Short on Growing Space? Think Higher

Hanging baskets of flowers, ivies, herbs, fruits, and vegetables add instant beauty—and maximize garden space. They’re also ideal for apartments.

Pick flowers that look good together—and most importantly, that grow well together. Vadym Lavra/Shutterstock

Gardens come in all forms and dimensions, but one of the most often overlooked areas is the valuable real estate at eye-level or just overhead. Give an instant color boost to the porch, deck, balcony, or sunroom with hanging flowers. Increase convenience by growing suspended herbs outdoors, yet within easy reach of a kitchen window or door. Maximize general garden space by growing fruits and veggies from a roofline, a pergola, or a large tree.

Strawberries, as well as certain varieties of tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, zucchini, and more, will all thrive well above ground level. The creative possibilities of hanging baskets are virtually limitless. Best of all, hanging baskets can be moved around as needed to accommodate changes in sun and shade during the growing season, or to simply change things up. Feeling inspired yet?

Heavy Thoughts

The first step is to choose the container best suited for plants. Flowers, vines, herbs, and vegetables will all do well in simple, lightweight plastic or fiberglass hanging planters. They’re a great choice for newbie gardeners. In many situations, being lightweight is critical, as hanging planters, particularly larger ones, can get very heavy very quickly.