Despite the constraints of urban living, you can still have a flourishing garden even in a small space.

It’s a matter of making the most of what you have, including sunlight, soil, water and fertilizer. Then, consider how you want your garden to look, whether it’s raised beds, containers or vertical gardening.

Raised Beds

If you have a small backyard, balcony or rooftop, you can create an urban garden in these spaces by using raised beds. These boxes contain clean soil that’s built over existing dirt, and can be a great way to grow vegetables, flowers or herbs.

Raised beds warm up quicker and dries out faster than garden soil in the ground, which makes it easier to plant and harvest crops earlier in the season. They also help to reduce perennial weed pressure and increase watering efficiency.

You can buy raised garden bed kits or build your own with wood or a sturdy material, such as cinder blocks, bricks or rot-resistant lumber. Just be sure to use non-treated rot resistant wood, as chemically treated wood can leach heavy metals into the soil.

Another option is to make your own mix with a special blend of peat moss, vermiculite and rich compost. It’s called “Mel’s Mix,” and it can be quite effective at improving drainage and retaining water.

Containers

Containers are a great way to keep your garden growing in the city. They conserve space, help control pests and make it easy to maintain soil quality.

When choosing containers, you should consider the type of plants that will thrive in them. Many vegetables and herbs will grow well in small pots, as they have shallow roots and require little care.

Depending on your climate, choose plant varieties that are native to your region, which will be more resistant to disease and pests. You’ll also want to pick shallow-rooted varieties, which will save you space and water.

You can also use plastic pots instead of terracotta or other heavy, porous materials, as they are easier to move around and don’t need as much watering. They can also be a great way to add interest to your garden, as they come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes.

Vertical Gardening

Vertical gardening is a growing trend that uses wall space to grow plants. These gardens don’t require garden beds and are perfect for apartments or homes with small spaces.

They use less soil to grow plants, which means you can have more varieties in a smaller area. They also tend to be easier to manage, so you can keep pests and diseases at bay.

Plants that thrive on a vertical surface include ferns, mosses, and succulents. These plants are typically easy to care for and can withstand room temperature, so they’re ideal for decorative wall gardens indoors.

Trellises can be made from a variety of materials, including wood, wire, or heavy plastics. They’re an excellent way to support climbing vegetables, such as cucumbers and tomatoes. However, it’s important to make sure the structure can handle the weight and height of the vines you plan on using.

Attracting Birds

Many birds rely on garden greenery for food, water and shelter. If you want to attract birds to your urban garden there are a few simple tips you can use.

First, make sure that you have plenty of berry-bearing bushes and shrubs in your garden. These provide both berries and insects for birds to feed their young.

Second, try adding a bird bath to your garden so that birds have somewhere to drink and bathe. You can buy a variety of different bird baths, ranging from upturned dustbin lids to more ornate ones.

Finally, hang up some bird feeders in your garden. These can be hung from trees, gates or balconies and they will encourage a wide range of birds to visit.

Another great tip for attracting birds to your garden is to offer nectar-feeding birds such as hummingbirds and sunbirds. You can use a sugar solution to give them the sweet nectar that they crave.