East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, April 11, 2018, Page Page 3, Image 17

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    SPRING HOME & GARDEN
Wednesday, April 11, 2018
Hermiston Herald/East Oregonian • Page 3
Squeezing the most out
FOR YOU of small outdoor spaces
WE'RE HERE
St. Anthony Hospital's
nutrition and diabetes services offer nutritional
counseling tailored to your needs, as well as diabetic
education classes and healthy eating classes.
Christine Guenther, RD, LD
Diabetes Education
3001 St. Anthony Way
Pendleton, OR 97801
Medical Offi ce Building
Suite #120
541-278-3235
www.sahpendleton.org
Melissa Naff, RD, LD, CDE
Nutrition Services
3001 St. Anthony Way
Pendleton, OR 97801
541-278-3249
www.sahpendleton.org
Imagine Better Health
2801 St. Anthony Way,
Pendleton, OR
RECYCLE
We encourage all area
residents to take their glass,
bottles, jars, tin, aluminum,
newspapers, magazines and
cardboard to these depots
for recycling.
SANITARY DISPOSAL
L OCATIONS :
1. Hermiston:
220 W. Harper Rd.
2. Stanfi eld:
W. Wood (by Grange Hall)
3.Echo:
Across from park (at City
Hall)
4.Umatilla:
Hwy. 730 (next to Columbia
Harvest Foods)
5.Umatilla County
• N. Hwy 395 (next to Trans-
fer Station)
• 81144 N. Hwy. 395
6.Irrigon:
198 W. Columbia Lane
7.Boardman:
S.E. Front Street
Hermiston/McNary
Highway, Hermiston
541-567-8842
ADIRONDACK CHAIRS
and OUTDOOR FURNITURE
By MELISSA RAYWORTH
Associated Press
A
s herb and vegetable gardens,
composting and other aspects
of green living become more
popular, many people with limited
outdoor space are looking for ways to
squeeze the most out of it.
“A client in a modern high-rise
in downtown Chicago did not have
a typical garden per se, but did
have a large outdoor balcony with a
beautiful view,” says interior designer
Edyta Czajkowska, founder of the
Chicago design firm Edyta & Co.
“We created a garden space for her
by using planters in varying sizes
that she could plant flowers and herbs
in. We stuck to one plant per planter,
which created an organic yet tailored
look, while still elevating something
as simple as garlic or chives.”
Even a small patio or balcony can
be made useful and plant-friendly,
interior designers say.
Here, Czajkowska and two other
experts — Connecticut landscape
architect and designer Janice Parker,
and Atlanta interior designer Jen
Sypeck — offer advice on creating a
lush and plant-friendly area even in a
tiny space.
MAP OUT YOUR PLAN
Assess your space realistically,
says Czajkowska, and then seek
inspiration at a home and garden store
or on Pinterest.
Decide what your goals are. Do
you want to fill the space with beau-
tiful blooms, cutting some for indoor
flower arrangements throughout the
summer? Or would you love to grow
an ample crop of herbs for cooking
or become a composter? Once you
choose, get creative.
“A vertical garden is a great option
for smaller spaces as it only utilizes
wall space, and you can actually plant
quite a bit in it,” Czajkowska says.
“Just like with small interior spaces,
you’d be surprised at what you can fit
into a space that’s well thought out.”
As you plan, consider which
tools or equipment you’ll need for
gardening or other outdoor work. One
space-saving solution: For seating,
choose closed benches with storage
space inside.
Choose Plants Strategically
If you’re a first-time gardener,
Sypeck says, “start with a hardy
plant like rosemary or lavender. Both
of these beauties offer a statement
moment, an ornamental element,
aromatic benefits and are hard to kill.”
Another good option is buying
pre-made container gardens with
plants and flowers that work together.
“Chances are a garden expert paired
everything with similar needs,”
she says. “That way, you can water
accordingly and provide the correct
amount of sunlight needed.”
For vivid color without too
much effort, consider a pre-planted
container of succulents such as
cheveria, kalanchoe and sedum.
They’re hardy, Sypeck says, “but they
don’t look like it, as they produce
vibrant colors and flowers. When
paired together, they create a striking
container garden, with the same care
Neil Landino Jr./Janice Parker via AP
This undated photo provided by Janice Parker shows detail in an outdoor
garden in New York designed by Parker, a landscape architect. Parker sug-
gests using plants with bold color to bring maximum beauty to a limited
outdoor space.
Neil Landino Jr./Janice Parker via AP
This undated photo provided by Janice Parker shows an outdoor garden
in Connecticut designed by Parker, a landscape architect. To make the
most of small outdoor spaces, Parker recommends using one large, dra-
matic planter rather than several smaller ones.
requirements.”
If you want color and beauty
during the warm season, Parker says,
“stick with annuals for high impact
color from May to October.”
If your outdoor space doesn’t get
much sun, choose plants that do well
in the shade.
And in a limited space, “choose
plants that grow slowly and keep their
form,” Parker says, like boxwood,
roses or Japanese maples.
