A garden? In your garage? It’s more plausible than you’d think! A garage offers a large, open space that’s ripe for transformation into a lush and thriving garden. While unconventional, a garage garden offers urban green thumbs without usable outdoor space the chance to grow their own produce, herbs, plants, and flowers. Here’s how you can take your garage from cars to carrots.
Assess Your Garage
The first step in transforming your garage into a garden is to assess the space. Take a look at the size, layout, and lighting of your garage. Is it large enough for the type of garden you want? Does it have windows, or will you need to install grow lights to provide your plants with their daily dose of sunshine?
Think about how much sunlight your plants will need, as well as factors like accessibility and ventilation, and choose the best spot in your garage.
Clean Up
Before you start bringing in soil and seeds, clean up your garage. This means decluttering, organizing, and deep cleaning. Remove any old items that you no longer use or need. This will give you more space to work with. Organize your remaining items so that they are neatly stored and out of the way.
Then, give your garage a thorough cleaning. Sweep or vacuum the floors, wipe down any shelves or surfaces, and dust off any equipment or tools you’ll use in your indoor garden.
Perform Any Necessary Repairs
Check for any cracks, leaks, or other damage in your garage that could potentially affect your plants. A leaking garage door is a common issue that can result in mold growth and damage to your plants. Other repairs may include fixing broken windows, repairing holes in the roof or walls, and replacing any damaged door seals, all of which can cause air and water leaks and subsequent mold, mildew, or pest infestations, which can be detrimental to your plants.
Set Up
Once your garage is clean and organized, and you’ve addressed any potential issues with leaks or damage, you can start setting up your indoor garden.
Start by placing your planters or containers in their designated spots, then fill them with soil and plant your desired seeds or seedlings. The plants you choose should be hardy indoor plants like herbs and succulents and low-light tolerant plants like snake plants and pothos.
Get Gardening
From here, all that’s left is to care for your indoor garden regularly. This includes watering, trimming, and fertilizing as needed. You should also monitor the temperature and humidity levels in the garage and make adjustments as necessary to keep your plants healthy.
Indoor gardening in the garage may not be your normal idea of a garden, but it’s definitely a unique and practical way to bring some greenery into your home! If you have room to spare alongside your car and the miscellany that usually fills a garage, why not try your hand at creating a garage garden? Think of all the benefits: fresh herbs and vegetables, a touch of nature in an otherwise utilitarian space, and plenty of room to experiment and expand your gardening skills.