Do you own an apartment? If so, then small townhouse gardens might just be the thing for you. Particularly if your apartment has a front or back door, chances are that there’s a big tree or two around the place. Common in many small townhouse gardens, you could make the space look fuller, wider and even taller with some smart apartment gardening ideas.
Of course, planting trees in small townhouse gardens is not as easy as it sounds. Trees can become a real pain to tend, especially in the winter when their leaves can stay on the ground for months on end. And although it is perfectly possible to do some of the planting yourself, it would probably save a lot of money and take a lot more time if you hired someone to do the work for you. Fortunately there are some great garden design books out there, with plenty of helpful advice and guidelines.
The one main thing to remember when planting in small townhouse gardens is that you need to keep things as simple as possible. You don’t want to overwhelm your small garden bed with too much foliage or too many different plants competing for the limited amount of space. Remember that it’s best to choose a few basic plants that are easy to grow and maintain. And try to select plants that don’t spread all over the bed.
When you’re planting in small townhouse gardens it’s also important to remember that water gardening should be given its own special space. Don’t try to create a complicated water garden with too many features. Simple shallow ponds, fountains and even small stone ponds will still enjoy enough space to thrive and provide your plants with what they need. And remember that a good water garden will still add value to your home.
Smaller gardens can have a similar effect to large, ornate gardens. But to get the same effect you must use smaller pots and planters, and choose more natural, practical materials for your plantings. Also keep in mind that these areas aren’t meant to act as greenhouses. You shouldn’t put trees or plants that will bring down the value of your home. If you do, then consider replanting somewhere else.
The idea of small townhouse gardens is that they are places where you relax and enjoy nature. And that’s exactly what you should aim for. You want your planting beds to reflect this by using materials that are practical and complementary to your environment. But remember that it’s OK to use different plants depending on your climate. The point is that your cottage garden should have a character all its own.
Planting beds can take many forms, from pergola to arbor and trellis. Smaller containers like plastic pots work well for insulating the base of the container and supporting small plants, like herbs or perennials. If you’re looking for an environmentally friendly method of growing vegetables on your apartment balcony, try installing a small pond with koi fish and other aquatic plants. Pond life is very pleasant and adds a lot to the aesthetic qualities of any apartment building.
An important consideration with small townhouse gardens is the amount of sunlight available. It’s not a good idea to have a pond full of green grasses because sunlight will dry up the water and kill the plants. So look for lots of shady areas or install skylights to keep the sunlight from heating the water. Some plants, like water lilies, also need a lot of sunlight and shade. You might also consider placing a water pump near the plants so you can enjoy an oxygenating effect during the winter months.