Urban Garden Design

Urban garden design is important for several reasons. Most urban gardeners have very little space to work with and sunlight can be an issue. Knowing where to put plants, and which plants to use, in this setting is a key factor to success. Many city dwellers are attempting to begin a garden and many more are unsure of where to begin. Whether a small yard is available for digging in or only a balcony is available, with preparation, urban gardening can be a successful endeavor.

Why Urban Gardening?

Environmental awareness is a huge contributing factor in the urban gardening movement. Some city dwellers have grown tired of buying fresh produce in a supermarket because this produce has been shipped many miles, sometimes from a different country, using gasoline. As the burning of fossil fuels has played a part in global warming, many city dwellers are re-thinking their lifestyle choices.

Another reason for urban farming is to know where one’s food came from. This idea is becoming increasingly important for many. The term “organic” when describing produce surprisingly is a loose term, meaning many organic farms are allowed to use certain pesticides and fertilizers that the city dweller may not prefer to have in his or her food. Growing one’s own food ensures the grower knows exactly what went into the soil and environment in order to produce the food.

For many city dwellers, changing the lifestyle does not mean moving to a farm in the country. In most cases, this is simply not feasible. However, many city dwellers are realizing different ways to reduce carbon footprint, including urban gardening. Maintaining a city garden can be as simple as growing a few tomato plants on a balcony or as complex as raising many different vegetables, chickens and bees in a very small yard.

Urban Garden Design

Urban garden design includes many facets which should be considered. How large or small does the city dweller want his or her garden to be? How much time is to be dedicated to the garden? How can the gardener capture the most, and the best sunlight? Which plants are suitable for the intended garden?

The size of the urban garden depends upon how much space is available. The space should receive at least 6 hours of sunlight per day for most fruits or vegetables to produce well. Reflected light should be considered as well. Reflected light is light which radiates from buildings and pavement.

Time can be a factor in deciding the size and lay-out of the urban garden. For most balcony or patio gardens in which plants are grown in containers, typically 10 minutes per day would suffice in order to water and harvest plants. For an in-ground garden, up to two hours a day could be used to improve the soil, pull weeds, water and harvest plants.

Sunlight is an important component of any garden. If less than 6 hours of sunlight is available per day, plants which require little sunlight should be considered. Such plants include broccoli, chives, spinach, and root crops such as potatoes or carrots. For full sunlight conditions, plants such as tomatoes, beans, and strawberries are well-suited. For more ideas on plants to grow, see “Top 10 Vegetables for the Urban Garden”. The urban gardener must use caution, however, in full sunlight, as radiated heat from pavement can burn plants. Plants grown in containers on rooftops or cement patios must be watered more frequently because of this.

Urban gardening has its own set of challenges, but can be well worth it for the city dweller who has a conviction to do it. Many articles and manuals are available for advice. The local County Extension Office also has many resources available to help novice gardeners, even in the city.

Resources: Ruppenthal, R.J. Fresh Food From Small Spaces, White River Junction, Vermont: Chelsea Green Publishing Company, 2008