Small Space Fruit Crops for Small Yards

How You Can Grow Fruit Despite a Small Yard

Growing fruit in a small back yard is easy to do providing the plants selected are designed specifically for small spaces. Instead of standard fruit trees, a small space gardener can grow dwarf fruit trees in pots or in a small,yet sunny corner of the yard. Bramble type fruits can be trained to grow upwards on trellises, and bush type fruits fit nicely in pots.

Here are some of the more common types of small space fruit crops, one of these may work for your small space garden.

Dwarf fruit tree are fruit trees that have been grafted to a particular variety of dwarfing rootstock. These dwarf trees grow smaller than a standard fruit tree yet will produce full sized fruit in as early as three years. In my own urban orchard, I've had dwarf apple trees that grew no higher than three feet yet still managed to produce about 35 yellow delicious apples per season. Other varieties of dwarf fruit trees can reach heights of 8-12 feet depending on the pruning styles.

Popular dwarf fruit tee fruits include a wide range of apples, plums, pears, peaches, nectarines, cherries, and apricots. While you probably won't grow enough fruit to can sufficient fruit for the winter, these trees will provide a family with plenty of fresh fruit during the summer growing season.

Dwarf fruit trees are best purchased from a reputable, local nursery where gardening professionals can best recommend a variety of dwarf fruit tree suitable for your plant hardiness zone.

Bramble-type berries are those that grow on thorny vines such as blackberries, raspberries, and loganberries. While these berries will sprawl and take over an entire yard if left alone, if pruned regularly, they really don't have to take up much space at all. My blackberries grow on a fence and take up a footprint of less than 18" in width which makes them ideal for running along the side of a yard.

Grapes are fantastic small space fruits that can also be trellised, or allowed to grow along the side of a house or on an arbor. There's many varieties of grapes available; popular picks might include seedless Thompsons for eating, and Concords for jelly making. Grapes only require about a foot of ground to grow in, and can provide a patio with shade in addition to fresh fruit.
 








Fruit varieties that can be grown in small space yards.
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Ideas for Gardening in Small Spaces

Traditional gardens can take up a significant amount of square footage, but a large backyard is not required to have a garden filled with delicious fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Almost anyone can find easy ways to grow flowers and fresh produce, even when gardening in small spaces. All that is required is a little ingenuity and a few creatively crafted containers for growing everything from sun-ripened strawberries bursting with sweetness to potatoes and carrots. With the following gardening ideas especially for small spaces, you will be able to grow and enjoy a variety of fruits, vegetables, and flowering plants. These easy and affordable ideas for gardening in small spaces will help you get started on planning the garden you have always wanted.

Vertical Container Gardening in Small Spaces

Container gardening is a fantastic solution when gardening in small spaces because containers provide the option for vertical gardening. Consider stacking three containers of varying sizes from very large to small, and fill them with a mixture of compost and rich organic soil. Plant vegetables that require more space in the bottom two planters, and top the arrangement with flowers and foliage of your choice. When gardening in small spaces, going up is sometimes the only solution, and stacked containers can make a very impressive display that will produce an abundance of fresh fruit, vegetables, and flowers.

Growing Strawberries in Small Spaces

Strawberries typically require a considerable amount of space since they vine and spread at an alarming rate, but even those limited to gardening in small spaces can have fresh-grown strawberries without buying overpriced hanging strawberry planters. Buy a two-foot section of PVC pipe along with a cap for the bottom. Using a hole saw, drill two-inch diameter holes approximately five inches apart around the entire tube. Glue the cap in place with waterproof epoxy, and fill the PVC pipe with rich organic soil. Strawberries can be planted in all of the openings including the top. Hang this cleverly crafted container in a sunny location, and with proper care you will soon enjoy plump juicy strawberries for weeks on end.

Gardening with Hanging Planters

Flowers are not the only plants that can be displayed in hanging planters. When gardening in small spaces, consider planting tomatoes in hanging planters. Cherry tomatoes and plum tomatoes are the perfect size for growing in large hanging planters, and one basket will produce pounds of red ripe tomatoes all summer long. Herbs can also be planted in hanging baskets, and they provide an aromatic display that will last the entire growing season. Even lettuce can be planted in hanging baskets, and when gardening in small spaces, everything required to make a fresh green salad can be planted above ground level.

These easy and affordable ideas for gardening in small spaces will help you get started on planning the garden you have always wanted.

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Bring on the birds - Simple solutions to turn your backyard into an avian oasis

Who doesn't love spring? Flowers bloom, trees bud and bright songbirds return to the area. The renewed resurgence of radiant life may make you want to get in on the action.

But if gardening's not your thing and you just don't see yourself as the type to go on a long outdoor hike, you can still engage in spring's revelry and  bring beautiful birds to your own backyard. Convincing songbirds and favorites like hummingbirds to visit your yard is as simple as providing them with plentiful sources of food, water and nesting material.

The avian experts at Songbird Essentials, a leading provider of accoutrements and food for outdoor birds of all species, offer a few tips for attracting some popular, picturesque feathered friends to your neighborhood:

Birds need to eat a lot to survive every day. While natural food sources are plentiful in warmer months, they're just as happy to dine at your backyard buffet. You can attract delightful birds like yellow goldfinches, orioles and hummingbirds with the right mix of food and feeder types.

