo credit: Pink Sherbet Photography

A garden wall adds color, privacy and beauty to a patio, garden area or yard. It can be set up in a few hours but totally change the look of your backyard. You could even bring it indoors for winter use if you live in a cold climate and want to extend your gardening.

I have found that if you use an old door that has the windowpanes and build a planter box on the bottom you have a beautiful garden wall that can be made to match any décor style.

I can find old windowpane door in my area for free or up to $10. The average price is usually $2. I carefully remove the glass from the windowpanes and save the glass for other projects. (Make sure all pieces of glass are gone from the frame)

Sand the door down a bit to get an older look. You can add another color to the door to emphasis your colors in the yard or house.

Make a planter box, or buy one if the door measures the same length. I make my planter about 9 to 12 inches tall and one foot deep. I also use old barn board or recycled boards and paint the box to match the door.

Attach the old door onto the back of the planter with nails or screws. Screws work better if you plan to take the garden wall apart or move it much.

Put the garden wall in place and fill the planter with soil.

A garden wall looks great with vines in the back that will travel up the wall and lower flowers or herbs planted in the front of the planter.

This planter will also make a great mini small space garden with beans; cucumbers or tomatoes planted in the back and trained to grow vertical. In the front you could plants greens, onions, and other smaller vegetable crops.

This project ranges anywhere in price from free if you do some “scrounging” to $10 0r $15 dollars. And when it’s done it adds priceless beauty and many comments to your backyard décor.

Note: If you can’t find an old door windowpane windows will work. Thyew just make a smaller garden wall. Or you can use an old screen door.

Posted by Denise at 9:59 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,

Small Space Garden Design Time Savers

 Small Space Garden  No Responses »
Feb 152010
 

When working with small spaces in your backyard, patio or balcony design every item counts and should serve two purposes. Another concern to keep in mind with garden design is time savers. After all, you have created an oasis to relax in, why add work?

my little garden
Creative Commons License photo credit: slideshow bob

Keep it simple.

Simple easy to work with designs and ideas will cut your time in half. You might want to mix artificial plants in the back and fresh live plants in front. Window boxes on a top window that is hard to water will do better with artificial plants, and no one will know the difference. I know I have been doing this for years.

Place any gardens near water or add a rain barrel. Lugging buckets of water or winding and unwinding water hoses takes time and energy.

Storage space

Having adequate storage space for tools, kitchen utensils and children’s toys will stop the running back and forth to get these items. A bench that serves as a storage space will add space and shelves on patio wall also add extra storage room. Pegs on the wall will get larger toys off the patio floor. If placed properly they can also decorate the wall space

Use all available space

When you space is limited it doesn’t take much to get a cluttered look that will make your space look smaller. Use trellises to give you extra space going up. Why place plants in containers on the floor when you can continue a lush green wall being the plants. And if these plants are vegetable you will have a mini garden within arms reach from the kitchen.

Hanging baskets will free up floor space and if you have an open rafter that can be used for storage.

Make you gardens work overtime.

  • Combine vegetables with flowers. It’s a great look and will save space.
  • Use more mulch in your gardens and backyard. You will save time mowing and watering the lawn.
  • Drought resistant plants take less time and water. They also seem to have less insect problems.
  • Consider using square foot gardening methods. You use less space and water. And with less space you will have less weeding.
  • Hardscaping takes less time to maintain and will add interest to the backyard.

Each year I find I want more time to enjoy my backyard and take the time in the spring to look around a see how I can simplify my garden and backyard tasks.

Posted by Denise at 6:15 pm  Tagged with: , , ,

Growing tips for successful indoor plants

 Small Space Garden  No Responses »
Jan 302010
 

Flowers and living flower arrangements add to any room or home. And if you have a spare plant on hand they make a great gift for company or a birthday.

Long's Nursery
Creative Commons License photo credit: >>>WonderMike<<<

At this time of year any plant adds beauty to a room and flowering bulbs are a fun, exciting and easy plant to start. The bulbs are often on sale at this time of year too.

Or you can take a bulb such as a daffodil an use his method of forcing a bulb to have a wonderful accent.

This you tube shows how easy it is to start a bulb. I like the glass vase that was used for this bulb. It add an artistic look to the arrangement.

I also enjoy tropical plants but they are a challenge in my home. I really do not have a lot of light in most rooms. Or the rooms with great lighting have a chill in the room.

This you tube has tips for growing tropical plants and how to work with them if they seem to be dying.

As this you tube points out, some plants need a resting period.Check the plants growing tag or look online or at the local library for more information on your plant variety.

House plants will also add color and even the look of additional space to apartments, patios and balcony gardens. Place plants outdoors in warmer weather and bring them indoors for the colder seasons

House plants add to any home and with a little care and knowledge you can have a lush garden.

Posted by Denise at 10:52 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,
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