Having a huge backyard and large plots of land to farm for the homeowner seems to be a rare asset these days as builders are more focused on building smaller homes on less plots of land with very tiny backyards. If you love gardening but don’t have enough space use containers. It is an opportunity to be creative and surround yourself with as much greenery as possible whether it is a small apartment, or a tiny home container gardening is the perfect solution to transform the space to a thriving garden.
With the use of the right containers this can be done to create that lush garden with amazing possibilities. With this concept in mind, we will examine the ways in which we can maximize the space by using the vertical method, plant selections, the right containers as well as other ways of achieving the best greenery even in a small space.
I had a recent experience with someone who was told that it was impossible to grow anything in the area where he lived because the land was not suitable for growth of anything. It as dry and rocky and had issues with shortages of water. It seemed like it was more of a desert and arid land. As a result of this thinking the people in the area did not bother to think of ways to grow but relied on importing practically everything which became expensive.
Not wanting to import everything and relying on what was previously done for years. He was able to transform the space into a lush garden by planting various kinds of fruit trees and other crops with the use of containers. The conclusion is everything is possible, but it demands hard work and some creativity which many of us are unwilling to do. It took some planning, making use of natural fertilizers by using compost to produce a rich organic soil blended with the natural soil to produce a health garden grown in containers with very little plants placed directly in the ground. Today this garden is flourishing with lots of greenery and supplies them with fresh fruits and vegetables.
The Benefits of a Container Garden
Container gardens offer much flexibility for anyone who is renting or may want to change the layout of the garden. The seasons will bring along with it trends and colours which you may want to change. Transferring becomes easy because there is no digging involved to uproot the plant and cause it to go into any shock from being moved to another location.
It is much easier to isolate the plant quickly as a preventative measure from any disease or pest that will spread from one plant to the next. It is possible that you may not notice an infected plant until it has already spread to another and becomes more noticeable until its too late. Containers allow for quick isolation and helps to contain the spread of any infected plant easily.
Choosing to use the no-dig garden and transferring to containers helps to preserve the soil and natural formation which is beneficial during rainy season or wet periods to preserve the landscape especial areas that are prone to flooding. It also keeps the minerals into the soil for preservation. There is also less chance of earthworms being destroyed.
Containers are useful to allow the rest period required in allowing the land to restore the mineral content. If you continuously farm the same area consecutively then you will notice that each year the quantity of produce becomes less. This is because the area is over farmed and there is little mineral in it to produce vigorous plants that we all seem to want in our garden.
Conservation of water is eminent especially when there is little rainfall. Using containers allow the gardener to use only what is required instead of placing the water in areas that is not required. Sprinklers and hoses tend to be left on and sometimes forgotten for long periods and causes over watering in some cases. Using the right amount of water for each container will save on the overuse and prevent other plant issues with the root system.
Using self-watering containers are beneficial to reduce the consumption of water. The containers have the ability to store the excess water in a holder below and plants can use their root system to extract this water without having someone to continually be there at all times. Especially for elderly folks who may find it difficult with bending. These pots offer a solution to these types of situations.
Choosing the Right Containers
Urban dwellers and renters are generally faced with the uncertainty of relocation. As a result of this investing in extravagant items may not be ideal. In this case focus on a budget that fits in with your lifestyle by choosing inexpensive planters like plastic or eco -friendly containers like grow-bags which can be easily dismantled in the event that a move is imminent. Recycled containers are also inexpensive and a great addition to any garden or green space. Using old furniture, plastic bottles, glass containers or whiskey barrels can be repurposed and used in creative ways to create uniqueness in your space. Use plastic bottles and create projects for hanging planters or self-watering devices will help to avoid these items from being placed in landfills.
It is beneficial for urban dwellers with small spaces to utilize balconies, windowsills, decks by applying the vertical method of farming. This is making use of the air above you to grow crops upwards by using a stack system for growth of herbs and vegetables. This methods takes up less room that would normally be used in the tradition method of farming. Many home grown gardens today have now been implementing this approach to grow more food allowing the space to be fully utilized. Taking a look at the different types of containers will give you a better understanding of which ones are suitable for your own lifestyle.
Ceramic Containers They add charm and beauty to any space and can be found in many shapes and sizes. Although aesthetically beautiful for any garden space, the disadvantage is they can be easily broken. Also, if there are no drainage holes this can create problems for the plants survival. In this case if this is your preference then you can layer the pot with pebbles to help to keep the roots system from sitting directly in water and this will assist with some drainage. Another alternative would be to use a self-watering device in this container, and it will be able to measure and help to avoid over watering which can cause issues with the roots of the plant. The self-watering devices are helpful with eliminating the need to remember to water the plant.
Plastic Pots
These are less expensive to purchase and works well with most plants. They are light weight, and this makes them an easy method of transporting from one location to another. Adding any type of soil usually makes containers heavier for relocation. The disadvantage is over time they can crack from temperature fluctuations but can be easily replaced. They are excellent for growing tropical plants especially tropical fruit trees in which they seem to flourish. Plastic containers are known to be able to keep moisture in and seem to be the choice for most garden centers as they are able to use less water to keep them alive.
Metal Planters
If you need a pot that is strong to keep your plants sturdy this would be your choice. They are able to keep the plant stable from any gust of wind that might topple other plants because they are heavier. Plants in these containers will need to be kept in the shade to prevent overheating from the sun. The concern for these types of containers is being able to keep them rust free and will need to maintained to avoid this problem. One advantage is they are easily recyclable and helps in reducing waste.
