12 Easy Ways To Become An Urban Gardener

No yard? No problem! Anyone — yes, even an apartment dweller — can become a gardener in a few easy steps. And with any garden, start with the best: Miracle-Gro.

1. Pick a spot for your garden, and check out the light and space.

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Do you have a rooftop? A balcony? Even just a windowsill? This will determine the best type of plants for your garden!

2. Plan, plan, plan!

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Plan a little before you shop for materials. Once you've thought about how much space and sunlight your garden will have, decide what (vegetables? flowers?) and how many plants you can fit in your space.

3. Pick containers that work for you.

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Most urban gardening takes place on roofs and balconies and requires containers. Make sure yours have drainage holes in the bottom and are large enough for the roots to grow. And remember that porous materials dry out more quickly, so you'll need to water more often.

4. Fill those pots with good-quality potting mix or soil.

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Make sure the soil is moist and don't pack it too tightly that water can't drain. You can even fill the bottom of the containers with stone to aid drainage.

5. Save space with some cute and colorful hanging baskets.

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These are perfect for high-rise apartment buildings with no balcony or very small balconies — and they look great!

6. If you can't spread out, go up!

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Whether you attach pockets or baskets to a wall, a vertical garden is another great way to garden in a small space. Or try planting a vine on a latticed fence or wall.

7. If your only space is indoors, an herb garden is perfect!

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Most herbs do just fine in a sunny window. Try growing basil, bay, chives, oregano, parsley, and sage.

8. If space and light aren't a problem, try your hand at an urban vegetable garden.

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Growing your own veggies is fun, cost effective, and supplies you with healthy food for an entire season. Most vegetable plants also need at least six hours of sunlight a day, so keep that in mind.

9. If you don't get a ton of sunlight, go with flowers that love shade.

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Shade-loving plants include impatiens, violas, and ferns.

10. Don't forget to water — but not too much!

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Balconies can get extremely hot, which means you'll need to water more than usual (and presumably carry the water from your sink in a watering can). Keep this in mind when selecting plants.

11. Grab some friends and start a community garden.

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If you have access to an empty lot or rooftop (and can secure permission to plant there), enlist your neighbors and community members to start a shared garden.

12. Enjoy the fruits of your labors.

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Whether your garden is little or big, becoming an urban gardener is simpler than you'd have guessed!

And for that extra boost for your urban garden, turn to Miracle-Gro.