Would you love to start your own garden, but you don’t think you have enough space? With a bit of creativity, just about anyone can have a garden. Even the smallest, narrowest yard can sustain a healthy and beautifully vertical garden. Here are some ideas on creating space saving gardens, including the popular vertical garden.

Go Vertical – How this Idea Can Save You Space and Produce Results

Do you dream of a wide backyard that could accommodate a ‘real’ garden? Well, you don’t have to dream anymore. You can have your dream garden without having to budge an inch. What is a vertical garden, anyway? A vertical garden is one of the latest trends in space saving and innovative gardening. Vertical garden, as the name implies, refers to gardens that grow up and down, rather than side to side. How is this possible, you might be asking your self? Thanks to the ingenuity of some cutting edge garden designers, the vertical garden is becoming a reality in gardens around the world.

Standing Face to Face with Your Garden

Most traditional gardeners can expect to be on their knees for most of their gardening life. This is not so with a vertical garden. With a vertical garden, you will instead be standing face to face with your flowers and plants. Imagine standing face to face with your blood-red bougainvillea or climbing rose – no kneeling required for these plants. Vertical gardening is a fun and efficient way to grow many traditional plants.

What Type of Plants Can You Use in Your Vertical Garden?

There are many types of plants that will thrive in a vertical position. The aforementioned bougainvillea and climbing rose are prime examples of the beauty and possibility of vertical gardening. In general, you will want to focus on vines and climbing plants. There are several plants that grow as vines, and many of these can lend your garden with showy blooms as well as food. And since vines grow vertically, they are ideal plants for a garden that is lacking width. There are also many fine climbing plants that can provide you with seasonal blooms and evergreen beauty. Visit your local nursery for the best local selection of regional vines and climbing plants.

What You Can Expect from Your Vertical Garden

There are many noteworthy aspects attributed to vertical gardens. First, vertical gardening can provide you with the convenience that is not possible with traditional floor planting. Vertical gardening provides you with convenience by making it easy for you to reach your plants. You will have an easier time when it comes to pruning, inspecting your plants for pests and enjoying the aroma and beauty of your plants. If you are growing vegetables and fruits in your vertical garden, you can expect to find cleaner fruits and vegetables because they are not making direct contact with the ground and thus are less likely to experience rot and moisture. Vertical gardens are also less prone to disease, insect infestation, fungus and mildew, because they receive better air circulation and sunshine.

Special Considerations for the Vertical Garden

There are special considerations to keep in mind when you are constructing your own vertical garden. These include making sure that your plants are properly supported. This can be one of the greatest challenges of the vertical gardeners. Also, vertical gardening can become difficult when you cannot reach certain spots in your garden. Ideally, you will want to control the growth of your plants, and have some kind of system of elevation where you can inspect top growth periodically. Vertical gardens also produce shade, so make certain to protect underlying plants that may not be getting enough sunlight.

Lush blooming gardens are the dreams of many people. A garden that complements and beautifies your house is what you are looking for; you might be either in for a lot of money or a lot of work. Luscious fragrant gardens need to be designed, prepared, planted and then taken care of properly. If you just do not have the time to take care of a high maintenance garden or not the money for a gardener, then why not try a low maintenance garden? There are many low maintenance gardens that are beautiful and that will complement your house in a wonderful ways.

If you are looking for a low maintenance garden, than there are six easy steps that you can follow to achieve your goal. First of all, think about what takes the most care and time for regular maintenance in most gardens. Yes, of course, the lawn. Lawns get fertilized once or twice a year, aerated, patched and most of all moved. During summer, lawns might be moved once a week and depending on the size of your lawn, this task might take half an hour or even longer. So when designing your low maintenance garden; keep the lawn off the list. Instead of the lawn there are many other materials that you can use to create open areas and sitting areas in your garden.

Steps number two and three include the following materials. Low Maintenance gardens use lots of gravel, rocks and mulch in the design. Rocks can enhance the garden in several ways. You can introduce walls, beds, stairs, rock benches and sculptures to your garden. There are many sources in books and online that can give you inspirations for your garden design or you can hire a landscape designer to give you your dream low maintenance garden. Any bigger open areas can be made into play, walk or sitting areas by simply adding gravel or mulch. Gravel and mulch come in different sizes and colors and can make a great statement or contrast to the plants chosen for your design.

