Jessica Herman

Professional garden designer and local green thumb Kim Kozimor has been bringing the great outdoors indoors since 1998. She and her seasoned crew design, install and maintain gardens tailor-made for space-confined urban places. We picked her brain for tips to channel our inner Martha.

Tip 1: Flowers can be fun

Contrary to popular belief, flower care can be as simple as plant care. When flowers are fading, simply "deadhead," or hand pluck, the fading bloom to encourage new growth. This forces the plant to sprout another flower, which will reproduce with more seeds.

Tip 2: Sun salutations

If you have access to sunlight, try planting herbs and vegetables for a kitchen garden. Lavender and mint are particularly bountiful. If your plot is shadier, try tropical plants like palms, ferns and bromeliads.

Tip 3: Contain it

Think out of the box for planting containers. Kozimor prefers the shabby-chic look and frequently uses discarded wash buckets and coal scuttles as planters (just make sure to punch drainage holes in the bottom). A little more money provides durable polyurethane containers in faux metal, slate and limestone finishes.

Tip 4: Glove gear

Despite their label, thick gardening gloves aren't conducive to a tactile activity like gardening. Go barehanded or try latex. Other investment-worthy gear: a pair of pruners and sharp scissors (to cut away withering foliage).

Tip 5: Honor your roots

Buy plants in four to six inch pots--they've had room to develop a root system and will likely be more attractive. Then scatter in a container at your discretion and plant with a granular fertilizer that slowly releases over a four to six month period. Use a water-soluble fertilizer every week thereafter.

Tip 6: When all else fails...

Leave it to the professionals. Companies like Kozimor's Kim Kozimor Garden Design will make site visits, consult about space and growing opportunities and help plant and maintain your garden.

Plant your seeds at your local farmer's market or:
Botanicals: 2214 N. Elston, (773)269-3142, botanicalschicago.com
Gethsemane Garden Center: 5439 N. Clark, (773)878-5915
Jayson Home and Garden: 1885 N. Clybourn, (773)384-9728
Kim Kozimor Garden Design: 1960 N. Lincoln, (312)208-1024, gardenkim.com
The Urban Gardener: 2211 N. Elston, (773)384-9728, urbangardenerchicago.com

(2005-06-24)

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