I'm always rooting for the grass and flowers that push their way up through the cracks of the sidewalk, but I've never thought of creating a cement garden by intentionally growing plants and flowers in the cracks. Luckily somebody did...
CMG Landscape Architects did a project between two buildings that involved creating cracks in the existing cement foundation and planting flowers, vegetables and herbs. The result is quite extraordinary.
This is a really unique way to beautify an otherwise plain and boring urban cement patch. I think it's a great alternative to digging up an entire concrete patio to make room for a garden. Your urban garden oasis is just a jackhammer away.
(Images: CMG Architects)
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So creative and SO COOL! Made me think of the book A Tree Grows In Brooklyn :)
I imagine tending to the soil (turning it, mixing it nutrients from season to season) would be quite a pain with so little access, but it could probably be managed.
Take it all up! There is some great info on depaving at this link: http://depave.org/
I think practicality for this totally depends on the climate. Here in Denver, it would be a failure, but in St. Louis with high humidity and frequent rain, it would take over the unbroken concrete in a season or so.
i would like to see some interesting shapes. definitely a cool city way to bring life to your cement pad, but i want more green!
Taking up all that concrete would be costly and extremely difficult. Where would you put it all? I think this is a wonderfully creative alternative.
If they plant perennials, you really don't need to turn the soil each season. Just top dress with compost or add some fertilizer.
Before clicking the link, I thought this was a great idea...in theory, but I am quite underwhelmed with the look in practice. Perhaps a trellis system in the trenches would improve the look with some vertical growth.
I love this idea. I think soaker hoses could be laid down, as water use would be economical, as the cement would keep it from evaporating.
But before growing any food items, soil samples should be taken from multiple places in each row, as you never know what they paved over.
If you wanted to remove some more, or all of the concrete at a later date, there would be plenty of starting spots from which to start breaking it up.
Good going, CMG.
I guess this is fairly creative, but I don't get why you wouldn't just rip out the concrete and make a regular garden (or half of it, if you wanted to keep a concrete patio)? It would look a lot better (sorry, but this looks fugly to me), and probably be more practical if you are actually interested in gardening. I'm not really sure why you would want this. MAYBE if they treated the concrete somehow so that it looked better, but even then, I'm not really sold on this.
Creative idea, but in the end, it still looks messy. Plus, what's with the rest of the bare concrete in the overhead pic?
I only have a balcony, but this is my kind of garden... no lawn!
I had to think about if I liked it or not and quickly decided I love it! Sure it's not practical but it's COOL. And it's art. I love the juxtaposition of nature and urban elements so this is right up my alley.
As a St. Louis native, marilyncbenson's half-right--it wouldn't take a full season. One wet month and it's difficult to tell we even have paving stones.