Written by: Richelle Stephens – CMG 2023 

The popularity of gardening exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic and attracted a host of new faces to this immensely rewarding and, mind the pun, fruitful hobby. This included people who have all manner of living situations, including a large number of folks who rent their homes.  

The most recent available data shows that around 34% of Americans are renters. Thankfully, home renting does not bar a person’s involvement in gardening. Below I share some ideas for folks who’ve cultivated a green thumb and who are looking to get started with a variety of space considerations. 

The first thing you should keep in mind if you’re starting a garden at a rental home, is to check with your landlord or leasing agency about what you can – and can’t – do on the property. There may already be clauses in your rental agreement that state that renters are not allowed to make any unauthorized changes to the yard area. That usually means no in-ground or even raised garden beds. Consulting your rental agreement will avoid any conflict and heartache down the road. 

If you don’t have a formal rental agreement, reach out to your landlord or leasing agency. They may be willing to accommodate some of your gardening vision, or even assist with the dirty work themselves! If you’re willing to do all the work and purchase all the materials necessary for a garden, then communicate that to them; they may be more willing to allow you to make the necessary changes to the property! You will also need to be prepared to keep up the garden through the growing season: if dead plants and issues with weeds become an eyesore, then your landlord or leasing agency may not allow you to keep a garden. 

If your rental agreement does not allow for in-ground planting, do not worry. You can keep a few plants on hand without violating those terms. Potted plants and container gardens are great ways to scratch the gardening itch without risking falling on your landlord’s bad side. And these portable containers don’t have to be particularly ornate or expensive, either. A commitment of just a few dollars will still allow you to grow to your heart’s content! Better still, you can save even more on these materials by shopping at thrift and dollar stores. 

One great advantage to container gardening specifically is that it’s designed with portability in mind. If you find yourself embarking on a move in the middle of your growing season, then container gardens can be transported from one home to another with relative ease. Windowsill and indoor plants are also easy to move around if necessary, and are friendly to any budget. 

Sometimes a landlord or leasing agency will not budge on the issue. If they will not allow you to keep any plants on the property, then investigate the option of community gardens. Many organizations have space devoted on their properties for people to come in and tend their own plots for reasonable fees. If this also interests you, there are several community gardens in the Pueblo County area at https://www.communitygarden.org/garden . 

CSU-Extension Container Garden Fact Sheet: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/container-gardens-7-238/