Vegetable Garden Projects
A garden is your time, design and atmosphere. When creating a sustainable and attractive garden, a few simple projects will help you provide ideal physical environments for your plants and best utilize your available space. Remember to consider the ideal sunlight and soil conditions of each plant. Does this Spark an idea?
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Practical Projects
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According to "World Changing: A User's Guide for the 21st Century," planting irregular flowing perimeters rather than traditional square rows promotes biodiversity and gradual transitions in your yard. A barrel is a great way to utilize space in a garden. Cut circular holes (about 3 inches in diameter) into a wooden or plastic barrel at various locations approximately 6 inches apart. Fill the barrel with soil and plant strawberries or other flora in the cut-out locations, including the top. Pumpkins or broccoli bushes planted next to the barrel will enjoy stretching their roots into the open space.
Vegetables that produce their fruit below ground are much more accessible if planted in a pile of two or three used car tires (potatoes, carrots, radishes, onions, ginger, ginseng, garlic, turnips, beets, horseradish). When it is time to harvest, you simply reach between the tires. Root plants require an environment free of rocks they would be forced to grow around and digging an 18- to 24-inch deep pit is not an easy task. Car tires are one of the more difficult products to recycle and are a practical symbol of environmentalism in any garden. They can also be painted. Automotive shops have to pay for disposing tires and will gladly let you have your pick.
Vines
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Trellises and arbors can be bought pre-made and installed in your yard or they can easily be constructed in an afternoon with products from your local hardware store. A teepee is also ideal for large vining vegetables such as squash, eggplant, zucchini and melons. If built large enough it can provide a marvelous hide-away for children or pets. Pumpkin and watermelon vines grow best lining the yard.
Tall wire planter holders can double as trellis posts for vining plants and are another great way to utilize space in a garden. Keep smaller plants that do not need as much room for their roots in the planters; shallots or herbs would work well.
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Accommodations
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Sod sofas and moss couches are comfortable additions to any garden and not too difficult to create. Imagine sharing your armrest with artichokes and tulip bulbs or pulling carrots out of the back of your couch. Wire tables can also double as trellises or be covered in moss milkshake.
Artwork
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Macramé hanging baskets are relatively easy to create since they require no tools, just tying a series of knots. Use colored rope for added design.
Mosaic garden stones or bird bath are surprising easy to create and visiting your local glass store is an amazing and relatively inexpensive experience. Place your glass inside a paper bag and hammer it lightly until it is the desired size of pieces. Place the glass in various designs on the chosen surface and set in place with industrial nail glue. A variety of colors of grout are purchased as a powder and you mix it with water to the desired consistency. Press the grout between the glass. Being messy works best; grout is easy to wipe off the top of the glass.
Hydroponics Pond
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A small pond or fountain is a nice addition to any garden, and a visually attractive way to grow plants. According to the National Gardening Association, tomatoes, beans, corn, herbs and lettuce grow well if not best hydroponically and "According to SurvivalIQ," all parts of the water lily are edible and nutritious.
Clear away any top growth in the area designated for a pond. Outline the area with rocks that are the height of the desired pond depth (4 to 6 inches is great). Pour grout on the ground in the pond area until the entire area is lightly covered up to the rocks. Use slightly thicker grout to cover the rocks. Pieces of glass can be placed directly on the dirt or glued to the rocks prior to grouting for a beautiful mosaic. Keep in mind that the glass will look different pressed against the ground or a rock, so choose thicker glass colors.
Plants can be grown hydroponically in peat moss staked together across the pond or set in the water. Sphagnum moss works not only as a hydroponic medium but according to Discovery News, it also cleans water. Garlic can be grown hydroponically and will help keep mosquitoes away.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit garden portraits image by joe klune from Fotolia.com tires stacked in herringbone design image by Zhann from Fotolia.com arbor image by palms from Fotolia.com picnic table image by Xavier MARCHANT from Fotolia.com shell mosaic image by Chris Bibbo from Fotolia.com lillies in a pond image by Jorge Moro from Fotolia.com
