Most people have less and less room for a yard or garden, while does who do have ample gardening space can probably afford landscape designers and gardeners to consult and maintain model green spaces.  But what about those who have little space, time and money to indulge their thumbs, whether they happen to be green or not? They are the inconstant gardeners who live in apartments, row houses, condos, townhouses and smaller houses with pocket gardens. Most cannot afford to be a horticulture hobbyist. In the interest of being assistance by way of helpful information, here are some start-up tips on how to tend what modest patches of earth can be afforded.

For those in condos who cannot bear the absence of greenery, invest in oxygen-producing or air-cleaning plants. If it doesn’t crowd your living/dining room area, have at least one tall potted plant. Potted dracaenas such as the Madagascar dragon tree and Warneck are easy to grow and maintain as air-cleaners. You don’t even need to buy them as they are common enough. Another air-cleaner is the peace lily, a plant with thick leaves that loves shade and occasionally flowers. Plant it in a pretty opts that will look good atop a dining table or kitchen top, under a glass table, or on the floor.

If you are fortunate enough to have a corner unit with a sunlit window, then do plant herbs and vegetables in attractive containers near it. Basil lends a pleasant herby smell to your room and will thrive well in pots as long as it gets enough sun and water. Harvest the top leaves to allow new growth. Don’t forget the toilet and bathroom. Put a water plant in an attractive bottle and set it near the sinker on top of the toilet tank. Reuse an old perfume bottle, fragrance diffuser, olive oil jug, plump mayonnaise or Perrier water bottle. Spruce it up with pebbles or shells inside the bottles, or with a ribbon or twine around the bottle’s neck. Chinese bamboo, a small dracaena, or a water plant in a wine bottle under the bathroom sink can dress it up.

Some have built-in plant boxes in which you can insert your favorite blooms and greens. Investing in pots and other plant containers is the more common and practical option though. Fortunately, almost anything can be planted in pots, even vegetables such as pepper, tomatoes and eggplants.

Nothing can be more satisfying than picking your fruits and vegetables in your own yard and then consume them. This is not just a great hobby but can also save you time and money. People who do not have green thumbs can also grow their own food in their garden. There are some easy to grow plants that even a beginner gardener can grow and maintain.

• Tomatoes. Tomatoes are one of the most used ingredients. They can be used for salads, soups, stews, sauces, and many more. Tomatoes grow easily. People who live in an apartment or other limited spaces can grow tomatoes in small containers. Maximum sunlight and 60 – 70 degree temperature are the only two important things you should consider in growing tomatoes. Plant tomato one seed per pot to avoid tangles. At first, tomato won’t produce fruit but as soon as it starts producing one, it will give you lots of tomatoes. Keeping your tomatoes from weeds will keep you harvesting many tomatoes continuously.
• Chives. Chives belong to the onion family only with a milder flavor. They can also be used for salads, soups, stews and sauces and can be use for garnishing. Chives are easy to plant because they grow like grass. Cutting chives is the way to harvest them. Pulling them from the root will cause them to stop growing. Chives are perfect for those who have limited garden area because you can grow them together with other plants. Growing chives and other herbs can save you money because herbs are expensive when bought in the supermarkets.
• Radish. Radishes grow quickly beneath the soil. You can leave your radish after you make sure that you have watered them. They need water regularly to be able to harvest a good edible radish. Radishes are also perfect for salad. Like with tomatoes, you can grow radish in a small pot and place them where they can get enough sun and air exposure.

Gardening is not just a hobby anymore. With the many benefits that it can offer you – healthy food, time, money, etc. – it has become to be a necessity for most households.

A novice gardener must learn a few basic gardening steps and information before making his first garden. Following the basic steps can guarantee you a wealthy garden and an enjoyable hobby. If you are a newbie, start small. Gardening may be tedious and requires physical energy like digging and moving rocks. Starting big may be too overwhelming and demanding, you can always expand if you are already prepared. First thing to do is to choose and prepare your chosen garden location. Consider the sunlight, soil nutrients, drainage, air circulation and moisture and in finalizing your location. Vegetables and other plants usually require 5 hours of sun exposure a day. Sun is hotter in the afternoon than in the morning. Soil needs to be cultivated and fertilized to ensure that they are healthy and enriched with nutrients.

Choose plants that will live in your area for many years. Keep a minimum number of plants of grow. 3 to 5 types of vegetables and flowers can keep you on track while growing your plants. In transferring plants from a container to your garden, make sure that the depth is still the same – not too deep and not too shallow. Water your plants as soon as you moved them from another location or container. Do not remove the plant from the pot by pulling the leaves or branches. After planting, always monitor you plants on a daily basis to ensure that they are still growing. When planting, plan it accordingly. Remember to place tall plants at the back and small plants in front. Putting mulch on your garden can control weeds and conserve water.

