Adorning a Tiny Urban Backyard

City living is great, but as the weather gets nicer, there are inevitably days when I miss being surrounded by lush greenery and having a garden to putz around in. This year, I decided to put my green thumb to use and create a thriving little container garden in my tiny backyard.

I wanted to create a flower garden, so I did a little research (and also called my mom) to see what would work best. For annuals (plants that last just one growing season), flowers on the list below work well. Red Begonias were my first choice for an annual, since I love their color.

• Begonia
• Geraniums
• Impatiens
• Marigolds
• Periwinkle
• Nasturtiums
• Pansies
• Petunias
• Salvia
• Snapdragons
• Zinnias

Annuals are great especially if you're renting your space - you don't have to worry about them when you move and you can pick new plants to try each year. If you're looking for something a little more permenant, perhaps perennials are more your style. I chose Daylilies  and Calla Lillies.

If you have some vertical surfaces you'd like to cover, a vine that grow up or down is a nice solution. Sweet Potato Vine or Vinca Vine are great for hanging pots, and Morning Glory or Clematis (a perennial) are beautiful climbing, flowering vines. Be sure to check at your garden center what type of sun exposure your plants need to flourish, and pick appropriately based on how many hours of sunlight your container garden receives.

When planting, be certain that your soil is potting soil (these mixes are commonly available at hardware stores or garden centers). This type of mix will drain well, which is important in container gardens. You can use just about any container for your plants, but be sure your pots or containers have a drainage hole near the bottom so your plants don't drown. Water often, especially during dry, hot weather.

Once your plants are in place, the best thing you can do is pay them lots of attention to make sure they're doing well - check the soil daily to see if it's too dry or damp. Then sit back and enjoy your little urban oasis!