5 Plants That Will Totally Transform Your Rental Garden – They’re Easy to Grow and Offer Quick Rewards
Add some color and delicious homegrown harvests to your garden with these renter-friendly plants
I live in a rental property, but I don't let that limit my gardening hobby. From containers overflowing with blooms to clever portable planting ideas, the possibilities are endless. Something I've prioritized is growing renter-friendly plants that reward quickly, and you'd be surprised by just how many there are.
If you've been searching for ways to garden in a rental property, then look no further. Not only are there flowers to plant if you rent, but there are fast-growing plants to opt for that will give you quick results, plenty of foliage coverage, and lots of color – and they're all impermanent, so they won't upset your landlord.
Article continues below1. Sunflowers
Sunflowers are at the top of the list of renter-friendly plants that reward quickly for many reasons: they're a fast-growing flowering annual, can be planted in pots, and bring undeniably joyful color.
You can grow sunflowers in pots easily, so long as you bear in mind the height of the variety you choose.
Dwarf varieties (like 'Sunray Yellow' sunflower, which is available at Burpee) are often preferred for pots as they have a compact size and are less likely to topple over in a container.
Our guide to dwarf sunflowers for pots has more ideas, though you can also grow taller varieties in a larger pot and with a plant support in place (like these bamboo stakes from Amazon).
They grow across USDA zones 2-11 and are best positioned in a full-sun spot.
2. Hostas
You can grow hostas in pots for a renter-friendly foliage plant that brings coverage to your container garden, as well as fun leaf colors and patterns.
This is a particularly good choice if you have a shady patio you want to brighten up, as hostas are some of the most underrated shade plants.
They come in the most beautiful colors, from the green and cream 'Patriot' hosta (from Fast Growing Trees) to the more unusual yellow and green 'Liberty' hosta (available at Nature Hills).
They are perennial and die back in winter, but are known to reliably return come early spring, making them a great investment plant.
In summer, you can then enjoy their purple and white bell-shaped blooms.
Just take care to put some slug control in place, as these critters love to munch on hostas. One of the best natural pest control methods is placing copper tape (from Amazon) on your pot (it's irritating to the slugs but won't kill them).
3. Radishes
When I was researching which vegetables to add to my rental garden, radishes came out on top.
This is because they're fast-growing vegetables, and you can grow radishes in pots, so they don't take up lots of room.
You can plant radish seeds (see the selection at Burpee) in spring and have a harvest in just a few weeks. The best way to get the most out of them is by sowing little and often, providing you with a continuous supply of salad crops.
It is also possible to plant radishes in the fall by growing them indoors or in a greenhouse.
You'll know it's time to harvest radishes when the top of the root (shoulders) becomes visible on the soil surface.
4. Petunias
Petunias are my go-to plants for the hanging baskets in my front yard. This is because they bloom from late spring all the way through to fall.
There are so many types of petunias to choose from, including red petunias (plants from Walmart) and pink petunias (plants from Walmart). You even get varieties with two tones, like these pink and white striped petunia seeds from Amazon.
The reason they make my list of renter-friendly plants that reward quickly is because they flower super fast once temperatures warm up, they quickly develop a trailing habit, and they wow instantly with their dazzling display.
Plus, in spring, you can usually find petunias already-planted in hanging baskets available in supermarkets and at garden centers, conveniently ready to take home and hang up.
To keep your petunias blooming all summer, make sure to deadhead petunias regularly. You can use these gardening snips from Amazon to make clean cuts.
5. Sweet Peas
This is another flowering annual that is perfect for rental properties.
Although sweet peas can take some time from seed to bloom (especially if you plant sweet pea seeds in fall for an earlier and stronger start), once they get going, they shoot up.
I adore the heady fragrance of sweet peas, as well as their elegant petals. One of my favorite ways to grow them as a portable garden idea for renters is by making a sweet pea teepee.
I'm fortunate that my garden has a border I can plant into, so I simply insert bamboo stakes (like these from Amazon) into it to create a support for climbing sweet peas.
If you don't have a planting space, you can still grow sweet peas in a large container. You can use an obelisk (like these metal ones from Amazon) or even a trellis with a planter box (like this from Wayfair) to train them to climb.
I then harvest sweet peas as cut flowers and deadhead sweet peas to prolong their blooming through summer.
Once they fade, these annuals won't return, so you can take your empty trellis with you when you move on from the property.
What to Shop
These bypass pruning shears are ideal for essential pruning tasks. They cut up to 1" in diameter.
This beautiful canvas garden apron has multiple pockets to carry your tools. It has a neck and waist tie for a comfortable fit.
These long-sleeved gardening gloves have a gorgeous floral pattern. They protect hands and arms when tending to the garden.
Another way to make the most of your rental property is by starting a vertical garden. It's a great space-saving way to grow plants, and things like this trellis planter box (from Wayfair) can be taken with you when you move on from the property.
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