Embrace Color And Drama
In a small space, Parker says, don’t
be afraid to go big. For example,
instead of planting herbs or flowers
in small planters, choose one large
and dramatic planter as a design
statement.
She and Sypeck say there are many
beautiful, lightweight planters avail-
able made with a mix of fiberglass
and zinc or bronze, so you can create
a dramatic look that’s safe to use on
rooftops or balconies where weight is
an issue.
“I personally love mixing mate-
rials and styles with my outdoor
containers,” Sypeck says. “Layering
with a variety of heights and textures
is my approach, and I tend to favor
copper, cement and stone, all with a
soft, modern sensibility.”
She also recommends repurposing
unexpected items as eye-catching
containers: “An old copper ice bucket
was one of my latest victims turned
into a now thriving succulent garden,”
she says. “I’ve also been known to
spray paint a pot or two if I’m craving
a new color and vibe.”
Even a small composting bin can
be hidden inside an attractive planter,
helping that practical item blend well
into an outdoor living space.
Earth tones work well for planters,
Parker says, but “one wonderful
brightly colored planter can be
terrific” too.
Make Other Details Count
Think of a balcony or small patio
as an outdoor room, Parker suggests.
Choose a beautiful table as a focal
point, even if it’s small and will have
plants on it.
Also consider lighting, and how
the space will look and feel at night,
as well as during the day. If the
outdoor space doesn’t have elec-
tricity, no problem. Use LED candles
or battery-powered lights clustered
around the space.
“Outdoor lighting will really
create a sense of intimacy,” Parker
says, “and welcome you out into the
space.”
As a finishing touch, add a sculp-
ture or other item — like a decorative
birdcage painted a bright color —
amid your plants.
No room for vegetables? Pot up your plants
By KYM POKORNY
Oregon State University
541-379-7388 • Hermiston, OR
Like us on FB @ adirondackchairsnw
www.eastoregonrealestate.com
Eastern Oregon
R eal E state
& H om ebu ilders G u ide
Many vegetables grow well in
containers located on a patio, porch,
balcony or windowsill, so don’t let
lack of yard space keep you from
gardening this spring and summer.
Limited garden space precludes
being able to grow some of the larger
vegetables, according to Brooke
Edmunds, Oregon State University
Extension Service horticulturist.
For instance, growing corn on a
balcony may not be practical. But a
wide variety of crops can be planted,
including lettuce, herbs, tomatoes,
peppers, eggplant, carrots, beans,
squash, radishes, strawberries, kale,
chard and spinach.
There are some dwarf and minia-
ture varieties, such as Thumbelina
carrots or other baby vegetables
that work particularly well in small
confines. Vine crops can be put in
hanging baskets or grown in oak
barrels or large pots and trained verti-
cally on trellises, stakes or railings.
The amount of sunlight available
will affect your choice of crops,
Edmunds said. Root and leaf crops
(beets, turnips, lettuce, cabbage,
mustard greens) can tolerate light
shade. But vegetables grown for
their fruits, including tomatoes, green
beans and peppers, must have from
six to eight hours of direct sunlight
each day. The more sun the better.
Almost any type of container can
be used, from bushel baskets, metal
drums, and gallon cans to plastic
tubs, wooden boxes and well-rinsed
cut-off bleach jugs. Ten-inch pots
are good for green onions, parsley
and herbs. For plants with larger root
systems, such as tomatoes, peppers
and eggplant, five-gallon containers
are best.
No matter what container type is
used, adequate drainage is a must,
Edmunds cautions. Drill drain holes
along the side about 1/2 inch from the
bottom and make sure the soil drains
well. It also helps to elevate the pot,
with bricks or boards, off the surface
of your patio or pot saucer.
As in bigger gardens, container
grown vegetables can be grown from
seed, or they can be planted as trans-
plants.
Good soil really helps. Use a
packaged potting soil or composted
soil available at local garden centers.
These purchased potting soils make
for excellent container gardening
because they are lightweight, sterile
and drain well. Do not buy topsoil; it
can be heavy and drain poorly. Same
thing with planting mix.
Plant vegetable seeds according to
the instructions on the seed package,
Edmunds said. After planting, gently
water the soil, taking care not to wash
out the seeds.
Vegetables grown in containers
need regular fertilization. A soluble,
all-purpose fertilizer that can be
mixed in water is the easiest type to
use with container plants. Fertilize
every three to four days with a solu-
tion that is half the strength of the
recommended mixing ratio.
Dry fertilizers sprinkled on top of
the soil offer a second-best alternative.
If you use them, fertilize every three
weeks. Organic materials including
compost, animal manures, blood meal
or rock phosphate and greensand can
be used for fertilizer as well.
Religious regular watering is also
essential, Edmunds said. The soil
in containers can dry out quickly,
especially on a concrete patio in full
sun. Daily watering is not unusual,
but don’t let the soil become soggy
or have water standing on top of it.
Water when the soil feels dry and
until it runs out the drain holes. After
spring and early summer crops are
harvested, the containers can be
replanted with late summer and fall
vegetables.