Can You Make Your Own Balcony Garden?

This article can give you initial advice on how to make a balcony garden in your urban dwelling. A balcony garden can arouse admiration if you decorate it in the right way. The possibilities are many – from the cultivation of ornamental plants to vegetables, herbs and fruits.

Practical Tips For Planning and Setting up a Garden on your Balcony

If you want to make a well planned and perfect balcony garden then it is important to first chalk out a plan on paper. Ask yourself what your requirements are and how you want to make it. What type of plants you want to grow? Your balcony is sunny or shady and what is the size of it?
Measure your balcony’s length, width, and height and draw it on paper in scale. This will make easier to arrange various items such as furniture, large and free-standing containers and boxes if you have a plan.

North and South Faced Balcony

North faced balconies remain generally shady so sun-loving plants don’t thrive well there, on the other hand south faced balconies remain sunny all time.

East and West Faced Balcony

In east and west faced balconies most of the plants grow well (ornamental species, vegetables, fruits and herbs). But during winter, you will need to carefully protect perennial plants growing in large containers. Strong easterly winds can cause a lot of damage, especially on plants grown in containers.

Shady balcony

If you have a shady balcony you should choose plants carefully. Before buying plants do research on plants or ask in nursery for shady plants. Plants should not be planted too densely to avoid a risk of fungal diseases.

Sunny Balcony

On a sunny balcony, you can sun lovers like geraniums, verbena, roses. Plants sensitive to drought and species of ornamental leaves are too cumbersome to grow.

Useful Tips

Plants grown in containers require more care than those growing on the ground. You should fertilize and water them regularly.

Watering should be done in the morning.

Grow sun loving plants in the planters installed at the windows and railings.

Pots for Growing Plants on the Balcony

Containers used in balcony should not only be practical, but decorative too. Each pot must have enough hole in the bottom to allow sufficient drainage of water.

Freestanding pots and planters (ceramics, clay) are stable and provide protection to plants from falling over, but the containers mounted on the windows and railings should be of lightweight material like plastic.

Useful Tips:

Always remember that the plants you’re growing are the main attraction of balcony garden and pots should complement them.

If you have a small balcony, you should use the high, narrow pots that acquire less space.

If you’re growing vegetables, use wide boxes and planters, you can also use apple crates.

You can also use metal pots to give your balcony a modern look.

If you are a lazy or busy person, use self watering planters.

Use Vertical space of Balcony

Unlock the vertical and aired space of your balcony to double up your gardening area. You’ll be surprised how much potential vertical gardening has.
Buy a pot holder that will hold your pots vertically or you can easily make your own from pallets, read these DIY pallet ideas.
Use an old shelf or rack to keep the pots in and grow plants in hanging baskets.

Useful Tips:

Grow more vines and climbers, these will cover your vertical space well.

Flowers like jasmine, clematis, black eyed susan and bleeding heart etc. are some. In veggies, grow beans, gourds, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers and peas.

Hanging baskets looks beautiful on the balcony. Grow plants like petunia, verbena, moss rose fuschia, lobelia. If you like to grow vegetables, you can grow tomatoes in hanging basket.