How to Garden When You Rent

The Master Gardener’s Bookshelf

How to Garden When You Rent, by Matthew Pottage

How to Garden When You Rent, by Matthew Pottage

Review by Susan Wilhelm, Extension Master Gardener

Back in the day, when I was renting, it never occurred to me that with relatively little effort I could make my small townhouse patio anything other than the uninviting space it was. Fortunately, that is not a problem for today’s renters. In How to Garden When You Rent, author Matthew Pottage presents renters with a variety of gardening ideas with solid advice on how to undertake them.

Gardening on a property you do not own has its own special considerations. For example, Pottage stresses that it is essential for a renter to keep the landlord informed since the landlord’s approval, or lack thereof, will influence what the gardener can do. He recommends talking with the landlord early on about what you are thinking of doing and at other key points, such as seeking approval to mount a window box on a wall or asking for assistance with power washing a patio.

As with any other garden, the first step is developing a plan. Not only will the plan help the renter decide what she wants to do, but it is a key tool for seeking a landlord’s agreement. Pottage explains how to develop the plan, starting with a site analysis to help determine what plants will grow best in your location. He also addresses furniture, lighting, and selecting and storing tools (as rental properties may not have tool storage spaces). Especially helpful are his tips for selecting plants and other actions that may make the plan more likely to meet a landlord’s approval, for instance including plant photos.

How to Garden When You Rent is filled with delightful ideas for rental gardens organized by rental lease length: short term, one-to-two years, or longer (though Pottage says most will work in any situation.) For example, annuals are relatively inexpensive, provide quick color and can be used in planters on a balcony, patio, or in the ground, ideal for a gardener with a short-term summer lease. Gardeners with one-to-two-year leases might consider window boxes, vertical gardening with well-behaved climbing plants, or bulbs which can be planted in containers or in the ground. Longer term renters might grow perennials which can be transplanted into containers when the gardener moves.

Pottage also provides instructions for creative DIY projects, for instance a water lily container pond or raised vegetable bed, as well as plant recommendations appropriate for each tenancy length. However, additional research is always a good idea before selecting plants. For example, there are better alternatives for plants such as Hedera (ivy) or Lysimachia nummularia (Creeping Jenny.)

At the time of publication, Pottage had been gardening for eight years at a rental property he initially thought would be temporary. How to Garden When You Rent is easy to use with clear descriptions, inspiring photos, and internal cross-references that link related information. Especially helpful for new gardeners, Pottage assumes no existing knowledge – for example explaining what a drainage hole in a container is and why it is important. 

Pottage wrote How to Garden When You Rent (DK, 2022) for renters, but its ideas would work well for first time homeowners, or any gardeners looking for tips for sprucing up an existing garden. It is available from the Alexandria Library and national booksellers.

Check out these MGNV resources for additional inspiration.

Container Gardening with Native Plants

The Small Space Garden

https://www.dk.com/us/book/9780744026924-how-to-garden-when-you-rent