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.