How To Make Your Apartment Garden Irresistible?

Who doesn’t love greenery? The vast development of real estate has affected the green patch and forests in the urban as well as rural areas. As the green cover is shrinking and more and more concrete jungles are taking shape, the need for conserving and planting more is very necessary so as to protect our environment from any imbalances that may occur in near future. Nowadays majority of urban population lives in apartments and having an individual garden is just not possible. But it is said, “All problems do have a solution”. But the thing is that we need to see that solution and should materialise it. Now the new ideas have come up to make your personal garden with all your wish list into your very own apartment which can be a 1000 sq ft in size. Now you can develop a terrace garden, kitchen garden, roof top garden or a window garden. Isn’t it interesting? Yes it is the new fashion in the gardening field. People are opting widely for these innovative ideas of gardening as it not only gives a fresh look to your apartment but also soothes and relaxes your senses after the long hours of work. Let me explain you in short what are these different gardens and how can you go for any of these.

A terrace garden can be a landscape gardening or potted gardening. Landscape gardening is the art and practice of laying out grounds by planting trees and shrubs and adding decorative pieces to it. It looks just beautiful and attractive. For landscape ideas you may take professional help or can go through websites or magazines. Landscaping is most suited in bungalows, row houses or villas as they have more space than in flats. But in an apartment as well one can do landscape gardening. It can be in terrace if it is very spacious and society allows doing that or on roof tops. A kitchen garden is a garden that mainly has plants of vegetables or kitchen herbs. These plants can be grown in the pots easily. A window garden can be developed by planting small flowery plants which need less water. These pots can be kept between the grills and the glass shutter of the window. The water drainage system should be in place for such gardens. If you have a roof top in your possession then there cannot be any better place for gardening than this one. It has much more scope to develop a landscape as well as big potted garden.  Here are some simple tips to make your garden flourish all through the year.

First of all you need to decide what type of garden is most suited to your home depending on the space availability, budget and finally the time factor which you can devote to develop and maintain it. It is one the most relaxing and satisfying thing one can do in spare time.

• For landscape gardening you need to plan and design, if you want you may take help of professional, landscape architects or home gardeners. Nowadays magazines and internet are replacing the professional services. You can make your own design but things to keep in mind that the capacity of your terrace and the proper drainage system is there. If you are not sure then it is advisable to take professional advice.
• After deciding the space and design for your garden now you need to choose the plants. If it is a kitchen garden then can go for vegetable plants or seeds along with herbs, sweet Neem plant, basil, catnip, rosemary, etc. If it is a terrace or roof top garden then can have a mix of flower plants, creepers and other decorative plants. For window garden go for flowery or decorative small plants which require less water.
• While choosing flower plants you must make a selection like that your garden remains flowery all through the year. Flower plants are usually seasonal so have a mix of them as per your taste and fragrance choice to keep your garden look fresh in every season.
• Have a mix of potted plants, creepers, flower plants, exotic orchids and shrubs in your garden as it will be attractive and refreshing. Arrange these plants as per the sunlight requirements. Those plants which require less sunlight should be kept in half shade.
• If space allows then one can decorate their garden by placing small water bodies like fountains, sparkling lights, fixtures, small stones and other decorative garden accessories to make it look just the perfect. All these items you can get from nurseries and garden shops.
• Frequent pruning of plants help them grow faster and look proper. Pruning is trimming a plant or shrub by cutting the dead or unwanted branches/stems of the plant.
• Use of fertilizers and manure is important. One can take help of gardener in using them. Pesticide spray is also required once in a month to keep weeds, pests and other harmful insects away from your garden. You can use herbal Neem oil as a pesticide spray on plants. Just boil Neem leaves and then after cooling it add to the water that you give to plants to keep weeds and insects at bay.
• If space allows one can make sitting arrangements in the garden by using cane, wooden, bamboo or wrought iron furniture. It will serve a perfect relaxation spot in your home.
• If you want to keep mosquitoes away while enjoying then grow some mosquito repellent plants for example Rosemary, Ageratum, Neem, Basil, Catnip, Marigold, etc.
• While choosing for pots go for earthen pots instead of cemented pots which are quite popular today but plants soil cannot breathe in them and thus the growth is affected.
• Similar looking plants should be kept together.
• Do check if the plant has grown enough and needs more space then transfer it into bigger pot.
• Do not over water your plants as in different seasons water requirements are different.
• Making a walk way of stones if landscaping, it will look cool and inviting.

Ruchi Mahajan