Page 91 - South Mississippi Living - March, 2025

GOALS
Making the smartest use of your space means prioritizing what is important for your patio or small garden. You might want to ask yourself the following questions:
• How do I want to spend my time in this space? Do I want a place to entertain friends and family, to sip coffee in the morning, or to relax in the evenings?
• Do I want beautiful foliage, fresh flowers, or a combination of both?
• Do I want to grow produce? What types? Am I looking to grow fresh herbs and greens, or more substantial veggies?
PLANTING
Bringing your vision to life means arranging your furniture, planters, and containers into
the right areas outdoors. Think about planting container friendly perennials. Perennials are great because they come back for multiple seasons. There are also small space veggies and herbs available that are easy to grow.
Finally, determine how you'll grow your plants. Will you start from seed indoors with some hot- weather tomatoes and peppers? You might want to purchase some annuals for a pop of instant color, too.
SOIL SELECTION
A good growing medium should have:
• A good balance of nutrients.
• Ability to retain moisture but also drain well. • Denseness making it easy for roots to grow.
You might want to fill your containers or raised beds with a potting mix designed specifically
for containers. Soil rich in organic matter holds moisture longer, so you can supplement garden soil with compost. Don’t forget to check your local nursery about fertilizing or top-dressing your pots with compost for a refresher in midseason.
Keep in mind that different areas of your patio might be better suited to certain types of plants. For example, you might grow hostas in the shade in the back corner and place produce/flowers that need full sun toward the front.
ENJOYING YOUR SPACE
After getting your space all set up and planting your beautiful flowers, you may have to adjust where a container is sitting or what is growing in each planter. However, continue refining until you create the perfect patio space that reflects you.
Gaye Winter, Ph.D., teaches English at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and is a member of Biloxi Garden Club.
Reach her at gaye.winter@mgccc.edu.
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