Waukesha County Home

W hat if all you have is a balcony, patio, deck or porch to beautify with a garden? Or maybe you sim- ply want to spruce these areas up to help blend the inside with the outside as we dis- cussed in an earlier article. Well, you're not alone. Gardening in small spaces like these is another trend we are seeing. Just because you have limited space does- n't mean you can't beautify these areas or even grow your own food if you want. Staying at home more has led people to become more and more creative with their spaces. It's truly incredible to see how many plants can fit in a 3-foot-by-10-foot area, and even smaller. So let's look at some ways to maximize the use of these smaller spaces. Container size First, just because the space is small, don't feel like all the containers have to be small. Larger pots that hold more plants actually will increase the number of plants you can grow per square feet. This also gives you the opportunity to mix plants and colors to create more of an impact. And if you are like me, I mix my edibles, or veggies, with other flowering bedding plants. Peppers for example have beautiful flowers and some even have variegated foliage. Not only will the containers look nice, but they can also put food on the table. I actually like to mix container sizes as well to help create more depth, more of a 3- dimensional look to the area. Spread up If you can't spread out, spread up. There are a lot of vertical gardening options out there on the market or even make your own. Stacking pots in a pyramid form is also quite popular. One of my pepper-growing friends uses this method to grow more pep- pers in a limited space. It worked well for him. Installing or building your own, shelving units allows you to grow up as well and are perfect for smaller pots of plants like herbs or succulents. You can also use trellises attached to a railing to support climbing vines or taller plants that give you that ver- tical look. Drop down Don't forget about hanging plants as well. If you can't go out or up any further, let your plants just hang around. They can hang from a ceiling, railing or even off the side of your house or apartment if they let you. This adds another dimension to the area as you are using all the space available to you. These hanging plants can be flowering or edible again, your choice. Strawberries do very well in a basket! As you can see you don't need a large yard or area to garden, you can optimize what you have available. Be creative, mix things up with colors, and even edibles, to create a little vacation vignette for you to enjoy. Even the smallest of spaces can be both beautiful and productive. Happy gardening! (Michael Timm is chief horticulturalist for Ebert's Greenhouse Village in Ixonia.) MAY 2022 HOME 3 MICHAEL TIMM Make the most of small gardening spaces Maximizing balconies, patios, decks and porches Patios can provide relaxation and blooms — or vegetables, if you prefer — in a small space. Let creativity guide you. Photo by Michael Timm A bicycle-turned-planter rests on the back of a patio.

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