Gardening has been a fulfilling pastime of so many people all throughout the world. Proper gardening can benefit gardener of so many satisfying results like fresh produce, fresh flower scents, fresh air, colorful blooms, pleasing nature and physical exercise. Beginner gardeners have so many options in starting their own garden. Some of these are gardening in plant boxes, garden containers, raised beds or small greenhouse. A wannabe gardener living in an apartment or condo can still start his own gardening even with a limited space.

Weeds are plants that grow in your garden that are not needed and certainly not wanted. It is not necessarily the “grass” but plants that you do not value in your garden but grows rapidly than others and tends to hinder growth of your well-loved plants and crops. It reduces the amount of nutrients, moisture, sunlight and space that your crops needed for a healthy and vigorous growing thus reducing the quality of your plants. Too many weeds in your garden makes it difficult to harvest. Weeds also houses insects and animals like snakes, frogs, turtles, bees, bugs, praying mantis, etc. Weeds are difficult to manage because it spreads rapidly on your garden. There are some weed control ways in which you can control the growth of problem plants in your garden.

Using weed killers or herbicides as weed control can be very effective, be cautious in using the product and ask the experts on their proper usage. Be sure to choose and use the right product because not a single product will eliminate all the weeds in your garden. The first thing to do in eliminating your weeds is to know which plants are considered weeds and which are not. By doing this, it will be easier to determine which plants should go and not. Always keep a scissor or cultivator with you while gardening to take off the unwanted plants as soon as you see them. Following a good and basic gardening tips will make it easier for you to control weeds. Frequent cultivation, mulches and a keen eye are the keys in keeping your garden clean and free from weed.

Cultivating is one way of weed control. It works by breaking up the surface soil to remove weeds easily. It is the easiest step and the easiest way to remove weeds provided that the soil is moist. If you have a small garden, hand pulling the weeds will work but for some cases, a special tool is needed to remove weeds. There are many tools to choose from in doing this but the cultivator is generally the one that is used. Weeds should be eliminated while they are still young and small. Perennial weeds may require shovel in pulling off to assure that roots are also pulled off. Just be careful in digging the roots of the weeds because you may touch the roots of your crops and other plants.

Life in the city means an increased cost of living standard. One who used to live in rural areas might find it difficult to adjust their way of living in the urban world. Also, food supplies in the city is very  different from the rural areas. You don’t get to plant edible plants anymore considering that vacant lot spaces are limited in the city. But that doesn’t bother Indira Naido, whose initiative is worth emulating. She becomes an inspiration for others who aspires to become an urban farmer just like her.

Her famous Edible Balcony book became an instant hit, and that is why there is an increased number of Urban Farmers in the city where she resides. Her inspiration reaches far. The concept is very simple. Planting and growing seeds at the comfort of your home is the main thing. This is very ideal for those who love vegetables and fruits. Of course, only those plants that has seeds are feasible in a limited space. Those who are living in an apartment were even convinced to try the idea. Naido’s aim in writing the book is to teach others how to grow food on their balcony, literally. Thinking about it, all your hard work will really pay off once you are ready reap the fruit of your labor. Such idea was not only innovative but very practical too. Cooking and using fresh ingredients are not only a very healthy idea but it will also help you to save lot of bucks since you won’t need to buy it at the store.

Others might be skeptical of the idea, but after reading the article about Naido’s project, I was really inspired to consider that I also appreciate fresher food than those that are sold in the store which are preserved and manufactured. It only takes will, patience and determination to realize the project. One can start immediately and become an urban Farmer too.

There are many of us that love to garden. Growing things to eat, as well as to look at, can be a very therapeutic experience. However, for those that have a bad back, gardening can be an excruciatingly painful or outright impossible activity. So naturally, any alternative that helps them keep gardening would be a plus, and elevated garden beds have provided just such an alternative.

An Elevated Garden Bed is an effective way to combat the physical toll of bending over and sitting on your knees in order to work on your garden. Many of them will sit as high as three feet off the ground. For most people, this will hit about waist high. You cannot underestimate how much easier on a back this is. You are not going to need knee pads, and your back won’t hurt nearly as bad. This is good not only for the planting phase, but also for the harvesting phase.

