DIY Your Own Apartment Garden

The sun is brighter, the grass is greener, and spring has officially sprung! It comes as no surprise then that April is National Lawn and Garden Month. For those without lawns (aka apartment dwellers), fret not! There are still plenty of ways you can get in on the fun.

Plants add color and life to any space, plus there’s a certain satisfaction that comes from watching your creation grow. Below, two ways for you to make your very own apartment garden in 3 easy steps.

DIY Succulent Garden
Succulents are easy to care for and so on trend (boho chic, anyone?), and they can be found in practically any home and garden shop that sells live plants. Spruce up a basic terra cotta pot with a little bit of paint and choose an assortment of succulent varieties that appeal to you. The result is an ultra-cool tabletop planter that can be kept indoors or out.

You’ll need:
• 1 medium terra cotta pot
• Soil (I used a mix of potting soil, dirt, and rocks for proper drainage)
• 4 mini succulent plants of your choice
• Invisible tape
• Metallic acrylic paint
• Paint brush

1. Start off by taping a straight line around the base of your pot. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but try to get it as straight as possible.
2. Paint the base of the pot using the tape as a guide, and then paint the upper lip of the pot. Remove the tape and touch up as needed, then let dry for 10-15 minutes.
3. Fill the pot 3/4 of the way up with your soil mixture. Dig out a space to insert each of the plants, level out the rest of the soil, and voila, you’re done. Succulents like lots of sun and hate soggy roots, so water with care!

DIY Countertop Garden
There are many plants that are suitable for container gardening, but be sure to choose those that will thrive in your space. If you’re planning on planting indoors, choose varieties that do well in partial shade, or ones that require full sun if you have a nice bright windowsill. Mason jars don’t take up too much space and are visually intriguing, especially once you see the roots start to grow!

You’ll need:
• 3 Mason Jars (I used quart and short wide-mouth pint jars)
• 3 plants of your choosing (herbs and vegetables like peppers are best!)
• Potting soil

1. Carefully remove each of the plants from their containers, careful not to damage any roots.
2. Fill each Mason Jar halfway with potting soil.
3. Transfer each plant into their respective jar. That’s it! Arrange on your tabletop, counter, or patio as desired. Water accordingly and  watch them grow.

Have you experimented with a DIY Garden? Which of these will you be making?