One of the drawbacks of living in a loft, apartment, or condo is the limited access to outdoor space. As a Kansas City loft resident, I often miss having a balcony or patio—especially now that the gardening season is underway and I want fresh herbs every day.
If you have even a small porch or patio, you can still enjoy gardening by creating a container garden. Condo resident Jennifer Myers shared a helpful guest post for HGTV Canada that outlines step-by-step instructions for her DIY container garden.
She highlights several important considerations before you start. The most significant is the size and weight of your planter. Jennifer’s design is large and heavy—more than 800 pounds—which works well for her ground-floor condo and a 500-square-foot patio. If your outdoor area is smaller or on an upper floor, and you’re concerned about weight, scale the design down and choose lighter materials such as a lightweight wood.
Study the conditions of your outdoor space before selecting plants. Some patios receive little direct sun, while others are exposed to intense sunlight for most of the day. Wind can be a major factor on higher floors, so opt for hardy plants that tolerate exposure and varying conditions.
Ready to build your own container garden? Basic materials include wood (cedar is a popular choice but not required), a nail gun, staple gun, construction adhesive, waterproof decking screws, plastic liner, weed barrier, potting soil, and exterior stain if you want to finish the wood.
Construction generally involves building the sides, bottom, and top and fastening them together. For smaller planters, you can assemble the whole unit in one go. For very large or heavy planters like Jennifer’s, it’s often easier to build sections offsite and assemble them where the planter will sit.
After assembly, line the box with plastic sheeting and a weed barrier to protect the wood and control drainage. You can stain the planter before adding soil and plants for a polished look, or leave the wood untreated to weather naturally over time.
Container gardening is a versatile solution for urban and small-space dwellers. Whether you build a large, permanent planter or a lightweight, portable arrangement, you can grow herbs, vegetables, and ornamental plants that bring greenery and fresh flavors to your home.
Have you tried building a container garden or found another small-space gardening approach? Share your ideas and experiences—there are many creative ways to bring nature into compact homes.
Photo courtesy of HGTV Canada