Patio Gardens

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Even in small spaces, one can cultivate a little patch of paradise using containers to grow native, exotic, and edible plants. Not only will you get to enjoy the bounty, butterflies and bees will love the garden space you’ve create on your patio.
Make a Plan!
  1. Survey the space you want to create your patio garden paradise.
  2. Do you want to build permeant raised beds or use portable containers?
  3. Do you want to build / purchase a vertical living wall planter?
  4. What type of garden do you want (i.e. edible or decorative or both)?
Consider the following:
Containers: Plastic, ceramic, wood? Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Plastic is lightweight and inexpensive. If using plastic, make sure to drill holes in the bottom for water drainage. Ceramic is more expensive and heavy and has a tendency to dry out quickly. Wooden container are usually heavy and therefore not easy to move. It is recommended to place saucers under the containers to catch water so as to prevent staining of the patio.
Potting soil: Containers need to be filled with soil that drains well. Use organic potting soil instead of garden soil – potting soil drains better than garden soil, which tends to get soggy in containers.
Light: The amount of sunlight the area receives will determine the type of plants you should plant. Plant sun-loving plants in full sun and shade tolerant plants if you get little to no sun. You can also plant shade-loving plants in the shadow of larger plants. Alternatively, you can add a shade cloth to cover shade-loving plants that are in the path of sunlight.
Watering: Get to know your plants. Watering too much or too little will affect the health of your plants. Smaller containers will need more water than large containers. And more water is needed when the weather is hot and less when it’s cool out. Until you get familiar with the plants you have, check them daily and in really hot weather check them twice a day.
Plants: Vegetables do great in containers: tomatoes, peas, beans, lettuce, kale, and zucchini to name a few. Herbs do great in containers: lavender, rosemary, oregano, thyme, and lemongrass to name a few. Are you looking to attract hummingbirds: hang a basket of pendulous fuchsia. Want butterflies to visit your garden: lantana, cosmos, and zinnias, verbena, marigolds, hibiscus, aster, and morning glory.

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