The Joy of Gardening in Small Spaces

A friend of mine lives in a small apartment, yet he's one of the most successful gardeners I know. He can work more magic with his window boxes, deck planters and hanging baskets than most people can with a full-size yard!

If you're short on space, a container garden could be for you. It's the perfect way to bring color to decks, porches, fences and apartment balconies. First, take  stock of the space you have to work with. Then visit your Fred Meyer Garden Center for the planters, soil, flowers, hanger hooks and everything else you need in one easy stop.

And be sure to take a look at our flat wire trough-style planters. A lot of apartments have a plain fence around the porch out back, and these are great way to give the space some beauty.

When you plant, use lots of color. Mock-wine baskets filled with all sorts of colorful annuals are a great look. Or how about a clay wall-sconce or a window box hanging on a fence bursting with Geraniums? Clematis is also a beautiful choice, as it can be trained on either a trellis or just tied up to a fence.

Remember to include trailing accents. Verbena, Million Bells, Variegated Ivy, Bacopa, Lotus Vine, Baby's Breath and Creeping Charlie are popular varieties that'll really add a lush look to window boxes or containers hung on railings or fences.

Other tips:

• Always start with a good quality potting soil. Resist the temptation to use ordinary garden soil in your containers, as most will be contaminated with weed seeds and could possibly include pests and diseases.
• After things start to grow, remove spent blooms and old vines (deadheading). This is important to keep the new blooms coming on strong. Some may view this as a chore, but it gives you chance to enjoy your plants and check for any pests.
• Water when the soil is dry. This can be a few times a day if the weather's hot or there's a dry wind.

There's a lot of good gardening to be had, even if you're short on space. Give it a try this year.