Start out by overlooking a few dandelions when you're weeding your yard. Goldfinches love dandelion seed. They also like company when they eat and will dine in large groups. Look for feeders, like the Three Tube Finch Feeder, that allow 24 or more birds to perch and dine at the same time. The Three Tube Finch Feeder certainly sets the stage for a spectacular show!

Orioles, with their glossy black coats trimmed in bright orange or yellow, will fill your backyard with distinctive whistles and songs. They migrate at night and arrive in your neighborhood tired, cold and hungry, so if you wait until you actually see them to put out food, you might miss them altogether. Set out oranges, sliced in half with the juicy side out, before you see the first oriole of the season. Or try feeding them all new BirdBerry Jelly, a human grade product that's better for the birds.  It's all natural - no preservatives - and is lower in sugar content than most jellies. The unique grape/blackberry flavor attracts orioles and other species and keeps them coming back for more.

Try using a feeder like Songbird Essentials' Grand Slam Oriole Feeder made of recycled plastic. It holds four orange halves and has two serving bowls for jelly. Other birds that love jelly include woodpeckers, robins and warblers.

Hummingbirds, while not great singers, are among the most intriguing and adorable birds to watch. Nearly every region of the U.S. has at least one native species of these tiny, speedy little birds. There are several ways you can tempt them into your yard; try these tips:

* Provide plenty of nectar feeders - the more the merrier. Dr. J.B.'s Hummingbird Feeder is a good choice; it is dishwasher safe and easy to clean, has an extra wide mouth for easy filling and is bee resistant. Bob Sergeant, president of the Hummer Bird Study Group, the world's largest association dedicated to the study and preservation of hummingbirds, simply says; "This is the best hummingbird feeder ever!"  Plus, the hummers love it.

* Be sure hummers see red. Plant red open-throated plants. Or, if planting is not possible, tie a big red bow in your yard near your feeder.

* Let the water flow. Hummingbirds prefer moving water sources like sprinklers, fountains, waterfalls, misters or drippers. Attract hummingbirds by keeping water sources fresh and clean and positioning them near food sources.

* Provide natural nesting material. Hummingbirds won't nest in birdhouses or nesting boxes, they build their cup-shaped nests in trees. Encourage nesting by providing materials like Hummer Helper Nesting Material, recommended by the Hummingbird Society of North America. An all-natural product, Hummer Helper comes in an open wire frame that allows hummingbirds easy access to natural nesting material.

For more ideas on how to attract hummingbirds and songbirds to your  backyard this season, visit www.songbirdessentials.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Creating an outdoor living room

For leisurely entertaining this summer, take full advantage of the great outdoors and extend your living space by creating an outdoor room. Why not have an outdoor living room with comfortable seating for all or your friends, or a space where you could fire up the grill and dine out under the stars?  Adding a level, low maintenance surface, like a patio, will give you not only the pleasure of living in your outdoor space, but of loving it too.

A great way to create this space is by installing pavers, bricks, or stone to create beautiful patios and paths. Whether you do it yourself or hire a professional, it can be as easy as installing a winding path to connect your home to your garden or creating a space for a cozy bench to watch the birds splashing in the bird bath.

Pavers come in many different shapes, sizes and colors, offering you ways to customize your ideas to match your house and landscaping. Once you have your patio or walkways installed, you can make your backyard inviting and appealing all summer long. Here are a couple of fun, easy tips:

*Find sturdy, comfortable seating that will withstand the elements for years to come.  Try wrought iron, wood, or even resin (often made from post-consumer bottle waste such as milk containers) for low-maintenance options. These are readily available in your local garden or specialty stores.

*Seating is even more comfortable with the quick addition of colorful cushions and throw pillows.  Swap these out for a change of scenery and store pillows in a clean, dry space (like a garage or storage bench) when not in use to extend their lives.

*Plant flowers, herbs, and vegetables in containers to add a pop of color to your outdoor living spaces.  Keep these lush and lively all summer by planting seedlings in a good quality potting mix like Miracle-Gro Potting Mix with Moisture Control.

*Keep unwanted grass and weeds from popping up between the pavers by using Ortho GroundClear. This weed control can be used early in the season between the pavers to kill the weeds you see popping up, and will keep new weeds from growing for up to one year. What a great way to spend less time working and more time enjoying your yard!

* Use an edger to trim the grass around the walkways and the edge of your patio for a more finished appearance.

*String some twinkle lights for a festive party atmosphere and use inexpensive, solar powered yard lights to illuminate your outdoor spaces.  These usually require little or no installation; just stake in the ground along paths or in pots for added interest.

With the addition of patios or paths and a trimmed, designer look in your backyard, you'll be able to enjoy spending time in your outdoor living space, and not have to worry about a lot of maintenance to keep it looking beautiful.  Start living in the outdoors and loving it.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Square Foot Gardening. An Option For A Small Space Garden

A Small Space Solution For A Small Space Backyard Garden Choice
Many gardeners in the city are nervous about gardening. Square foot gardening is a solution that works in any garden area.

Square foot gardening, with its raised bed design and easy maintenance, works as a solution to some of the biggest obstacles for backyard gardeners.


Square foot gardening is a concept that was invented by Mel Bartholomew over 20 years ago that utilizes small, raised garden beds divided into sections for growing different sorts of food crops on a rotational basis. The planting combinations are carefully selected so that one type doesn't overshadow another and to make maximum use of the room available.