Concrete patio garden ideas are becoming more popular in apartment and condominium developments. A concrete patio garden is low maintenance, attractive way to create an open living space outdoors or indoors. It’s a relatively inexpensive way to achieve a distinctive look and feel and it has practical appeal as well. Let’s take a look at some apartment gardening ideas, including how to make the most of your outdoor living area.

One of the most important things to remember with concrete patio garden design is that it should be tiled so there will be drainage. The soil needs to drain well so that excess water, if any, does not pool around the base of the plants. For outdoor planting, this means using peat moss, perlite, or straw. For indoor planting, plants such as ficus and azalea can do well with well-drained potting media.

When you’re ready to start planting, select plants that will work together well with each other. For example, plant a pair of cacti together to create a taller plant. Or plant perennials such as shrubs, undergrowth, and evergreens to take over a dormant period. Perennials that come to the ground at different times of the year, such as shrubs and undergrowth, also work well.

Tiling is an option for creating a concrete patio garden. Use a heavy layer of peat moss or perlite to prepare the surface. Water it well before planting. Concrete should be filled lightly with a light soil mix before tiling.

In an apartment or condo setting, the plants need to be kept watered as often as possible. In other words, they may not be permanent fixtures in the garden. You can move them every few weeks to an outside potted plant that has full sun and shade. Keep your garden design simple, because you want to conserve space.

If you’re considering concrete patio garden ideas that involve soil, you have options. You can use a variety of prepared or natural soil, with some variations for texture and chemical treatments. Some people have been successful by adding sand to the soil, then introducing some organic matter to help it retain moisture more than sand does without added nutrients. Sand and organic matter can be combined for a stronger, more desirable soil that is less likely to wash away when it rains or turns out to be too dry.

Another option is to use gravel to create the same effect. You’ll want to have a small gravel spread several inches deep along the area where you are planning to plant. Most importantly, compact the gravel into a rough texture so that you won’t dig up too much space when the weather turns hot. Start off with very small amounts of gravel and work your way up to medium and large sizes as your concrete garden matting develops. This will ensure that you don’t compact too much soil when the weather gets hotter, and that your plants have room to grow.

For additional concrete patio garden ideas, you may want to consider using natural or recycled materials. For instance, if you would rather go with grass rather than soil, why not dig some up an area where tall ferns or evergreens grow? These plants have excellent insulating properties and can be planted right in your outdoor garden. Or if you’d rather have some color in your garden, why not plant an assortment of fragrant flowers, such as roses or lavender? With the right materials, creative planning and your sense of style, there’s no reason that your concrete patio garden won’t turn out spectacular.