Page 22 Mojacarmagazine.com Issue 16
By Clodagh and Dick Handscombe, Practical gardeners and authors living in Spain for 25 years.
The opportunity
As discussed last month apartments and village houses offer greater gardening opportunities than many people realise. Terraces, roof tops, balconies and windowsills can all be brightened up and made healthier living spaces by planting an assortment of plants in pots, window boxes, troughs and planting tables. There are many photographs in ‘Apartment Gardening Mediterranean Style’ to show you what can be done in even the smallest spaces up to a large penthouse roof.
The success factors
The basic success factors are as follows.
1.Improve the microclimate of your planting areas by installing blinds to shade plants from the hottest suns.
2. Select flowering plants that do best in sunny, semi shaded and shaded areas. There are 120 recommended in the above book listed and illustrated for each type of growing conditions. It is very easy to loose unsuitable plants especially in the summer months.
3. Buy non porous containers and if possible ones with built in water reservoirs. It is amazing how many types of containers exist today. So many that we designed the container chapter in the book as an A to Z.
The opportunity
As discussed last month apartments and village houses offer greater gardening opportunities than many people realise. Terraces, roof tops, balconies and windowsills can all be brightened up and made healthier living spaces by planting an assortment of plants in pots, window boxes, troughs and planting tables. There are many photographs in ‘Apartment Gardening Mediterranean Style’ to show you what can be done in even the smallest spaces up to a large penthouse roof.
The success factors
The basic success factors are as follows.
1.Improve the microclimate of your planting areas by installing blinds to shade plants from the hottest suns.
2. Select flowering plants that do best in sunny, semi shaded and shaded areas. There are 120 recommended in the above book listed and illustrated for each type of growing conditions. It is very easy to loose unsuitable plants especially in the summer months.
3. Buy non porous containers and if possible ones with built in water reservoirs. It is amazing how many types of containers exist today. So many that we designed the container chapter in the book as an A to Z.
4. Mix a rich water retaining but good draining compost.
5. Neither over or under water frequently as these are the greatest causes of fungal and insect problems.
6. Use ecological insecticides and fungicides if necessary to ensure an unpolluted living space for yourselves and neighbours.
7. Use perfumed climbers on walls and trellises to provide natural aromatherapy and privacy.
8. If planting annuals make seasonal changes to keep the appearance of your property bright and cheerful for passers by as well as your family and visitors.
9. Whether a full time resident or only an occasional holiday maker there are plants suitable for every one.
Hopefully this summer we will see more colourful apartment blocks and village houses. The photographs shown in the book are practical ideas achievable by anyone with no previous gardening experience in small spaces and not unachievable photographic filming sets.
April to June is a good time to plant up before the hottest days arrive.
Clodagh and Dick’s new book is now available. The ISBN number is …For convenience you can obtain the book by post by phoning 952- 485838 or via the website www.santanabooks.com. The price is 14.90 euros.
5. Neither over or under water frequently as these are the greatest causes of fungal and insect problems.
6. Use ecological insecticides and fungicides if necessary to ensure an unpolluted living space for yourselves and neighbours.
7. Use perfumed climbers on walls and trellises to provide natural aromatherapy and privacy.
8. If planting annuals make seasonal changes to keep the appearance of your property bright and cheerful for passers by as well as your family and visitors.
9. Whether a full time resident or only an occasional holiday maker there are plants suitable for every one.
Hopefully this summer we will see more colourful apartment blocks and village houses. The photographs shown in the book are practical ideas achievable by anyone with no previous gardening experience in small spaces and not unachievable photographic filming sets.
April to June is a good time to plant up before the hottest days arrive.
Clodagh and Dick’s new book is now available. The ISBN number is …For convenience you can obtain the book by post by phoning 952- 485838 or via the website www.santanabooks.com. The price is 14.90 euros.
© Clodagh and Dick Handscombe April 2009.www.gardeninginspain.com
