Anyone can have a garden, even those apartment dwellers living in the smallest apartments. If you have a balcony, all you need is a little imagination and patience, and a bit of a green thumb and you too can have a pocket garden worth bragging about.

The balcony is actually the most underused space in an apartment and it's precious space for wannabe gardener. No matter how small your balcony may be, it's adequate space to support a number of potted plants. But there should be some order in the way the planters are arranged, or the overall space could end up looking cluttered. One could also hang a few pots from the balcony roof and walls, but don't go overboard and make the balcony look like a tropical jungle.

Bigger balconies can also serve as a seating area - a perfect place to relax after a day at work. just remember to use light furniture as moving it around can be a backbreaking task in bad weather. Even if your apartment doesn't boast an extended balcony, there's nothing to worry about. When it comes to gardens, size doesn't really seem to matter and even the smallest square can support a mini-kitchen garden.

You can grow everything from tomatoes, cucumbers, and eggplant to oranges, all in pots. Admittedly, this is a bit more challenging than having just a few ferns and flowers. If you're not willing to work that hard for fresh fruit and vegetables, consider growing your own herb garden. It's the best option. Herbs can be grown in planters, needing just water and sunlight.

If you still feel that the balcony is too small, there's one more option. Create the illusion of open space. A crystal-clear sliding glass door between the room and balcony along with continuous flooring between the spaces can achieve the look of wider-open spaces without costing you a fortune.

Growing an apartment-friendly garden on your balcony isn't hard by any means. All it takes is a little bit of time. You'll be proud of yourself for the work that you've created and the beauty that's right outside your apartment - no matter how far up you are. From the second floor to the fifteenth and beyond - a beautiful garden could just be only a few steps from your door.

Amanda Baker writes for All Things Pondered

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