The fact that you're a renter shouldn't mean that you can't have a nicely landscaped property, regardless of whether you're renting a house or an apartment. Before you do anything, make sure your landlord is agreeable to your plan. Consider the amount of maintenance your landscape designs will require. Your landlord may expect you to maintain what you create, so be prepared for that possibility.
You don't need to restrict a landscape design to things you plant in the ground. You can create an attractive effect that won't require as much maintenance by using containers. You can create individual garden spaces within each container, provided you use large enough pots.
Considerations Before You Begin
Regardless of whether you are thinking about coming up with a backyard landscape design or a front yard landscape design, think about the amount of sun each area gets. Also, be sure that any or all areas where you intent to plant have access to water. Also think about your long term plans. If you intend to live in this place for five years, or possibly more, than making your outdoor spaces more enjoyable will definitely be worthwhile. If you're only going to live there for a short time, be mindful of the financial investment.
Also think about the climate where you live, the length of your growing zone, and how you could get the most pleasure out of the space. If you plant annuals, you won't need to worry about protecting them over the winter, dividing them after several years, or properly protecting them over the winter months. When you're planting things together, whether in pots or in the ground, choose things that have the same light and water needs.
The Importance of Designing to Scale
If you're looking for ideas as to what to do in a small space, check out HGTV 's small space deck and patio suggestions for your backyard landscape design. Choose smaller, slow growing plants for very small spaces to ensure that the plants won't grow too large for the space.
Get the most out of smaller spaces by defining specific areas for different uses. If you have a balcony or deck, use that as a living area for eating or relaxing, and then create the different areas with plantings you choose and with paths you create so that people can navigate the area. If you live in a crowded urban area, use trees or shrubs to provide more privacy, and to give you the sense of being away from the hustle and bustle, even though you're in a city.
If you don't have a courtyard or backyard area, you can create built in planters that give the effect of raised beds on a deck or patio. This will allow you to plant anything from colorful perennials such as easy-to-grow wildflowers, or tropical show-stoppers like cannas and elephant ears. You can even create a container vegetable garden there.
Creating Attractive Curb Appeal
Your front yard landscape design is especially important because that is the first thing that people see when they come to visit you. If you're renting a place in a large house that has a front porch, consider using that porch space to spruce up the entire front of the house. Simple container gardens in a hanging basket are beautiful, dramatic, easy to create, and inexpensive to assemble. Choose bright, colorful annuals that will adapt to the filtered light of a porch.
Consider putting large planters on either side of your front door entry. For a formal look, use a cement urn. For a less formal look, use a heavy ceramic planter. Use something tall for the center. Some ornamental grasses are ideal for center height, but they are delicate enough not to detract from other things you plant. To completely cover the soil, use things that spread out, even cascading down the sides of your planter. Lobelia and lamium are great for that. Lobelia has tiny blue or purple flowers. Lamium, on the other hand, can have pink or white flowers. If you want to add even more interest, choose lamium that has variegated leaves.
If you don't have the freedom to plant a lot in your front yard, you can add a lot to the curb appeal of your home or apartment by simply lining the walk way with pots. If you have steps going up the walkway to the door, choose flowering plants of different heights, and arrange them according to height, putting the lowest growing flowers closest to the sidewalk or street.
For hilly areas, you can use attractive ground covers. If you live in a place where there isn't a lot of rain, and you don't know whether your landlord will allow you to use a sprinkler or garden hose, choose succulents because of their ability to go without water for long periods of time.
Consider designing your landscape around a specific theme. If you want to grow something that's native to your area, and will grow under almost any conditions, think about wildflowers that are native to your area. When you grow plants or flowers that are native to your area, they almost grow well without a lot of care.
The most successful landscape designs are those that consider what grows well in a specific location, and what is best suited for all times of the year. That way, you'll be able to enjoy your back and front yards, or other outdoor areas you may have, all year around, regardless of their size.
