It is common knowledge that experiencing nature is incredibly beneficial for both our physical health and psychological well-being. But even if your house does not have a private backyard, don’t be afraid since our balcony garden tips can help to stimulate and modify even the smallest of outdoor areas.
It was recently exposed that just 12.5% of American households have the privilege to a private garden or patio. The past couple of years requiring an increased amount of time to be spent at home have made it clear that there are positive impacts associated with being among plants and in the outdoors. As such, cultivating plants on outdoor space such as a balcony or a patio, or even indoors in containers, are wonderful ways to engage with nature at home.
By taking a little time to plan ahead, you can quickly turn your little high area into a fantastic minigarden filled with vibrancy, fragrance, and character.
There are many motivating suggestions that can transform your limited garden area into a balcony garden which will greatly improve the ambience of your house: take pleasure in the scenery, lounge, relax and cultivate your own small piece of greenery wherever you call home.
Balcony garden ideas
Start by considering the amount of light and the location of your balcony; this will help you select the right kind of plants for your balcony garden. Dark corners can be populated with a variety of leafy greens, like ferns and hostas. Areas of the garden that are exposed to direct sunlight will be the perfect spot to plant a group of plants that adore the Mediterranean sunshine and bright hues.
No matter how large or small it is, there are a variety of ways to utilize your balcony garden. If your outside space allows, set up a table with chairs for an open-air dining room or extra seating when having people over.
Teak and stainless-steel furniture that is resistant to varying weather conditions and is available in multiple shapes is perfect for contemporary apartments, while ornate iron pieces are always classic and sophisticated. Maybe you would like to have your own outdoor spot where you can enjoy the sun. Setting up a sun tanning chair with a few containers of ornamental plants would look very stylish.
Foodies don’t have to go without, since container gardens make great places to cultivate salads and greens. Take on the role of an urban agriculturalist with a balcony veggie garden!
Remember to plan out your balcony for nighttime use in addition to sunny weather use. We have plenty of concepts for outdoor lighting to motivate you.
Inspect our balcony garden ideas and transform a tiny area into your own personal mini heaven.
1. Create a canopy with creepers
Choose to cultivate creeper and vines in containers and flowerpots to enclose and make your balcony area comfortable. Let them expand and climb the balcony area. You could turn your balcony into a green sanctuary with the help of a trellis or wire for creepers to grow. With some attention and care you could quickly have a beautiful garden just outside your balcony.
2. Go big on colour
Adding a splash of vibrant color can definitely put a lot of life and soul into your balcony. Outdoor carpets, pads and paper blossoms banners will all give your patio an entirely different look when spring comes. Vases and vessels with faux flowers will still bring joy to you, even if they aren’t real! Geraniums make it easy to add a splash of colour to a room and can be nurtured to last throughout the summer months. Put your plants in hanging holders, pots, or recycled containers and set them around your balcony.
3. Line up plants on a ladder
Maximizing floor space is crucial if you have a small balcony, but you still have the chance to put plants in your area using this inventive ladder shelf. Utilizing wall space efficiently, ladder shelves offer a great place to have a collection of container plants like grasses, ivys, basil, mint, rosemary and thyme. Ensure that your shelf is firmly attached to the wall in order to hold up against any condition and consider painting it in black to make your plants stand out.
4. Combine plants with your dining spot
There’s hardly any room left in your balcony garden, which is why this combo dining table and planter is the perfect solution! It provides a great outdoor dining space for two people and there’s even a raised section in the back for placing herbs, flowers, or grass. Replace the trough with ice and utilize it as a spot to store refreshments refrigerated during warm days when entertaining guests. During the winter months, the dining set could be taken inside and utilized as a work-from-home desk, with sufficient area for writing materials and documents.
5. Arrange plants at different heights
Think about putting your flowers and greenery in various heights on your balcony, to create a fuller and more jungle-like atmosphere. Using elevated containers like planters is great, but you can also take it up a notch by putting your plants up on end tables, stools, benches, and shelves to create more of a garden-like atmosphere. Using planters that can be hung from the top of balcony railings can create a pleasant look for people both in and outside the dwelling.
Selecting a set of identical containers to place each of your plants in will give your space an organized appearance and it enables you to conveniently switch their spots based on the season.
6. Opt for a black back-drop
Although black is not typically suggested for petite areas, it surprisingly functions impressively in a space outdoors, providing the precise surroundings for your vegetation. Darkening the wall or fencing of your balcony will provide a dramatic contrast to the shade of the plants, thus making the green more vibrant. Incorporating the same hue on the flooring is also a good idea. Dark grey and galvanized steel planters can create a modern vibe in your patio’s atmosphere, and you can bring more interest by utilizing planters of varying shapes and sizes.
7. Add a splash of colour
Furniture in shades of vibrant colors could add joy to a confined area as an alternative to lots of plants, and give a cheerful spot for someone to sit. Benches can be a great way to save space as they provide a greater number of seats compared to single chairs, can be put away in stacks when not being used, and also make for a great spot to display greenery.
8. Take the inside out
The professionals at Love The Garden have revamped this formerly dull terrance into a backyard lounge. Incorporating wood into the design to create a captivating appearance while improving the functionality of the area. It is essential that the design mixes the natural look and feel of the wooden material with other natural materials and a lot of foliage.
