When you feel bored or need some motivation engaging in an activity or hobby is a must. Gardening rejuvenates and uplifts the mood, and you will feel motivated. You need not worry about the space. Even your kitchen or balcony space is enough for a small space garden. You can also grow a few vegetables and get the essential supply for your kitchen.
You need to keep in mind that you need to consider the climate and soil conditions of the place you live. For instance, if you live in warmer climates, choose the plants that are apt for these locations. Perennial plants are good choices for warm climatic zones. Daylilies, columbine, and peonies are few plants you go for a warm climatic place. Here are few ideas to maintain your small space or kitchen garden.
1. Begin with choosing the right plants
Choose the plant that fits into the gardening space. Herbs are perfect choices if you plan to grow plants in the window box. If you have ample space on the balcony or patio, you can try growing flower plants and vegetables. If you have a small balcony, you can grow creepers. This adds to the ambiance and looks of your house.
If you still wish to grow vegetables even with lesser space, you can go for container gardening. Potatoes, peppers, eggplant, and tomatoes are good choices for medium and large-sized containers.
2. Preventing soil freezing
If you live in a place where it snows heavily, using a covering material like mulch prevents soil from getting frozen. It is a material that is used to cover the soil’s surface. It retains water in the soil and helps by restricting the growth of weeds. It is highly helpful in improving the soil’s structure.
3. Ensure there is enough light
Just because you have brought down the size of the garden, you cannot skip the vitals. Sunshine is mandatory even if you have a small space garden. Think of a place where your plants will receive enough sunshine. If you have plants that are meant for indoor, even then, it is a good idea to place them under sunlight for a few days a week for three to four hours.
4. Go for productive plants
Even if you love gardening, you would still be affected if your garden does not produce. The productivity of the plants can motivate you a lot. The good idea is to choose super-productive plants. Tomatoes are good choices, as they grow early and faster.
5. Choose plants meant for a small space garden
You need to pick the dwarf varieties and small-sized plants to grow on the balcony or small patio. If the garden is a bit bigger, then you can make apt choices. Upright plants do not take much space and hence apt for small gardens or patio. You should also choose the plants that need to be harvested often. This means the plants keep growing.
The plants with small root systems are what you need to buy when shopping for small space gardens. This is because they stay small and fit best for smaller spaces.
6. Play around with what you have
You can use various pots if you want to add variety and color to your small space garden. If you have a small area, you need to shop for the accessories that would fit even on the table you place on the patio. Or, if you have stairs unused, make them the stand for a small space garden. Make your baskets, or use anything that would hold plants or herbs in your balcony or kitchen.
7. Keep it clean
Important than anything else is keeping the garden clean. It does not make sense to have good produce and healthy plants but keeping your garden full of clutter. You need to make a plan before you start your gardening activities. Consider the space you have, and identify what would fit in. When you decide to use pots, pans, or your dishes for growing plants, you need to check if they would stay for long.
If you are going to use your plastic buckets or pots, ensure they are painted clean and checked if they have a good life. If they tend to break or appear to be weak, you cannot choose it. The container should hold soil, water, and the plant. Recycling is not a good option if what you have cannot withstand the weight of soil and plant.
Besides just helping you pass your spare time, investing time and money in gardening can also help you reduce stress and enjoy a cheerful life. However, if not done appropriately, gardening itself can become a headache. Following the above tips will help you efficiently manage a small, or even a large, garden.