floral tips

You don’t have to give up gardening just because you live in New York City. No space? No problem, because even the smallest New York City apartments can boast a beautiful garden. Window boxes, hanging gardens, vines up fire escapes, potted plants and rooftop gardens are just some of the options for urban gardeners.

Plant container vegetable gardens on your roof with other neighbors, window boxes of herbs, greens for the ledges outside your windows (like our Maidenhair Fern to the right), or flowerpots for your living room – the possibilities for urban gardens are endless.

And not only will creating your ideal garden be an enjoyable experience, but adding container gardens and urban gardens will open up and freshen up your NYC space, add color and interest to dull décor, boost your building’s overall value and transform your NYC space into a tranquil escape from the concrete jungle of NYC.

• Some tips for successful gardening in small spaces:
  • Avoid containers with narrow openings, as they don’t give the plant enough space or air to grow.
  • Use containers between 15 and 120 quarts capacity – small pots restrict the root area and cause the potted plant to dry out very quickly.
  • Terracotta pots can dry out over time. Glazed ceramic pots are a good choice for container gardening and can add a sense of style if placed in your apartment.
  • Make sure your container garden has adequate drainagse. Holes should be ½ inch across. Lacing pieces of broken terra cotta on the bottom will help to keep soil in place and allow proper drainage.
  • Line hanging baskets with sphagnum moss for water retention.
  • Know how much sun and shade the area gets and place your container gardens or hanging plants accordingly.

Just for Rooftop Gardening
When gardening on a rooftop, special consideration needs to be made toward weight and sunlight. To cut down on the weight of your rooftop garden, use lightweight plastic containers. And because rooftop gardens are so exposed to sunlight, wind and heat, choose plants that can withstand (and thrive in) harsher conditions. If you know that you will be able to water thirsty plants, like tomatoes, once or twice a day, go for it. If not, choose drought-tolerant plants like grasses, rosemary, lavender, thyme, zinnia and sunflowers.

If you would like to discuss your dream NYC garden, call the urban landscaping experts at Floral Studio. We’re highly experienced in urban garden design, rooftop gardens and creative garden solutions for small spaces.

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