You don’t need a huge outdoor space at your disposal to enjoy the benefit of spending time around some greenery. That’s right, the days of sad city backyards and bare balconies are over, and in their place is the lush plants and fresh foliage of an urban garden.
So if you’ve been wondering if you can grow yourself some beautiful plants and vegetables from your apartment balcony, backyard, or any enclosed space - the answer is yes, you absolutely can! And we’ll show you how. And if grass is out of the question and you’re looking to elevate your beautiful urban garden even further, you could always complement it with some of our stunning Indian Sandstone paving slabs!
What is urban gardening?
Simply put, urban gardening is the practice of growing plants in an urban environment. It might sound a little out of the ordinary upon first consideration, but really, they’re all around us in the big cities. Every stunning urban rooftop garden, flowering hanging basket and community garden counts. The concept has actually been around for years. In fact, its roots can be traced back all the way to ancient Egypt!
3 different ways to create a stunning urban garden
The first step in setting up your urban garden is to find the right space for the job. Like all other gardens, urban gardens need access to sunlight, preferably 6-8 hours a day. This could be on your balcony, windowsill, or simply out in your yard if you have ground floor access. Once you’ve got the space sorted, next it’s time to move on to the good part - plants. The amount of flora you can squeeze in will depend on the amount of space you have available, but don’t be fooled into thinking that a lack of space equals a lack of beauty, because that’s not the case at all!
Urban vegetable gardens for balconies
There are a few different ways you could create a stunning balcony garden - but if space is too limited to put planters on the ground, why not try growing up the wall? If you can attach shelves and/or a trellis to the wall, you can have an entire garden growing and barely even touch the floor space! You could fill your planting shelves and trellis with colourful flowers for added aesthetic appeal, or you could opt for something edible, like herbs, sweet peas, salad leaves or even vegetables like tomatoes, beets and courgettes! Window boxes are also great for optimising space and can be hung off your balcony railings. Ornamental plants, fruits, vegetables and herbs can all thrive in these planters, so the options are endless!
Urban gardens for backyards
Often urban yards don’t have any pre-laid soil to work with, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a garden. In fact, plants can be a great addition to any urban yard for a number of reasons. The first, and most obvious is that they make everything look so much better. It’s scientifically proven that plants make us feel happier, so any greenery you can fit in is always a good idea.
Another way plants can benefit an urban yard is for privacy reasons. A house in a densely populated area often doesn’t offer as much privacy as most would like. Luckily, plants are the ideal solution. Small trees, climbing plants and bamboo shoots can provide living walls. Complement your new wall of greenery with some stunning Indian Sandstone paving, and you’ll have transformed your yard from bare to beautiful!
Urban micro gardens
If you simply don’t have the outdoor space, or your balcony area is prone to gusty winds, there’s always the option of an indoor garden. It might seem strange or even daunting to bring your outdoor plants inside, but rest assured that you can turn it into a gorgeous home feature that fits in perfectly. There are many ways you can set up an indoor garden, but when it comes to putting it together, you’ll probably find that less is always more.
Terrariums are incredibly popular now and they’re easy to manage for smaller homes, plus they double as interior decor! In a similar vein, cactuses are also a stylish option for an indoor garden, and they require little watering or upkeep. So if you’re someone who regularly forgets to water the plants, they’re the perfect low-maintenance choice!
Not only can gardening boost both your mental and physical health, it also adds to the appeal of your space. And now that we’ve covered all the essentials, you can create a beautiful garden no matter where you live. What’s more, if you want to add even more aesthetic value to your garden through the addition of Indian Sandstone paving, then you’re in exactly the right place.
Here at Bridge Street Stone, we supply only the finest sandstone paving. Our paving comes in a variety of colours including Kota Black, Kandla Grey, Autumn Brown and Golden Leaf, and is imported straight from operated quarries in India. So if you’re looking to give your yard or patio an upgrade to complement your new urban garden, feel free to give us a call today on 01282 860571 - we’re always on hand to help!