Backyard outdoor in chicago

Ok so Im thinking of growing some plants in my backyard in Chicago. I have a fenced in backyard, and a small section on the side of my home that nobody can see from. Whats the risk? And does anybody know if helicopters are seriously that active?

I wanna do something small, like only 4 plants. Probably dig up a 2'x4' or 4'x4' section of dirt and replace that with FFOF mixed with light warrior....

Ive only done indoors so what do I have to worry about outdoors except bugs and varmins? and Should I account for rain when watering my plants...like what if it rains the day I need to water them with nutes? do I just water them anyways on top of the rain or wait for the soil to dry some?

I need tips and suggestions...

also how much would i have to worry about the smell? and is there any way to fix that?

I grow jasmine and rosemary around the yard with mine to mask the smell. But when the wind blows just right u can smell it for sure

Don't use synthetic fertilizers, use organics so it does not kill everything around it. BUT A Green House To Place Over It So The heli Can't Easily See The plants. I would Def recommend some kind of screen for porches or etc to keep the catapillars off the plans to. When they bud if your not using green house put some cover clear panels etc over the plans so rain does does soak buds and in which potentially turns to PM

Smell is going to be your biggest issue growing in an urban environment. A greenhouse/carport greenhouse will be your best bet. Won't help with the smell, but they'll be covered, out of the weather, easier to control what's going on in there.
TMB-

Get a little garden going with some corn tomatoes sunflowers ect.blend them in

I seen a picture in high times yes ago.of a killer plant a guy grew in the over grown yard. of an empty house in a large city.always stuck in my head how cool it was.good luck

just be smart ! did you have alot of folks over from sept -nov in the yard bbqing??
if not then go for it and put silk roses or lupines on them that works and fools lots of folks.
grow fruity strains NO SOUR or OG ...

flyingspur said:

I grow jasmine and rosemary around the yard with mine to mask the smell. But when the wind blows just right u can smell it for sure

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Yeah I figured the wind might be a problem. I might buy some bulk bags of compost to keep handy to pour while flowering. Also herbs is a great idea. Ill grow some also. Thanks

treemansbuds said:

Smell is going to be your biggest issue growing in an urban environment. A greenhouse/carport greenhouse will be your best bet. Won't help with the smell, but they'll be covered, out of the weather, easier to control what's going on in there.
TMB-

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I would get a greenhouse but I feel like that's less discrete. Especially since it's urban so greenhouses in the hood of the city are highly unusual. It would kind of be a dead giveaway. I want my weed plants to appear as if they are shrubs or hedges. So I'll try to top and keep the height down if neccessary. And I'll try to make them bushy. I stay with others and i don't want them to know what I'm doing so I want to make it seem like the weed plants are just bushes or plants that's growing with the garden. I plan on buying artificial plants also to plant around them to sort of mask them. What do you all think?

Lols. If ur urban and live with ppl. They will know what's up. Not enough space. The whole hood will know my friend.

Joedank said:

just be smart ! did you have alot of folks over from sept -nov in the yard bbqing??
if not then go for it and put silk roses or lupines on them that works and fools lots of folks.
grow fruity strains NO SOUR or OG ...

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And no. No one is ever over our house to visit. We keep to ourselves. The neighbors on one side have an annoying outdoor dog that's always barking but that's about it. I don't expect it to be much trouble since I'll be planting regular stuff also so they probably won't think anything of it. The weed plants are going to be on the side of the house almost out of view. And the rest of the garden is going to be directly in the backyard.

Any easy to grow flowers, veggies, or herbs you all recommend I grow? I'm contemplating planting pregrown flowers and tomato plants and such because that'll be a lot easier than growing from seed

Your best bet is to keep them out of sight. portable carports are a common sight in most neighborhoods & won't attract attention and make a stealthy greenhouse in urban areas......

treemansbuds said:

Smell is going to be your biggest issue growing in an urban environment. A greenhouse/carport greenhouse will be your best bet. Won't help with the smell, but they'll be covered, out of the weather, easier to control what's going on in there.
TMB-

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@doublejj
Great minds think alike my friend....carport greenhouse is the way to go if growing outdoor in an urban enviroment.
If you grow in the garden the chance of you being ripped or BUSTED increases. Out of sight, out of mind.
If you ask me growing outdoor in Chicago (last time I was there pot laws weren't to tolerant to pot smokers/growers) will be very tough. Better to stay inside than chance it if you ask me. Maybe the laws have changed there too?
Good luck,
TMB-

treemansbuds said:

@doublejj
Great minds think alike my friend....carport greenhouse is the way to go if growing outdoor in an urban enviroment.
If you grow in the garden the chance of you being ripped or BUSTED increases. Out of sight, out of mind.
If you ask me growing outdoor in Chicago (last time I was there pot laws weren't to tolerant to pot smokers/growers) will be very tough. Better to stay inside than chance it if you ask me. Maybe the laws have changed there too?
Good luck,
TMB-

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Pot laws still arent tolerant...although Illinois is joining the medical states soon supposedly. under 4 plants is always a misdemeanor in Illinois tho. But the thing is I plan on this being a VERY small 1-2 plant grow. So if i did get a carport it would have to me a mini one enough to house 1-2 plants and I cant seem to find good ones that small. I plan on masking my weed grow by planting veggies and various other plants and shrubs in my yard also...so im comparison to the 1-2 weed plants there will be a vast amount of other plants also. I also plan on topping them to keep them short and bushy looking. I cant have the getting tall and sticking out at all. But all in all Im going to find some annuals to grow along with sunflowers and herbs and hopefully veggies.

Its always better to be safe. Just trying to make a point. Most people see a group of plants and that's all. This was a corner of a 20 unit apartment complex in the middle of Miami. 2 six footers behind allthat mess and the little one tto the right of the white table. Igrew like that for three years and nobody knew shit not even the lawn guys. So just mix it up with what you want and I think you will be fine

flyingspur said:

Its always better to be safe. Just trying to make a point. Most people see a group of plants and that's all. This was a corner of a 20 unit apartment complex in the middle of Miami. 2 six footers behind allthat mess and the little one tto the right of the white table. Igrew like that for three years and nobody knew shit not even the lawn guys. So just mix it up with what you want and I think you will be fine

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Thats exactly what im trying to do!, geez how much did all those plants cost lol

flyingspur said:

Its always better to be safe. Just trying to make a point. Most people see a group of plants and that's all. This was a corner of a 20 unit apartment complex in the middle of Miami. 2 six footers behind allthat mess and the little one tto the right of the white table. Igrew like that for three years and nobody knew shit not even the lawn guys. So just mix it up with what you want and I think you will be fine

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I see you have a lot of majesty palms...i was thinking about getting a few since i saw they are large and cheap but i dont know how they would do in chicago climate

Most were given to me by a guy next door that was moving. I buy the palms you like just for cover. They also let a ton of light through. I had one in Kansas for several years. But they still got more humidity than you. Just pull it inside for fall and winter. But they are cheap even if it didn't make it you would have cover for the summer.

I've grown in and around my yard for years with no problems. Just use the layout of your property and other plants to help conceal or camouflage your grow areas. I would recommend topping everything to keep them low and easier to conceal as it was stated earlier smell will be a proplem and its not a lot you can do for that outside short of trying to mask the odor by some other means such as a chemical masking agent or planting other odifforus plants in great quantity but it can be done. One thing I did was divert attention away from my plants to other sections of my yard by using colorful plants yard art or container gardens.....just a few idea's from a fellow yard Gardner..!
It can be done with successful results .