A lot of people are turning to patio or balcony gardening for a number of reasons.
Some are moving out of their large homes in the country to a smaller house with a small yard due to the failing economy and the rise in living costs.
The great thing is you don't have to give up gardening just because you don't have ample soil space.
There are a lot of options to patio gardening available to anyone that wants to give it a try.
You can go with pots, half barrels, window boxes, wood planters, metal ones the list is almost endless on things you can use.
The next question you need to answer is what you plan on doing with your patio space.
Are you wanting to grow veggies, herbs, entertain friends and relatives, meditate, make a place of peace, healing, a commemorative garden the list is never-ending.
Deciding what you want out of your patio garden will help you better understand what it is you need to do to and what type of planters you will need.
Soil plays a big role in how well your plants will do.
I find that using an organic soil that has no chemicals added is best for any type of planting especially if you're going to grow veggies.
Also using natural material for your planters like wood, clay, stone, or cast-iron works the best.
Just remember not use pots so big that you'll damage your deck because of the weight that comes with soil being wet.
Boxes made of lighter weight materials like fibreglass are perfect for roof or balcony gardens.
You will also want to have something under your pots to collect excess water so it doesn't run down on top of your neighbours below.
You also want to water on a daily basis with a diluted solution of fertilizer.
It is much better to use diluted fertilizer often than trying to do a big application occasionally.
This is more important in container gardening than it is in the ground, because of the small area your plants have for their roots.
Using organic fertilizers like blood meal, bone meal, or fish emulsion with added seaweed for the trace elements is your best bet for veggies as well as ornamental plants.
Outdoor container gardens are an extension of your home and will make your deck or balcony stand out.
They add a real nice feel to an already awesome deck, but you can really improve the look of your container garden by adding some lighting to accentuate the best parts of it and create an oasis of relaxation and fun for any occasion.
Some are moving out of their large homes in the country to a smaller house with a small yard due to the failing economy and the rise in living costs.
The great thing is you don't have to give up gardening just because you don't have ample soil space.
There are a lot of options to patio gardening available to anyone that wants to give it a try.
You can go with pots, half barrels, window boxes, wood planters, metal ones the list is almost endless on things you can use.
The next question you need to answer is what you plan on doing with your patio space.
Are you wanting to grow veggies, herbs, entertain friends and relatives, meditate, make a place of peace, healing, a commemorative garden the list is never-ending.
Deciding what you want out of your patio garden will help you better understand what it is you need to do to and what type of planters you will need.
Soil plays a big role in how well your plants will do.
I find that using an organic soil that has no chemicals added is best for any type of planting especially if you're going to grow veggies.
Also using natural material for your planters like wood, clay, stone, or cast-iron works the best.
Just remember not use pots so big that you'll damage your deck because of the weight that comes with soil being wet.
Boxes made of lighter weight materials like fibreglass are perfect for roof or balcony gardens.
You will also want to have something under your pots to collect excess water so it doesn't run down on top of your neighbours below.
You also want to water on a daily basis with a diluted solution of fertilizer.
It is much better to use diluted fertilizer often than trying to do a big application occasionally.
This is more important in container gardening than it is in the ground, because of the small area your plants have for their roots.
Using organic fertilizers like blood meal, bone meal, or fish emulsion with added seaweed for the trace elements is your best bet for veggies as well as ornamental plants.
Outdoor container gardens are an extension of your home and will make your deck or balcony stand out.
They add a real nice feel to an already awesome deck, but you can really improve the look of your container garden by adding some lighting to accentuate the best parts of it and create an oasis of relaxation and fun for any occasion.