With housing blocks shrinking in size and more people looking at more affordable housing options like townhouses and units, it’s not always possible to have the huge backyard with a cricket pitch for the kids plus a veggie patch, but we’ve taken the hard work out for you and have come up with plenty of solutions for every housing option.
Small Yards
Realistically, you’re only limited by your imagination when it comes to small yards and gardening. You don’t have to plant in the ground only, you have the option of creating raised veggie patches or garden beds which can easily be purchased from any nursery or hardware shop. Herbs are perfect to grow in small pots on your kitchen window sill, which also makes them easy to use whilst cooking.
To maximise yard space, plant hedging plants around the fence line to give a sense of greenery and privacy or if you have retaining walls in your yard, this is another perfect space to plant flowers, plants or create a veggie patch.
Hanging Gardens or Vertical Gardens
With many people living in units, their outdoor space is often limited to a balcony only, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t have a garden to admire and enjoy. As long as your strata by laws allow, hanging pots means you can maximise the ground space available on your balcony but still have potted pots of colour, with many low maintenance plants and flowers available.
You can also plant vegetables such as potatoes, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, Asian greens, peas, cucumber, spinach, sweet corn, lemon grass, basil, mint, carrot and thyme all successfully in pots.
If you’ve got a spare wall outside that isn’t doing much and is somewhat of an eye sore, but why not consider a vertical garden? If you’re handy, you can easily knock together a frame suitable for your wall and add pots otherwise there are many options available to buy a frame that is prebuilt for your space. If you’re renting and still want a vertical garden but can’t have anything fixed to your wall space, don’t despair, many companies now sell free standing vertical garden frames that can be moved from location to location.
Don’t Limit Yourself
Some people like the idea of gardening but find the whole thing daunting. Don’t over think what you’re trying to achieve, make a plan and speak to your local nursery for advice about what will grow best in your space. Consider things like your aspect, the space available, the time you have to maintain your plants, and the overall look you are hoping for.
Create veggie patches or garden beds that will complement the look of your home. Well planned and maintained gardens stimulate conversation, and will leave your friends and family in awe of your accomplishments.
Best plants and veggies to be planted in Spring / Summer:
Flowers:
- Dahlia
- Frangipani
- Gardenia
- Kangaroo Paw
- Grevillea
- Bougainvillea
- Lavender
- Bottle Brush
- Banksia
- Lettuce
- Spinach
- Brocolli
- Carrots
- Eggplants
- Capsicum
- Cucumber
- Rhubarb
- Zucchini
- Tomato
- Sweet Potato
- Basil
- Chives
- Parsley
- Sage
- Thyme