by Kelly Klingman, Yakima County Noxious Weed Board
Are you a gardener at heart, but think you can’t have a garden now because you rent your home? Well, don’t despair! You may not be able to have the garden of your dreams, but you can still be a gardener while renting! My family moved 8 times during a 20 year military career. Every time we lived in a rental, and you would be amazed at what I was still able to grow!
One of the first things to consider before you even begin gardening is what your future plans are. How long will you be in this rental? Will you move soon or stay for years? We always say “start your first garden small.’” Don’t do too much the first year. This is especially true if you know you are only in this location for a short stay.
If you know you are going to move from here at some point, will it be a close move where you can put your containers and plants in a car and drive to the next location, or too far away for your garden to travel? If so, don’t plant anything that you will be heartbroken to leave behind or have to give away. But if you are okay with gardening for the experience and letting the next person love your garden, plant away!
Now that you have considered your future, time to think about your present. First thing you must do is consult your lease. Does it mention anything about the yard? Some lease agreements will say nothing. Some say no digging whatsoever. Others want the yard returned to how it originally was or in a better state. We were in our last rental home for six years. For that length of time, it was worth doing what I wanted and just paying a penalty.
Soil and compost are other things to consider. You will need to buy soil and amendments, especially if you are growing in containers. The large bag on sale sounds like a great idea until you have to carry it up three flights of stairs to your apartment balcony. Keep in mind what you can carry.
What will you do with your soil when you leave? If you are taking the whole container with you, it won’t be a problem. If you need to empty your containers to move them, do you have a flowerbed you can spread the soil in? Do you need to rake your garden bed flat, and then reseed the bed? Can you carry your container down the apartment stairs or do you need to empty it one bucket at a time?
What about your compost bin? In some houses we’ve rented, when we left I spread my compost into existing beds because I used an open- bottom compost bin that I took with me. In the six year house, I built a bin out of pallets to leave behind.
A house with a yard is a fabulous thing. If your landlord and lease allows digging, have at it. Will you have to return the area to grass when you leave? Then perhaps just do an in-ground garden bed. Can you leave the garden bed intact when you leave? If so, raised beds may be what you want. Talk to your landlord about placement and they may even be willing to work with you on the cost of the raised bed as it will be a positive addition to their property the next time they list it.
But what if they don’t want you digging up the grass? Your first choice is look around at any existing beds. Many rentals have basic landscaping of small shrubs spaced every few feet. Is there space between the shrubs? Is there dead or dying landscaping that you can pull out? If you do remove dead landscape material, make sure you document the condition with photos. If garden beds are not an option, you can grow just about anything in a container. If you know you will be able to move them in the future, buy the best you can afford. If you know they are single use, use what you can find. I grew pole beans up a fence in orange juice cartons laid on their side.
Townhouses and apartments with balconies still offer opportunities. Narrow containers have a smaller footprint than larger round ones. Vertical gardening is the apartment gardener’s friend! Anything that you can grow up instead of out will work better on a balcony. Peas and beans make a great privacy screen between apartments. The balcony above allows you to secure twine for things to grow up on. Cucumbers can grow along your railing. Pocket planters made from grow bag fabric can hang off walls or railings. And hanging baskets can bring in beauty and color in flowers or cascading vegetables.
Apartments with just windows offer the least options, but not zero! Microgreens are a fabulous window garden option. Indoor plant lights are available in many shapes and sizes and can give extra light in a dark corner. Hydroponic tabletop gardens are also an option and come in a range of sizes and prices.
Every living situation has possibilities. If you want to garden, explore your options. Don’t let being a renter stop you from your garden dreams!