Last month, while in the throes of postpartum, my mother-in-law and I were rewatching Martha Knows Best, one of my favorite pandemic-era shows. I was inspired to install a container garden in the micro space at the back and side alley of our home. Note that I did not say back yard, as there is only concrete back there.
My goals were four fold:
- Maximize space by creating a vertical garden on the back wall.
- Install a planter in the alley between our townhouse and our neighbors’ townhouse, as a means to collect and redirect rainwater.
- Research and plant species that do not need copious light.
- Employ plant species as a means of pest repellent.
With that in mind, I started shopping for planters for this container garden, both for the back wall and the alley, as well as researching potential plant species.

Perhaps when I am finished with the back, I will work on upgrading the front.