Low maintenance gardens also should include low maintenance plants. Therefore as step four include slow growing plants that do not have to be pruned and cut regularly, plants that grow in shaded areas as well as plants that are drought resistant. Drought resistant plants do not need to be watered daily or every other day. Generally in a normal climate you might not have to water these plants at all. These plants will be able to grow with the water provided through rain.

Low maintenance gardens can be luscious and green or flowery and fragrant if you choose the proper plants, but they need only minimal care. A low maintenance garden does not need to be designed by a landscape designer; you can design your own garden. Low maintenance gardens are often times easy layered garden due to the choice of materials. Therefore when creating your garden make sure that as step five you include material and plant layering.

Lastly, when creating a low maintenance garden, get advice from your local garden center and garden experts. They will be able to guide in your choice of materials and plants. A good garden expert will be able to find the colors you are looking for while he or she will also be able to tell you about the ease of care of these plants.

Therefore if you are considering a low maintenance garden, go ahead and dig in. Creating a beautiful low maintenance garden is actually easy, even for persons who do not exactly have a green thumb.

Gardening can add a new dimension of immeasurable beauty to your yard and life. But perhaps you don’t think you have enough time to dedicate to your garden. Even if you think you are too busy to dedicate spare time to gardening, you would be surprised how much you can do with just a couple of hours on the weekend a few minutes throughout the working week. If you crave a garden, but don’t think you have enough time for one, here are some simple tips and instructions on how to plant a low maintenance garden.

Designate a Space for Your Gardening

Gardening does not need to take up hours of your time. The easiest way to brighten up your yard or outdoor living space without exerting a lot of time, money and effort is to designate a specific space for your garden. A lot of gardens are time-consuming because the plants are scattered throughout a large outdoor area. If you limit your gardening space to one raised bed, for instance, you will not have to worry about watering several garden beds or maintaining a large garden. Start by focusing one area in your yard that needs space and work from there.

Container Gardening Adds Easy Color and Texture to Any Space

Do you want to brighten your yard with color and texture, but don’t have the time or money for a whole garden bed? Consider container gardening, an easy way to add flowers or plants to any part of your home. Moreover, if you are working with malnourished soil, or simply don’t have the space for a full planting, container gardening can fill this void with minimal effort. You can opt for one large planter, a variety of container sizes, or a small-scale container garden. Container gardening is a cost-effective and easy way to satisfy your craving for a garden without having to do the full-scale plant bed preparation, seeding and transplanting.

Choose Hardy Perennials for Easy Year-Round Color

Do you wish you had a garden that boasts year-round color? You don’t have to be a gardening whiz to ensure that your garden is rich in color and texture on a year-round basis. There are many hardy perennials that, once planted and become well established, will present you with blooms throughout the growing season. Perennials are plants that continue to bloom season after season. For this reason, perennials will usually cost you more, but the investment in a long-lasting garden is well worth it. Make sure that you understand which perennials thrive in your climate. You will want to choose the hardiest perennials available in your area for the best low-maintenance garden. Visit your local nursery and ask which plants do best in your area despite minimal care and attention.

Install a Drip Irrigation System for Easy Plant Care

Do you wish you had a healthy, thriving garden, but don’t have the time it takes to water your plants on a regular schedule? A drip irrigation schedule can take care of this for you. Drip irrigation systems are becoming increasingly popular because, once properly installed, they water your garden with maximum efficiency. This system works by dripping water on a continuous basis, thus avoiding over-watering and loss of evaporation. A drip irrigation system can help keep your plants properly watered without you having to lift the hose ever again. Moreover, these systems can help save you water and time, making them an environmentally friendly option for the modern gardener. Visit your local nursery or home improvement store to take a look at the latest drip irrigation systems. They can be tricky to install, so you may want to enlist the help of a professional.

Are you looking for a fun and easy way to make your garden stand out? With just a few hours on the weekend, you can transform your garden using one of these quick and simple project ideas. Here are just a few projects that can make your garden sparkle.

Create a Charming Half-Barrel Fountain

This is a quick and simple garden project that can provide years of texture and soothing water sounds to your garden. Visit your local nursery to get the right parts for this project. You will need a half-barrel planter, a fitted plastic liner for the barrel, a re-circulating pump, a decorative water pump and the appropriate tubing. Part of the fun of this project is that you can individualize your half-barrel fountain to blend in with your yard environment. If you enjoy brightly colored pots and yard ornaments, you can coordinate your half-barrel so that it complements your garden environment.

