If you are looking to improve your home’s living space and add value to your property then a patio is the way to go. With an apartment garden, space is at a premium and often the best landscaping ideas are those that use as little land as possible. If you have a small garden or a balcony, you will find that apartment gardening offers some really interesting solutions. One way in which to make the most of your apartment gardening is to incorporate a patio area into your design. Whether you like a covered patio area, an open terrace or even a raised patio area you will be surprised at the wonderful design ideas available.
You may think that planting trees is an outdated method but this need not be the case. There are many options and even the most inexperienced apartment gardener can create a beautiful garden using this method. This form of apartment gardening is popular with people who have smaller gardens or with those that do not have the room for a large garden. Smaller spaces mean that using traditional plants and shrubs are not practical and thus apartment gardening offers solutions using perennial plants as well as annuals.
One way in which to create more space is by using gravel as part of the patio planting. Gravel is a great way to enhance a patio without digging, paving or moving pavement. It provides a softer surface and means that there is no need to add a slab. Another advantage to using gravel is that it does not compact and this means that it can easily be moved if needed.
Another option for apartment garden design is using shrubs and small trees. This provides a small amount of decoration but is also more compact than other methods. Shrubs and small trees are also easier to maintain and can provide a certain amount of privacy. However, there are many drawbacks with an apartment garden so much care should be taken. For example, trees will need regular watering and pruning to keep them healthy.
If you have a large balcony, patio or deck then one of the best apartment garden ideas is to create a gazebo. Gazebos come in all shapes and sizes and with metal, wood or concrete patios. They provide shade from direct sunlight and a place where plants can be grown. It is the ideal place to relax outside with a cold drink. Although they look impressive, gazebos do require maintenance and are not particularly good at blocking the sunshine from the rest of the apartment. This means that they will need several hours of sun every day or alternatively the rest of the day should be covered with curtains or blinds to prevent too much heat from entering.
A small paved area on the patio is another popular option for apartment garden ideas. This is great for growing plants such as herbs and flowers. The patio can then be used for outdoor cooking or for entertaining. Patios can also be used to grow small fruit trees such as apples, grapes and watermelons. They are not suitable for larger fruit trees because they will become too woody over time but they are ideal for using in containers indoors.
Small plants also look great in pots on the patio. These pots can be used for inside plants or added to a terrace garden. As long as the pots are well-drained and do not retain water, they are ideal for apartment gardens. To add variety to your apartment garden, consider planting perennials once or twice a year along the patio.
Creating small garden containers is an ideal way to add color and interest to a small space. Plants can easily be moved from one place to another with a simple net or dolly. This makes it easy to rearrange the plants as the seasons change. Use small pots or containers to bring some new life into your apartment and give it a little character. Here are some small garden ideas for apartment gardening that can be used year-round.