Wooden Planters
Whether you are using these planters as window planters, raised garden, decks or anywhere in your space. They are generally aesthetically beautiful and can be bought or custom made to your liking. Careful consideration would be the type of wood being used especially to grow vegetables. Cedar wood is generally recommended as one of the best type for this purpose. They are good insulation unfortunately they can be prone to mold and other fungi issues. There will need to be a constant maintenance to prevent these problems from occurring.
Creative Ideas for Container Gardening
Container gardens are one of the most innovative ways of using your creative mind by turning objects and repurposed items into everyday use for gardens and greenery. These gardens offer endless possibilities for vibrant array of colours and greenery both for your indoor and outdoor garden space. We will explore some ways of making this creativity come to life.
Growing vertically is an easy technique to accommodate many plants without using too much space. Some ways are using hanging walls, movable living walls with planter boxes or building stack planters, trellis, grow bags or even recycled pop bottles. Hanging pots on walls are some techniques to grow a good amount of vegetables and some herbs in one place. If you have a shoe organizer they can be used as grow bags to grow a variety of vegetables and other plants. This technique will create a self-watering system. As you water from the top excess water will flow naturally to the other plants to keep them hydrated. The stack planters also can function in a similar way, and some are made to compost food at the same time making them multifunctional.
Turn your fence from being just a stand-alone partition into a vibrant lush garden. By utilizing the vertical technique, it will accommodate many vegetables to create a perfect growing wall. This method allows the fence serves a dual purpose a barrier for privacy as well as a flourishing vertical garden.
Recycled plastic pop bottles can be used as planters by using them horizontally and vertically or using them as hanging baskets for herbs and other plants. They can be used to make a drip irrigation system and help to assist with the water control especially in small spaces. Make use of recycled wood by turning using them to build stacks to hold your pots and by adding some colour and design this will add style and character to your space. With the use of simple objects, Gardening allows the mind to transform the space with creativity and style.
Plants That Do Well in Containers
Being selective with the choice of plants is helpful for containers. Choose the ones whose root system will not overpower the container. Your selections can be tomatoes especially Roma and Cherry. Beans also seem to work well is they can be trailed along fences or stand-alone objects.
Fast growing plants like lettuce, mint, basil, thyme or lemon balm will do well. Fruit trees can also be grown but will need larger containers to keep the root system controlled so it is better to choose the dwarf types. I have seen mango trees of many varieties grown in in containers and do well and bear fruits. Other tropical plants like papaya and guava trees, lemons and oranges are also able to do well. From the berry family, the strawberry is quite popular and makes a good hanging basket. Raspberries in containers can be placed on trellises, Blueberries and blackberries are also other choices.
From the flowering plants petunias, begonias, fuchsia, inpatients, daisies and geraniums are some varieties of plants which adds beauty to any garden. Petunias are drought resistant plants which makes them excellent for containers and are low maintenance. They will bloom from the spring and will last into fall. The can be found in a variety of colours and make an excellent plant to use for hanging baskets.
Geraniums like the petunias are drought resistant will bloom for long periods. They make a perfect choice as a container plant with many colours of red, pink, white and purple. They will bloom with an abundance of flower to enjoy for the season.
Marigold is natural insect repellant and makes a good choice as a box planter especially on balconies or decks they enjoy the heat and will keep their blooms for a long time. They will flourish in the warm weather and generally are plants which are easy to take care.
Begonias come in many varieties and enjoy a humid climate. It is best to keep this plant in the shade and it will not do well in direct sunlight. They can be acquired in many shades and make an excellent plant for balconies and patios or even in hanging baskets.
The fuchsia plant is excellent in hanging basket or any type of box planter or container. They are one of the plants that seem to attract pollinators especially hummingbird. The reason is the shape of the flower allows the hummingbird’s beak to easily extract the nectar. This plant is known to produce a lot of sugary nectar which they need for energy. It will continuously bloom into the fall season. They require shade or partial shade to continue to bloom.
Container garden can be your solution in becoming less dependent on the suppliers to purchase your food items at an extravagant cost to you. Whether you have opted to live in an urban environment or a rural one. Container gardening can transform any space into a lush greenery that takes a bit of creativity and carefully utilizing the space. By making some simple changes to your lifestyle this garden can be achieved to produce a green sanctuary. Whether you have chosen to grow herbs, shrubs, trees or flowers with the right containers, soil and plant choices you can grow many plant varieties. Eventually this garden will produce a harvest for you to enjoy.
With this style of gardening you can start small and gradually expand the garden. It will be mostly experimental at first and during this time you are being educated and learning about plant care and what works well. Which types of soil makes a good choice for the plant that is being grown and the best care in producing a bountiful harvest.
What is beneficial in using this type of gardening style are the endless possibilities of changing the layout of garden easily. This makes expansion and easy task instead of digging the ground to make these changes. It is just a matter of moving one pot to another location saving you time and money. With the introduction of plants to any space it introduces so much enrichment to the human life. They are helpful in removing many toxins from the environment and help to enhance the oxygen flow in our homes. For this reason alone, it is a good opportunity to start incorporating plants into our lifestyle. It only takes a small seed to let something develop from that. You don’t have to have a green thumb to start a garden. It just takes a bit of time and patience to watch and see what happens after the seed is planted.
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