Make Your Own Decorative Garden Wind Chimes with Recycled Items

There are many easy ways to put together your own decorative wind chimes using recycled items that you can find around the house. Easy recycled items include old spoons, keys and CDs that you no longer need. You can use a metal hanger and sturdy cord or wire to hang antique forks and spoons from the hanger so that you can listen to the relaxing sounds of your own handmade wind chime. You can use just about any resonant material. Your imagination is your only limit. You can also use old CDs to create your own dazzling hanging display. These can pull double-duty as they are reflective and are helpful in ridding your garden of pests.

Paint a Few Pots and Watch Your Garden Sparkle

Want to add a little color to your garden? Here is a very fast and simple way to brighten up any patio or deck. Buy three planters of varying shapes and sizes and paint them with bright colors that coordinate with your home. Use stencils to create your own dazzling designs on your pots. Protect your handiwork with paint sealant. Choose flowers that coordinate well with the flowerpot. For instance, for a bright yellow pot, plant blue-blooming flowers with long stems. This will create an eye-catching display that will be sure to please.

Install Window Boxes with Bright Showy Annuals

This is a classic touch that has been overlooked in recent years. Installing window boxes below your windows adds a classic and charming touch that is not easily missed. Coordinate the window boxes to complement your homes exterior. You can choose from a variety of materials, including wood, metal and plastic. Plant showy annuals that complement the window box and your home’s exterior, providing warmth and vibrancy. This is a classic way to add color and texture to an otherwise drab exterior, and you can complete this project in one short afternoon.

Add Stepping Stones to Your Garden

What could be more charming than steppingstones that lead right up to your garden gate? This project is a fast and easy way to enhance the overall appearance of your garden. You can use natural stones that are available throughout your yard and plant them firmly in a well designed garden path, or you can purchase readymade steppingstones in a variety of designs from your local nursery or home improvement garden store.

Decorative Lighting Adds Security and Sophistication to Your Night Garden

Decorative lighting has never been as affordable as it is today. Install a row of solar lights along your garden path, and enjoy the subtle yet moving glow that it imparts across your night garden when the sun goes down.

Involving kids in gardening can be a great experience and educational resource for children. If you do not have the time to have a big garden or the space, there are other options you can use. How about planting a herb garden with your kids?

There are many different possibilities on the market for planting herb gardens. The probably oldest way is to get a pot or container and fill it with potting soil. Then add some seeds that you can buy at many garden centers or even at your local department or grocery store sometimes. Spread only a few seeds per pot and then cover with about one inch of soil. Water carefully; try not to reveal the seeds. From there a consistent watering and some patience will bring up the herbs you are looking for within a couple of weeks.

If you are looking for an even easier way, there are other options available. How about an herb kit? An herb kit generally comes with a small green house made from plastic, special growing pads and all the necessary seeds. The kit also includes easy directions and descriptions of the necessary steps. This is so easy, that your children might even be able to grow the herbs completely themselves with little assistance from you. This kit is generally used to sprout the plants and grow them to a certain size, then the plants need to be transplanted into a small to midsize pot. Generally you should have one plant per small/medium pot. Garden stores also offer special herb pots that have several opening on the sides and the top so that you can grow more than one herb in the pot. Your children will most likely need help for the transplanting process, since the still young plants can snap easily.

Another easy way to grow herbs is to buy one of the gardens in a bag. These gardens in a bag come in many varieties and also include herb gardens. A garden in a bag includes everything necessary and all you have to do is add water to the bag. The bag can be used as a pot for sprouting and then as a pot for growing the herbs. No messy pot filling, no getting your fingers dirty and no potting. Gardens in a bag are available at many gardening stores and online.

If you do not want to sprout your herbs from seeds you can always buy the herb plants already grown. Most garden centers offer herbs all year round and nowadays even supermarket offer a select amount of fresh herb plants. This way all your children have to do is keep the plants in a sunny bright place and water the plants. This is one of the easiest ways of herb gardening available. These wonderful herbs are then used in the daily cooking and enhance the flavor of your dishes.

An herb garden can be an easy garden for your children to take care of and a great addition to your household. Herb gardens disburse great fragrances throughout your house and are beneficial to your diet. Cooks all over the world swear on fresh herbs and dieticians will tell you just how great the nutrients in herbs are for your body’s health. Herbs are fairly easy to grow, as long as they have a good amount of sunlight, water and some plant food herbs will grow nicely almost anywhere were it is warm enough.

Include your children and try to make the experience a fun and educational one and they will thank your for it later in their lives. Gardening, and if it is just an herb in a pot can enrich your child’s life more than you know.