5 tips to create your own garden

To create your own garden, you may question what to start first. So do I. I have tried many ways and many plants to grow in my condo-balcony garden until I made what I have today.

When you start your own garden, it may take some time for you to keep on the right track. In this post, let’s go through some shortcuts to plan your garden properly on the first page.

• Where do you start your garden?

This is the first question to be asked because the place of your garden will decide how you will concept your garden.

With this first question, let’s note down what kind of place you want your garden to be. It’s a balcony, a rooftop, a backyard or a terrace, etc. Mine is a balcony and I also place a chair and a small table to relax.

• What are the characteristics of your site?

In this second question, we will check the below factors:

How large your place is: It’s crucial to know your area to estimate how many species you can grow in your garden. If your garden is small, then start with small pots. Arranging tree pots vertically is highly recommended for your small garden to maximize its capacity and you still have the space to sit or move in your garden. Starting with a few pots then gradually increasing the number of pots until it fits your garden size.

What the weather is: Is your place windy? Is your place hot? Is your place sunny? You need to know about the weather of your garden to grow suitable plants for their best productivity. For example, if your garden is in a high place, it will have the tendency to receive more wind, so you have to choose the plants which can stand the wind and prepare them with some protection from the windy weather.

How much weight your space can stand: This factor can help you to choose the right soils and plants for your garden. If your space can stand lightweight, you can mix soil with coir or rice husk to reduce the weight.

If your space is near water resources: This will let you know which plant you should choose and how to water your plant effectively.

• What plants should be chosen?

Based on your garden’s size and characteristics, now you can think of which plants to choose.

If your garden receives a lot of direct sunlight all day long, cacti and vegetables may be the best choice. If you plant vegetables, remember to keep them well-watered.

If your garden has less than half-day of sunlight, herbs or green veggies will be the best choice.

If your garden is shaded by buildings or a roof, ferns and indoor plants which require low light are what suit you.

Mine is a balcony facing east, so I receive about 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. I choose to grow some herbs such as rosemary, sweet basils, and spinach in the area close to sunlight. In the shady part, I choose indoor plants such as monstera, rubber plants, and ferns.

• How much time do you have for your garden?

Before starting your garden, let’s think about how much time you have per day for it. If you have less than 1 hour, you should choose easy-to-take-care-of plans. Also, remember to limit your number of plants to make sure that you have enough time for each of them. Gardening is a way to relax your mind, don’t overdo it and make your stress worse.

• What is the budget for your garden?

Making a budget for your garden is crucial to avoid wasting money on them. Start with a small budget for your plants, pots, and gardening tools.

For me, I start with 50 USD for soils and gardening tools, 100 USD for plants and pots, 25 USD for fertilizer. If I can fill my garden with this amount, no more money is spent on it. 

I usually buy small trees or seeds, then I grow them from begging to save money on already-grown plants. 

With the above information, I hope that you can find a great start with your own garden. Don’t forget to share with us your experience or some photos of your garden in the comments below. Have a great garden!

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