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With much of the world’s population living in cities, many people have found that they miss having a yard and space to grow plants. There is a misconception that if you live in an urban area, that you will not have access to space for growing plants. You will find that urban gardening is significantly easier and more accessible than many people realize. To learn more about urban gardening and landscaping check out more of our blogs.

Urban gardening is the art of plant growth in an urban environment. You can be shocked to learn that urban planting has significant cultural, environmental, and food security impacts. Urban gardeners are working all around you and this is something that is often overlooked. These urban gardens can range from luscious rooftop gardens to window baskets and sidewalk planters. Much of the urban gardening concept is related to container gardening, simply put- growing potted plants. This is especially common for people with small patios or balconies. Container gardening can require you to be incredibly resourceful. You can utilize all sorts of containers. Many people will purchase pretty pots or planters, however, some people choose to plant in other household containers as a way to recycle plastic and other materials.

The concept of urban gardening is making a major comeback. Urban planting was seen as a solution to food scarcity in Germany in the notorious Victory Gardens which were cultivated in the United States between the First and Second World War to adapt to the food demands that occurred throughout the war. The victory gardens were practiced by nearly six-million people during this time period. While this may not seem like a lot based on today’s standards, this was a significant portion of the United States population.

More recently, for more than just food health, urban planting is used. People take satisfaction in getting home and office plants, as well as improving their overall mental and social well-being thus limiting stress rates. In many cases, people are also becoming more physically active as a result of urban gardening since the actual act of gardening can require a lot of physical work. Tilling soil or digging holes can burn a lot of calories and many people are finding that they get good exercise from their gardens. In many instances, urban gardening is being done on a community scale. Neighborhoods will pitch in and share a garden space to help grow fruits and vegetables. If you do not have access to a larger scale garden, you can still grow plants in your window sill and on a patio.

There are a few key ways to ensure success in your urban garden. Sunlight is crucial for many plants. If you don’t have an outdoor space available, be sure to keep your plants near the windows, especially during peak sun hours. Depth of the soil is essential, shallow-rooted plants need at least 6 inches of soil depth if they are less than 1 foot long, whereas deeper-rooted plants need at least 1 foot deep. Lastly, remember to water your garden consistently. Do a little research on your plants to figure out how frequently they need to be watered but be sure to not overwater. If you accidentally do, just dump the excess water.