If you choose to go the route of an elevated garden bed, think about getting one that is made out of cedar. Cedar has a natural barrier against rot, and insects hate the smell of it. This helps keep the raised bed from excessive weathering and insect infestation. Furthermore, those people that are interested in going organic with their garden will find no greater material to use for their garden bed than cedar. It really is the best way to go.

Finally, take the time to shop around for the best price. There are lots of online and brick and mortar outlets that sell this type of garden structure, and it is definitely a good idea to see who has the best price. Don’t just buy from the first place you see that sells them. Once you have the elevated garden bed, be sure to enjoy this ergonomic garden structure.

Growing herbs is the easiest kind of gardening. Millions attempt herb gardens and yet it fails. The reason for this isn’t that some have greener thumbs than others, but the root of success is based in the knowledge of how to grow herbs.

An herb garden is a compliment to any home or kitchen. Growing herbs can also be an indoor or outdoor activity. Thus it is possible to grow herbs in pots or directly in the soil. It is perhaps the most cost effective gardening you can do as well. With a little capital layout, creativity, work and patience, growing herbs can be an achievable gardening goal.

What will you need?

First, choose the herbs to grow for your garden. There are many different types of herbs ranging from sorrel, basil, thyme to parsley and so forth. The best option for beginners is to buy an herb seed mix for planting. The alternative is to visit your local nursery for small herb plants.

Where to plant?

If you have a plot of land near the kitchen, it would probably be best to plant your herb garden there. However, if you do not have that kind of space you have other options. Using a (flower) box, pots or a creative alternative like a raised bed would also be great for growing herbs. Herbs need space to grow, but they truly are very forgiving about where you place them as long as they get what they need.

The growing of most herbs is seasonal so they should be planted when appropriate e.g. at the beginning of spring in semi shade. Follow the instructions on the packet of seeds or ask your local nursery for advice when purchasing plants. Growing herbs in an apartment means using the window sills or landing to maximize sunlight and perhaps the roof to create a small herb garden.

Try to keep the growing of herbs organic. The joy of growing herbs is being able to use them in your food. Growing herbs, if done right, can be environmentally friendly, calming and rewarding.

I recently spoke to one of my neighbors who for the last two years have let his garden area go. I found out that he had hurt his back and was having trouble so much pain bending over that planting, weeding and harvesting was not something he could easily do anymore. As we talked I asked him about another small raised bed in his front yard that he continued to use to raise tomatoes and basil and he told me it was high enough that he could reach it and tend to it as needed.

I went home that night thinking about what could be done to help my neighbor continue to garden without pain and got an idea that I spoke to him about the next day. He was very excited!

His garden was 20 feet x 16 feet and located on a slope. He had used timbers to create a boundary around the space and had small areas portioned off to plant flowers around the garden. We went in and took the timbers out and created 2 raised beds that stand about 3 feet off the ground and run horizontal to the slope and are 16 feet by 4 feet. We were able to reuse almost all of the timber so there was little out of pocket cost and the dirt from the garden was used to fill the raised beds.

I was actually shocked that we were able to do everything with the dirt that was in the garden. The hardest part was pulling up the weeds and grass that had taken over but once that was done it was just a matter of good old fashioned shoveling. We took strawberries that had gone crazy in the old garden space and replanted them in one raised bed to create a strawberry patch. The other has an array of plants including more tomatoes, sweet potatoes and peppers of several varieties.

We used some trellises from the old garden as well so the tomatoes will grow up them and leave room for everything else to grow. I see my neighbor almost everyday out watering and weeding and he is extremely thankful that a solution was reached so he could go back and garden the way he loves to.

When faced with a challenge, use your imagination and see if you too can find a new solution to an old problem.

Many neighborhoods have the misfortune of being subjected to stray cats around their home. These cats can become a nuisance by getting into your garbage, or mistaking your flowerbeds for a litter box. Luckily, there are several natural ways to get rid of cats in your flowerbeds that won’t cause harm to the cats or your plants.

Citrus is a natural cat deterrent, so you can spray a citrus spray or use citronella candles in your flowerbeds. A stronger deterrent is mothballs. Drill holes in jars and place mothballs inside the jars and around your garden. These techniques will need to be re-administered every couple of weeks, or after a heavy rain. Another option is to lay chicken fence across your flowerbeds after you have placed your mulch down. Many flowerbed owners choose to plant thorny bushes on the perimeter of their flowerbeds that will hopefully ward off any unwanted animals. If all else fails, and cats are still wreaking havoc on your property, you may wish to call your local animal control authorities. Handle unwanted animals in a way that won’t harm them with these natural deterrents.