Tips To Make The Most Of A Small Apartment Garden

Home gardening is becoming increasingly popular, with 55% of households in America engaging in farming and gardening activities, according to Garden Pals. Gardening is not only an excellent hobby for soothing the mind and body, but it's also a great workout and it promotes self-sufficiency. However, taking care of plants in an apartment can be challenging. 

For many city dwellers, the limited space in urban flats seems to hinder their efforts to start a garden. What many people don’t know is that it’s possible to grow food or even flowers in a small space. With a little research, inspiration, and planning, you can set up a perfect garden in limited spaces. Read on to learn a few tips to make the most of a small garden apartment. 

Choose Where to Grow Your Plants 

Setting up a garden in your apartment isn’t the usual type you’re accustomed to. For this reason, you need to be careful when choosing a spot for growing your plants. There are several considerations for identifying the perfect location for starting an apartment garden. First, think about where and how long different spots in your apartment receive adequate sunlight. 

Next, ask yourself if the ventilation and temperature are ideal for growing plants. Gardening experts suggest choosing a bright location where there’s natural ventilation. Also, ensure you can access your apartment garden easily to tend to your plants. 

Identify the Best Plants for Your Apartment Garden

There are a variety of plants suitable for apartment gardening, but several factors will dictate how many plants you can grow. For example, if you plan to start a balcony garden, you can grow several plants or vegetables. Likewise, if you spend more time at home, you can have as many houseplants as you want. Also, note that certain plant options are easier than others. So, you need to weigh your options carefully, depending on your gardening skills. 

If you’re a beginner, for example, consider growing easy to maintain crops like lettuce, spinach, radishes, spring onions, strawberries, and herbs like basil, thyme, rosemary, and mint. As you get familiar with indoor gardening, you could grow carrots, beetroot, bell peppers, tomatoes, chilies, potatoes, and green peas in sacks or planters. Aside from vegetables and plants, you can choose to plant succulents, cacti, tropical plants, such as pothos and snake plants, or even trees like avocado tree, dwarf citrus tree, or fiddle leaf fig tree in big containers. 

Keep Up with Garden Maintenance

Maintaining a healthy apartment garden can be tricky because the needs of indoor plants vary. So, the best way to care for your garden is by paying attention. Research what your plants need and change light levels, location, and adjust the watering schedule accordingly. It’s also vital to check the soil’s pH, fertility, and drainage to ensure it’s fit for planting. If you have a tiny yard and have trees in it, think about repotting them regularly, fertilizing, mulching, and pruning. Remember, while you can prune small garden trees like avocados and dwarf citrus trees, it’s advisable to seek help of tree trimming experts. That way, you can trim overgrown branches or remove a tree affected by a disease without compromising safety within the apartment. 

Maximize Growing Space

The beauty of apartment gardening is that you can grow plenty of food and ornamental plants. For example, you can set up a windowsill garden. This simple trick enables you to grow food in containers or window boxes and then placing them inside or outside window sills. You can also add shelves across the window to maximize space. 

Vertical gardens are other excellent options for maximizing your small apartment gardening space. This gardening style is all about using vertical space like up the walls or above interior features. To enjoy the perks of vertical gardening, consider shelving or place ladders to create space for your plant containers or pots. Alternatively, plant crops in a fabric shoe organizer and hang them on the wall or door, or create a planting tower out of old plastic bottles. You can also fix old plumbing pipes and gutters on the wall and grow plants inside. If a vertical garden isn’t enough, you can go for hanging gardens. This method allows you to make the most of ceiling space by hanging plant containers on ceiling and wall hooks. 

Starting a garden in an apartment can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced gardener, you can make the most of your apartment garden by choosing the right spot for growing crops. Then, decide which plants to grow, devote time and effort caring for your plants, and familiarize yourself with effective ways to maximize small garden spaces like setting up windowsill gardens, growing food vertically, or starting a hanging garden.