Bijoux gardening
Add colour and living beauty to your abode with these top tips for small spaces.
Inner-city living has many benefits, and low maintenance gardening is just one of them. But, just because the footprint for potential planting is limited, it needn’t narrow the possibilities. Make the most of every available space in and around your apartment or townhouse to inject a splash of greenery that invigorates, calms and delivers delicious morsels.
Urban dwellings often have small decks and balconies that can accommodate a diverse range of plants. Choose varieties that offer a tantalising mix of visual beauty, fragrance and practicality.
DECORATIVE
No matter how humble or small your dwelling, plants can breathe life into otherwise neglected nooks and crannies. Adorn your entrance with topiary, standard lavender, or a lemon or olive tree to make an elegant statement.
Bookshelves, sideboards, bedside tables, kitchen countertops and bathroom vanities are all surfaces where you can introduce greenery. To add interest, or where surfaces are few and far between, hang trailing varieties like Boston Ivy, Maidenhair Fern, String of Hearts or Lipstick Vine at different heights and in clusters.
VERTICAL
Another practical gardening idea for narrow outdoor areas is to opt for a vertical plant wall. These can be designed by a professional landscape architect; or, you can call on expert advice from your local garden centre to create your own. Planter pockets can be attached to a fence, the side of your house or wall of your balcony. Hang pots on a trellis or steel mesh, or stack wooden planter boxes in a pyramid fashion, which can double as a dividing wall.
POT TO PLATE
Having fresh food within arm’s reach is convenient and economical, and doesn’t require a lot of space. Herbs, flowers, fruit and vegetables can all be grown successfully in pots and planters, provided there are sufficient nutrients added to the soil and enough sun. If you have more outdoor space available, raised planter beds can be used to house a larger potager garden.
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Mike Pero Real Estate Ltd Licensed REAA (2008)