Adding outdoor rugs, a coffee table, a sofa and armchair set is an excellent touch to this outdoor area and makes it feel like an integral part of the indoors.
9. Vertical Gardens to Decorate Your Balcony
A vertical garden can be made on walls with a trellis or rack to hold flower pots, or by putting in gutter gardens. These occupy less area; create an attractive backdrop, and you can accommodate more types of plants. Be cautious when watering so that you don’t cause any damage to the walls eventually. The most effective method of hydration for vertical garden plants is drip irrigation.
10. Layering Plants on Wall Shelves
Using wall shelves, metal racks, and stands made of wood is a great method of organizing plants in accordance with their size and height. It leaves much floor space for movement. You can repurpose household items like tables and stools to make interesting multitiered displays, thus allowing you to grow more plants in a restricted area. You could alter some of these so they act as containers for your garden tools and materials.
11. Hanging Baskets to Utilize space in Balcony
Suspending baskets from the roof or railing is a great way to make better use of the balcony area. Windowsills can be utilized as a space to grow plants without requiring any extra room. You could create extra space by installing shelves or suspending planter boxes from the balcony railing.
12. Artificial Turf in Balcony
If you’re looking to have a lawn-like atmosphere on your balcony, artificial turf could be a great option. Despite being a complicated and costly endeavor, installing artificial grass entails the need for regular maintenance and care. Synthetic turf replicates the grass, creating an attractive view in your balcony.
Furniture and Accessories in Balcony Garden
A finished look in any designed space cannot be achieved without a few accents or pieces of accent furniture. If possible, make a mini deck or patio to appreciate your garden. Considering the resilience and expense, you can pick which kind of furniture to buy. Again, you may have plenty of great options to choose from, like:
- Resistant material like plastic for chairs and table is good for easy maintenance through all seasons. However, they may fade with direct sunlight exposure and become brittle over time.
- Traditional wicker furniture made of natural fibers is light and ideal for a garden, but over time may be hard to maintain and clean.
- Wrought iron furniture is durable and heavy-duty but may be too heavy to maneuver or shift.
- Folding chairs and tables are ideal for small space, and one can consider inbuilt ledges/benches to utilize the space better.
- Hammocks/ hanging chairs/swings are other great options as they free floor space.
- Poufs and floor /throw pillows on a rug are another creative way to make it a cozy corner without spending too much on furniture.
- Landscaping (even minimal) with statues, fountains, festive lighting, lanterns, etc. gives a warm touch.
Putting up shades and curtains would give the apartment more privacy. A pergola can be built to develop a comfortable area for seating. A bamboo or lattice fence might be constructed and then beautified using vines and festoon lights. A grille or wood panel fence is used to enclose a balcony, protecting it from excess sunlight, wind, and prying eyes. Fabric screens or chicks can also be installed as.
What Do Plants Need?
You can have lush, verdant plants in your balcony, but you must be mindful of the basics needed to ensure the plant stays healthy.
- Soil: Soil is the source of essential nutrients (micro-organisms and organic matter) which a plant needs for healthy growth.
- In a balcony garden, plants will be grown in containers. It provides an anchor for the plant roots so they are well supported and can grow forth. A right potting mix is necessary as this soil type is most suited for container gardening.
- Sunlight: It helps plants to make food through the process of photosynthesis. Therefore, most plants need exposure to sunlight, even if only for a few hours. Keeping in mind the amount of sunlight available to a balcony and the duration of sunlight through the day, select the varieties of plants per their need for direct sunlight.
- Water: Plants need water to survive as it carries nutrients and moisture from the roots to other plant parts. You must water the plants regularly for them to be healthy, and grow well. You may want to use a local source of water and equipment to ease the chore of watering in the long run. Also do not neglect drainage if needed.
Precautions and Challenges of a Balcony Garden
- Drying of plants may happen in the beginning or from time to time. Do not get discouraged and find out the reason for this- under watering/overwatering, too much or too little sun; there are such other factors that can be easily resolved.
- Pruning and grooming will have to be done regularly for keeping plants healthy. Removing dead leaves and cutting off the extra branches to ensure proper growth. Changing pots, if plants start to grow out, adding manure or fertilizers from time to time and removing weeds are some of the care required for any plant.
- Proper drainage through the drainage hole avoids water logging in pots, and balcony floors should be ensured before planting. You can put saucers/tray under pots to prevent water leaking everywhere and for keeping the balcony dry and clean.
- Secure hanging pots and other containers safely to prevent damage during a storm or avoid any accidents.
- You might be fine with butterflies and birds visiting, but not with mosquitoes, bees or lizards which may quickly make a home amongst plants. Invest in some repellent if the problem aggravates.
- Select child-friendly and pet-friendly plants as some common plants may be poisonous if the leaves are mouthed by mistakes.
Conclusion
Generally, living in a city deprives the majority of people from experiencing nature. Everybody wishes for a tiny garden in their house. And this can be fulfilled by balcony garden. This text is presenting a full guide to balcony gardening, covering everything from design concepts to the best plants and furniture to use on a balcony.
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