What to do when you’re out of garden ideas, space

Allison Level CSU Master Gardener

Question: We have a small garden bed and would like to do something creative, but the creative juices aren’t flowing. What can you suggest?

Answer: One idea would be to have a take on “opposites attract.” You could combine some vegetable plants, such as lettuce, kale or other greens, with some flowering plants. The bed would fill your eyes with visually interesting plants and fill your stomach with garden veggies.

This garden note covers planting warm and cool season vegetables: www.ext.colostate.edu/mg/gardennotes/720.html.

Since vegetables need regular watering, you would want to plant flowers that need or want regular watering. You could also add a kinetic sculpture or gazing ball to give some additional visual interest to the space.

Q: In our new apartment, we just have space for container plants. What suggestions do you have for planting in small spaces?

A: There are two very good publications with information about container gardening. Start with these, then also look at the container plants at local gardens or nurseries for other ideas.

• Growing vegetables in containers: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/mg/gardennotes/724.html

• Container gardening: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07238.html

These quick facts are from the container gardening fact sheet:


• Container gardens allow creative expression in small spaces.

• Container gardens are excellent for beginners as well as advanced gardeners.



Allison Level has received training through Colorado State University Extension's Master Gardener program and is a Master Gardener volunteer for Larimer County. For more information, call (970) 498-6000 or visit www.larimer.org/ext.