Create a Community Garden

Community gardens provide an opportunity to plant vegetables, flowers, and herbs in a shared outdoor space. Not only do community gardens bring fresh food to “food deserts,” but they also require teamwork to maintain, which means it’s an excellent chance to get to know your neighbors. Keep in mind that each neighborhood and building will have unique rules for how to create and work within communal spaces, so be sure to check these guidelines before you start buying your gardening supplies! And to increase collaboration, make sure your garden design has space for multiple gardeners to work together.

Design an Urban Rooftop Garden

Rooftop gardens are a great way to utilize an otherwise wasted space at home! When creating an urban garden on a rooftop, talk with your landlord or co-op board to see if there are regulations, as some older buildings may have weight limits. In cases like this, go light! Wooden planters, fiberglass planters, or foam planters are recommended, as is lightweight potting soil. You can even lighten pots and planters with styrofoam packing peanuts instead of gravel. Also, since a rooftop garden can be exposed to extreme heat and wind, make sure to allow air flow with lattices, pallet walls, or trellises to keep your plants protected.

Turn Your Balcony into a Garden

Thanks to space-saving items like container pots, hanging or vertical planters, and pallet walls, making an urban garden on your balcony is an easy way to grow a garden in the city! A balcony garden is ideal for small spaces because of access to sunshine, and it also provides some protection from wind. Consider planting annual and perennial plants in balcony planters, or grow vegetables like tomatoes, lettuce, and cucumbers. Make sure to place saucers below containers to prevent water from draining off your balcony onto someone else’s.

Opt for a Container Garden

Small patios, balconies, and rooftops are all perfect places for a container garden. Get this urban garden started with a variety of pots, small barrels, boxes, or even a few buckets! Just make sure your garden pots allow enough room for plants to grow and have adequate drainage. Gardening supplies like gravel, soil, pellet fertilizer, and a watering can or hose will be needed for planting and growing. Double-pot plants to keep them cool and safe on extremely hot days, and water them often. If you don’t have a lot of room, you can create a container garden by making a hanging display with only a few wooden boards and some rope. No community green space in your neighborhood? With a few affordable garden materials, you can create your own greenhouse on a small scale! A mini greenhouse is an efficient way for city dwellers to keep indoor and outdoor urban gardens thriving year-round, and it’s great for small balconies, apartment rooftops, and patios! You can even consider using a DIY mini indoor greenhouse to add an urban jungle flair or houseplants to your living space.

Grow a Vertical Garden

Want to create a lush urban garden in a small space? Go vertical! Whether you allow vines to grow along the wall or you choose to hang vertical planters, this is an affordable way to get a beautiful green space at home. Buy a ready-to-assemble vertical garden kit, or learn how to make a vertical garden on a fence! You can also ensure plants stay upright by making your own garden trellis. Don’t forget bookcases and other standing shelves can also be used to maximize your vertical space, too!

          Source: Extraspace.com