7 Steps to Fun and Frugal Urban Gardening
When done the right way, happiness can grow on plants
Urban gardening – one of the hottest trends taking over cities – is the process of growing plants of all types and varieties in an urban environment. It includes several unique concepts like container gardening, indoor gardening, and green roofs, among others. It provides a wealth of bonuses including environmental, social, and health benefits, and when approached in a certain way, can be fun, frugal, and stress-free.
2. Create a plan
“Failing to plan is planning to fail,” is a philosophy that applies to most things in life – including frugal urban gardening. It always helps to have a plan you can refer to time and time again.
A plan transforms what you have to what you desire (why’s) into reality. Once you have set your goals, the next step is to evaluate your site and your resources: how much space do you have, how much time can you dedicate, and how much money are you willing to spend? You also need to think about the different styles that you like and find the best match for your existing space and goals. Then write these things down and map put your available spaces. You can then scour Houzz for ideas and create your gardening ideabooks. Offline, you can go through old home and lifestyle magazines and create a scrapbook of ideas.
Tip: When evaluating your physical site, don’t just look at the outdoor areas, include indoor ones as well.
“Failing to plan is planning to fail,” is a philosophy that applies to most things in life – including frugal urban gardening. It always helps to have a plan you can refer to time and time again.
A plan transforms what you have to what you desire (why’s) into reality. Once you have set your goals, the next step is to evaluate your site and your resources: how much space do you have, how much time can you dedicate, and how much money are you willing to spend? You also need to think about the different styles that you like and find the best match for your existing space and goals. Then write these things down and map put your available spaces. You can then scour Houzz for ideas and create your gardening ideabooks. Offline, you can go through old home and lifestyle magazines and create a scrapbook of ideas.
Tip: When evaluating your physical site, don’t just look at the outdoor areas, include indoor ones as well.
Consider not just the horizontal, but the vertical spaces that can house a vertical garden.
3. Begin with lower-cost, easy-to-maintain plants that meet your why’s
Urban gardening, whether on the cheap or not, should always meet your purpose. If you want to have access to fresh herbs, then the more frugal thing to do is purchase herbs as live plants rather than cut ones in the supermarket. Consider growing basil, one of the most versatile herbs.
If you want bigger ornamental plants, consider purchasing one or a few small pots of decorative foliage that you can grow and propagate. Try the lady palm or the fruit salad plant.
Now, if you want some good energy and believe in lucky charms, get yourself a money plant. It is easy to grow and works in different areas of the house.
Urban gardening, whether on the cheap or not, should always meet your purpose. If you want to have access to fresh herbs, then the more frugal thing to do is purchase herbs as live plants rather than cut ones in the supermarket. Consider growing basil, one of the most versatile herbs.
If you want bigger ornamental plants, consider purchasing one or a few small pots of decorative foliage that you can grow and propagate. Try the lady palm or the fruit salad plant.
Now, if you want some good energy and believe in lucky charms, get yourself a money plant. It is easy to grow and works in different areas of the house.
4. Join a gardening group or create one
Being part of a group that focuses on urban gardening is helpful for beginners as it gives you access to information and other resources. Once you have learned more about gardening, it is easier to identify your essentials, i.e., what is applicable to your space and objectives. You can also create a local group or perhaps a social group among friends and acquaintances who may be interested in urban gardening. It’s like having a book club but instead, you share resources and plant materials within the group, possibly over wine and cheese or brunch.
Tip: A group can also lower the initial costs of propagating plants as each person can focus on growing certain varieties they are more comfortable with or have prior experience with. Members can then have access to plants or plant cuttings that fellow members give away.
Being part of a group that focuses on urban gardening is helpful for beginners as it gives you access to information and other resources. Once you have learned more about gardening, it is easier to identify your essentials, i.e., what is applicable to your space and objectives. You can also create a local group or perhaps a social group among friends and acquaintances who may be interested in urban gardening. It’s like having a book club but instead, you share resources and plant materials within the group, possibly over wine and cheese or brunch.
Tip: A group can also lower the initial costs of propagating plants as each person can focus on growing certain varieties they are more comfortable with or have prior experience with. Members can then have access to plants or plant cuttings that fellow members give away.
5. Upcycle in your style
When it comes to materials for your garden, you do not necessarily have to buy. Look for container gardening ideas on Houzz and you’ll find lots of DIY projects. Then examine the resources around you that you can get for free or at minimal cost.
When it comes to materials for your garden, you do not necessarily have to buy. Look for container gardening ideas on Houzz and you’ll find lots of DIY projects. Then examine the resources around you that you can get for free or at minimal cost.
6. Know when to seek help
There will be times when your immediate circle will not have the capacity to help you or no ready answers can be found online. Post your question on a forum such as Design Dilemma on Houzz to reach a wider and engaged audience and up the chances of people offering advice based on their experiences. This applies to planning your garden as well as caring for your plants.
There will be times when your immediate circle will not have the capacity to help you or no ready answers can be found online. Post your question on a forum such as Design Dilemma on Houzz to reach a wider and engaged audience and up the chances of people offering advice based on their experiences. This applies to planning your garden as well as caring for your plants.
7. Choose to have fun
Of course, nobody ever takes up a new hobby to be more stressed. Being a frugal urban gardener may have its challenges, however, as long as you remember your why’s, it will be easier to let go of plants and plant-related activities that do not contribute to your goals of frugality and finding joy in gardening (e.g. if your goal does not include propagating, then you don’t have to transfer new growths into smaller pots; if you do not want to learn new techniques, then you do not really need to try air layering (a method of plant propagation using damp moss). If all you want is to have some greenery despite having pets, then grow pet-friendly plants in containers.
Don’t know if you’ve got what it takes to grow plants? Read How to Grow a Green Thumb.
TELL US
What house plants would you like to read about? Let us know in the Comments section. Or share a photo of your urban garden.
MORE
Read stories on urban planting
Browse garden design photos
Of course, nobody ever takes up a new hobby to be more stressed. Being a frugal urban gardener may have its challenges, however, as long as you remember your why’s, it will be easier to let go of plants and plant-related activities that do not contribute to your goals of frugality and finding joy in gardening (e.g. if your goal does not include propagating, then you don’t have to transfer new growths into smaller pots; if you do not want to learn new techniques, then you do not really need to try air layering (a method of plant propagation using damp moss). If all you want is to have some greenery despite having pets, then grow pet-friendly plants in containers.
Don’t know if you’ve got what it takes to grow plants? Read How to Grow a Green Thumb.
TELL US
What house plants would you like to read about? Let us know in the Comments section. Or share a photo of your urban garden.
MORE
Read stories on urban planting
Browse garden design photos
Knowing why you want to grow your own urban garden helps in decision-making down the line. Is gardening something you like to do because it relaxes you? Do you want to learn something new? Do you want to be have fresh herbs for your meals or create pretty dish gardens? Why you want to be an urban gardener will identify the what’s, how’s and when’s that will help you create a plan.