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Yesterday in our first green week installment we dove headfirst into the world of organic gardening. Now that you have the basics down, it’s time to have a little fun! Today we focus on apartment gardening since, well, I live in an apartment!

Just walk around the apartments of the Design District these days and you will see many of the patios sporting planters. Urban gardening has become more popular of late and container gardens on balconies around Dallas have become more and more frequent.

Striving for the perfect balcony garden? Start small and build up!

The most important thing to consider when planning a small-space garden is plant size. Plants that might seem small at the nursery often grow quickly and need to be replanted in only a few months. If possible, it’s best to stick to herbs and small vegetables, which grow well in limited space. Herb choices for a patio or balcony garden include basil, parsley, cilantro, mint, and rosemary. These herbs are nice to have around the house for cooking and they also grow well in a small space. Many of these you can even plant in the same pot!

Considering an herb garden of my own, Jin at Green Living helped me choose a handful of outdoor accessories and gardening products that would make gardening less of a chore!

I love the outdoor “mad mat”, pictured above which could add a great splash of color to a balcony or back porch. It’s made out of 100% recycled plastic and fairly traded.

{NOURISH} Coconut potting soil, Green Living

{PLANT} Pallina Women’s Gardening Gloves, Green Living

{LEARN} Apartment Gardening by Amy Pennington, Amazon.com

{HYDRATE} Rain barrel for water harvesting, Green Living // Green Watering Can, Crate & Barrel

Jin also educated me on the benefits of rainwater harvesting — a concept I found really cool. Harvesting rain water is all about water conservation and is a very convenient tool in organic gardening. People usually think going green involves going out and buying products, but in reality, the best way to be more eco-friendly is to use what is around you.

Instead of running your faucet, you can use rainwater to water indoor plants and as water for pets.

Basically all you need to harvest rainwater is a container to capture it in. The big blue container (pictured above) seemed unsightly at first but with a little creativity you could turn it into a cool patio accessory. Adding a cute rain related vinyl decal would definitely add a touch of personality!

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