More and more people are choosing to move to cities nowadays for a myriad of reasons; from wanting a fresh start, to employment opportunities. However, there is one downfall that often comes to light whilst making a move to the inner city; a lack of gardens.
In the suburbs you’ll nearly always see the stereotypical stretch of green grass, dotted with plants and other features including ponds, seating areas, and sheds. If your property is a lot smaller, or if you’ve got a lot of properties situated in a small area of space (think several flats or apartments in a row), it’s very likely that your new home won’t deliver well in the garden department, if at all.
It can be off putting if you do enjoy spending time in the garden, or if gardening is a big hobby of yours. However, there are ways to work around having a seemingly-lacking garden, without having to pack up and move back home again. We’ve compiled some tips on how to grow an absolutely grand garden, even with the limits that living in a city may bring.
Grow upwards, not outwards.
If you’ve only got a small area of garden to work with, it may feel like you can’t do much in terms of growing plants. In this case, think outside of the box and aim to grow things vertically instead of planting several things in rows.
You could do this by installing a trellis. A trellis is a wooden or metal framework used to support certain plants such as vines and ivy. Fix one of these onto your garden wall, or install it freestanding to massively increase the amount of space you have to work with.
Why not make use of any other walls or fences by bringing shelving into the mix? Shelving can offer the perfect place to display ornaments or decor, or for placing smaller plant pots on. All you have to do is ensure that it is installed correctly, and is able to take the weight of whatever you wish to place on it.
Lastly, one of the most traditional ways to show off plants other than planting them in the ground is a hanging basket. With hundreds of different designs and sizes available, all you need is a wall to fix it to.
Lacking in a lawn? Don’t fret
If you live in a city, you may dream of having metres and metres of lush, green lawn to do with as you see fit, but there are many alternatives that you may grow to love if your garden lacks a lawn for whatever reason.
It could be due to lack of space, property type (if you live in a block of flats, a lack of garden is understandable) landlord preferences (you could have a communal garden, but you obviously can be digging that up as you please), or simply for convenience reasons, but you’d be surprised at how many gardens come without the lawn we’re all used to seeing.
One option is to create a space to relax, eat, and socialise- all within your garden! This is ideal if you do have your own garden, just a lack of space for a proper lawn, or if a lawn is prohibited.
If you fancy something more relaxing for the summertime, all you’ll need is one or two sun loungers, and you’re good to go! A table and chairs set is ideal if there’s more of you occupying the property, if you would like the option to dine outdoors, or if you like to throw a good garden party now and again. Try mixing things up a bit by including beanbags, rugs, and other soft furnishings into the mix if your garden terrain allows it. Add some potted plants, a large umbrella for shelter, and other bits and pieces of decor for a cosy leisure area that can be used whenever you need a break from the hustle and bustle of the house.
Artificial lawns are another option, if allowed. Synthetic lawns come with many benefits, including lack of maintenance (most artificial lawns only need a hose down and a brush now and again), lack of cost (after the initial purchase, you’ll save tons on water bills and general upkeep), and a lawn that stays green all year around, even in the worst of weather. Forever Green Lawns are one of the leading providers of artificial grass, and we’ve been doing so up and down the country for over a decade now.
Ultimately, planning the inner city garden of your dreams is going to take a lot of planning, shopping around, and perseverance, but it can be done!