Gardening at a Rental

Now what I am about to tell you may seem counterintuitive, but hear me out. Even when renting a place to live, you can still garden in both conventional and non-conventional ways. Now I know what you may be thinking, “that’s not possible, I don’t own the place, so I can’t do any gardening!” Well, let’s talk about how this is not only possible, but beneficial and worthwhile. 

With the climate of the housing market these days, renting is often the only option many people have to take. But this does not necessarily mean your place has to be devoid of a garden or limited to only houseplants. The only limit is your creativity, even if your place has certain stipulations. Usually, if you aren’t making any permanent or irreversible changes, landlords/property managers/etc. have no issues with tenants having gardens; though it is wise to check with them first. Every rental will be different in layout and nature, but the same approach can be used. Look at your space. Are you renting a house? Are you in an apartment complex, or shared space? Do you have a lawn, patio, pre-installed or blank garden bed? As you are looking at these factors, start thinking about how you can create a garden for the space you have. 

Let me provide some examples by sharing what I have done in some of the places I have rented. My first gardening adventure while renting, outside of houseplants and windowsill plants (studios with no outside space are extra challenging), was when I moved to an end unit with a back fenced in patio in an apartment complex. In this situation, I was fortunate enough for there to be a blank garden bed already in place. All it needed was to be filled! I noted the climate of the location, and looked into plants suitable for the spot.I had acquired some giveaway plants already, so I figured I would give them a go while looking for others. Nothing too crazy, some white yarrow, and carex. And they loved it there! It brought me so much joy to turn a little blank space of dirt into something that started to flourish. I also added some herb planters as well, with the benefit that I could bring them inside during the winter. Even if you find yourself with a patio, but no provided bed, planters are an excellent option. You can grow anything from pollinator pleasers to a small veggie garden in planters and pots. And the beauty of those is that if you should move, they can so easily come with you and brighten your new place, so think about which ones you invest in! 

Now when I moved, I was faced with a choice, to take the plants with me, or to leave them? Both are valid, pending your landlord is ok with plants being left, and I decided to do a little of both. I was attached to my yarrow so that was the one thing I wanted to take with me. It had done so well, it had created new sprouts, so I left some behind along with the carex, instead of hauling it with me. I rearranged the bed with the remaining plants, and left it nice for the next tenants. The thought of having a blank slate to work with at the new place was exciting! It is completely okay to not bring anything with you (again, pending landlord approval), most often it makes the most sense to let the plants flourish where they are and try something different at the new place. 

Next, I rented a house. This presented both a whole lot of potential, and unknowns. So much space, two already present beds in the front with some azaleas, yard space, and porches. Having not gotten to really know the landlord yet, what would I be allowed to do? I started small, talked to the landlord and asked if I could plant some flowers in the mostly empty front beds and inquired about the possibility of a veggie garden either in-ground, or raised beds. He was onboard with both ideas! I promptly filled the front with colorful annuals that I could enjoy as I plan for future layouts, and he helped by clearing a spot in the back field for a veggie bed. Surprisingly, he was so thrilled with things, it opened new dialogue for future work and potential new bed installations. I was/am elated! This brings us to now, as I am currently working with the landlord on future plans. 

Thankfully, luck has been in my corner with how open he is to my ideas. I recognize this is not always the case, so let's expand on the options above that can be employed if there are more restrictions in place. If lawn destruction is a concern, raised beds on legs is a fabulous option. It’s mobile, doesn’t kill the grass, and is still able to house just about any plant you could want. Just like at a complex, planters and pots can still be employed at a house rental. You can also think about vertical space. Covered porches provide potential for hanging pots! Maybe there are already established beds you can tend to even if you cannot change them. Or if you too are lucky, and your landlord appreciates having the place spruced up, make those beds, till that garden, and get creative!

Now finally, let’s talk about the benefits of rental gardening. First and foremost, the joy of caring for a green space is one at the top of my list. It also helps the place feel more like a home, more personal, unique, and customized. And this is in addition to all of the general benefits of gardening, such as food for pollinators and birds, beautification, and improving soil health!

Whatever your situation, don’t let renting discourage you from partaking in the joy of gardening. You can make a garden fit just about any space. Assess, plan, discuss, and implement! 

-Naomi Phillips