Tammy Algood of the University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service explains how to build a garden small enough to sit on your kitchen table. Her tabletop garden features mosses, tiny plants, aquarium gravel, small stones and a cup for a water feature. Materials:
Wooden box
Black plastic
Stapler
Potting mix
Pea gravel
Plastic cap from yogurt container
Plants of your choice
Aquarium gravel
Moss
Slow-release fertilizer
Optional: small figurines and doll furniture
- Line a wooden box with black plastic to prevent the soil and water from leaking out (figure A). An old fruit crate works well. Staple the plastic in place, and trim away any excess around the edges.
- Spread pea gravel evenly over the bottom of the plastic-lined box, then fill the box with potting mix.
- Sink the plastic cap from a yogurt container into the soil where you'd like to have a tiny water feature. Place rocks in the bottom of the "pond" to keep it in place.
- Begin planting succulents or herbs in the box. Succulents are a good choice because they're easy to grow, don't require much water and adapt well to the indoor environment. If the roots are too large to fit your box, trim the root ball. Consider the following herbs: chives, which look like grass; parsley, which resembles small trees; and thyme, which will eventually grow over the edge of the box.
- Make a pathway by pouring aquarium gravel from a measuring cup. Create a formal look by making straight pathways, or make paths informal and winding.
- Top the soil with moss, and add small figurines and doll furniture if desired.
- Once the garden is complete, water the box, and let it drain outdoors in a protected area. To prevent damage to furniture, place the box on a waterproof tray. Fertilize with a slow-release product used at one-half strength. Provide bright indirect light, and check the soil frequently to determine whether your plants need water.
GUESTS :
Tammy Algood
UT Agricultural Extension Service
5201 Marchant Drive
Nashville, TN 37211-5201
Phone: 615-834-5162
Fax: 615-832-0043
Email: Talgood1@utk.edu
Website: http://www.utextension.utk.edu
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