Urban gardening hurdles can be hard to clear when modern cities often offer little space and even less sunlight. But, if you have a little of both, then a spiral garden is your quick ticket to urban gardening fulfillment. What makes a spiral garden such a hit is its space efficiency for a decorative garden or a stacked plot that feeds you both veggies and herbs.
A spiral garden has levels or tiers that are stacked one on top of the other like a wedding cake. Adapt the garden’s shape to fit the space you’re working in. All the materials necessary are plenty of soil rich in organic matter, paper or leaves and building material for the garden’s low walls.
Spiral gardeners have used stones, bricks and lumber to construct their terraced garden walls, but if you’re in the market for something cheaper, try inverted wine bottles. If wine isn’t on your beverage list, restaurants or watering holes that serve wine by the bottle are usually happy to hand over their empties for free.
Mark off the space for your spiral garden and raise the foundation wall as high as mid calf. If you’re using wine bottles, bury the necks of the inverted bottles leaving the container portion above ground and you’ll have a fetching glass wall to support the earth fill. Place eight layers of newspaper, two layers of cardboard or six inches of leaves on the ground floor of your garden to retard weed growth before filling it with soil. Earthworms will love it too.
For the second level, move in one third of the area from the edge and erect your second stone, wood or glass wall; lay down some more leaves or paper and fill in the space with earth. For layer three, move in half way and raise a third wall. Lay down some paper or leaves in the center and fill it with earth. Now you’re ready to plant.
Plan for less thirsty plants on the top tier and low growing plants that might need to spill over the side of the top layer. Your next two layers will use less water because of the water filtering down from the top layer. Place the taller growing plants at ground level. Watering is easy and gathering flowers, herbs and produce is easier on the back. Now you’re growing up!
