Finding a patch of green to call your own can be a difficult experience in urban living. Urban gardening offers a delightful escape from the hustle and bustle, allowing you to cultivate nature’s beauty right in the city’s heart. Whether you have a small balcony, a rooftop, or a tiny garden, creating an urban garden is a rewarding endeavour that can transform your living space and contribute to a greener environment. To help you embark on this green journey, we present a comprehensive guide with ten invaluable tips for urban gardening success.
1. Find the sun
Think about how much sunlight you get in your garden throughout the day. You will need the correct conditions for your plants to grow; based on this information, you can choose the right plants for your space.
2. Use containers or raised beds.
If you are a beginner gardener and need more control over your soil or to limit the amount of space you are gardening in, then growing plants in raised beds and containers is ideal. It also makes it much easier to keep weeds under control when growing in containers and raised beds.
3. Compost
Consider making a mini compost heap in your urban garden to use on your plants. Compost can help reduce your carbon footprint, help nourish the soil and support the growth of your plants.
4. Start with easy plants and crops.
When starting an urban garden, choosing easy-to-grow plants and crops is best to help you build confidence. This means that you will not get overwhelmed by complicated growing techniques.
5. Water regularly but not too much
Remember that it is essential to water your plants, keeping the soil moist but not flooded. Even if you have had rainfall, you may still need to water the plants correctly, as rainwater does not always saturate the soil correctly.
6. Grow vertically
Growing vertically in an urban garden maximises space and adds interest to boring city walls. You don’t need to spend lots to set up a vertical garden. Using netting and frames is a great way to start growing upward.
7. Get the right tools for the job.
Another thing to consider is having the correct tools for the job and the space to store them. Gardening tools like hand trowels and hand forks are stapled in all gardens, so you will likely need them. Read our articles on choosing garden tools and maintenance.
8. Test your soil
Any soil you intend to grow in must be tested first to know the soil type and pH levels before you start spending money on plants that are unsuitable for your conditions. If you are unsure how to test your soil, we have an article to help.
9. Set up appropriate drainage.
Ensure all your containers and raised beds have some way to drain away water. If you have a balcony garden, you must be careful about how your water drains away, ensuring that it is not causing a problem for your downstairs neighbours.
10. Start small
One of the easiest mistakes in gardening is starting too big, but doing that in a small urban garden can be even more difficult. You are already limited on space, so starting small and gradually expanding will allow you to start gardening and getting into a routine until you learn the limits of your area.
