How to design an urban garden?

Currently the vast majority of the population lives in urbanized areas, be they towns or cities. But if you thought that to have a garden you had to live in a chalet with a lot of countryside, let me give you some good news: it is not necessary to have 1 hectare of land to enjoy a beautiful green area customized to your liking. In fact, a balcony that beforehand It seems very simple and lifeless, it can become a green and comfortable room where you can hang out if you put a few decorative elements and the occasional chair.

So if you need to know how to design your urban garden, below you are going to discover how to get that little vegetable paradise you want.

What is an urban garden?

It is a garden designed and enjoyed in an urban area. Growing plants, or simply being surrounded by them allow us to disconnect, maintain contact with nature and breathe cleaner air. Therefore, if you have even a balcony, a small patio or terrace, or a bit of land, do not hesitate to fill it with green.

Steps to follow to design an urban garden

In every urban garden design the following things must be taken into account:

• The places that receive sun or shade during the day that are in the area, as well as the areas in which they receive the sun for only a few hours. Knowing this you can better distribute the plants.
• If you have children and / or pets, and the urban garden is large enough, reserve an area for them to play and entertain themselves.
• If the wind blows regularly, it will be necessary to put a hedge, wall or other element to stop it.
• Do you live next to a busy street? Reduce noise by putting up a hedge. More information.
• Frosts damage tropical plants. These will have to be grown in pots so that, when the time comes, you can put them at home or in a greenhouse. More information.

Once this is known, a much more complete and therefore practical draft can be made. So calculate the surface you have, grab a pen and paper (or if you prefer, use a design program), and get to work.

The first thing to do is delimit the zones, so you have to start from the outside, with the walls, hedges, etc., inwards, putting the pots, furniture, ... in short, everything you think is necessary placed in the place you prefer. Of course, keep in mind that the simpler a design, not only will it be easier to work on the field, but it will also be cheaper and less demanding when it comes to caring for it.

The next step is choose plants. It is important to have those that will resist the climate of the area without problems, since it is important that the urban garden looks green all year round. For this reason, you should also look for evergreen species, such as camellia or pipe cleaners. These two are undemanding shrubs, which will brighten up your garden with their flowers in spring and summer.

But we cannot forget the deciduous ones. A group of hydrangeas or rose bushes in a planter will look magnificent for much of the year. It is even possible to grow a potted Japanese maple in places protected from the sun, if you choose small cultivars such as »Sakura» (3 meters high), or »Little Princess" (1-2 meters high).

In order to make the most of the space, don't hesitate to have vertical gardens. These are ideal for greening a patio, and they are easy to care for.

Related article:

How to care for a vertical garden

Now, if you consider it necessary, it is time to think about the furniture. Remember it's better to keep it simple, so if your space only allows you to have a small table and a couple of chairs, then perfect, since there has to be room for you to walk comfortably. With regard to the material, it will depend a lot on your tastes, the climate in your area and whether or not they will always be outside.

For example, rattan can be out all year. It resists direct sun and humidity, and is also perfect for modern gardens. But it has a shorter useful life than plastic for example, the latter being also cheaper. Wood looks great in any type of garden, although it requires treatments to resist humidity and its price is high. So choosing the furniture is up to you. If you have doubts, compare the models that you like, and if you have the opportunity, seek the opinions of other buyers. In this way you can get the one that suits your needs.

Urban garden ideas

Do you need ideas to design your urban garden? Here you have a selection with the best. Enjoy them:

Growing plants in raised beds It is very practical, since you can do it whether you have soil or not (in the latter case, it is advisable to first put a layer of clay, for example, to improve drainage, and then substrate).

This is what I call a simple urban garden. A small area reserved for making a bonfire, and another for eating with your loved ones protected by the shade of a tree, both separated by a beautiful planter with aromatics. It's an easy-to-make and pretty design.

You like the hanging plants? Ivy, potos, ribbons, geraniums, ... there are many with which you can decorate your urban garden. You just have to put them in the place they require (sun or shade), and take care of them from time to time so that they are beautiful.

An urban garden does not have to be at odds with domestic animals. Cats, for example, will love to sunbathe in any elevated area. But yes, it is important that so that problems do not arise, you grow plants that are safe for them, avoiding those that are not (here you have the list of those that are toxic to felines, and here for dogs).

And to finish, here is a minimalist design, ideal for balconies or very small spaces. With two chairs of different colors, and a series of small bushes and well pruned it is possible to have an ideal urban garden to enjoy free time.