Do you love gardening but do not have much space to do so? You should consider creating a balcony garden. Keep reading for some useful tips.
You should adapt your project in function of the size of your balcony. If you have a large balcony, consider getting some lawn furniture so you can create a quiet space where you can relax or have breakfast. If your balcony is very small, you will have to limit yourself to a few potted plants. Your garden needs to be practical, easy to take care of and reasonable if you need to work on a budget. It is best to start with a few potted plants and add more items later if you are not sure what you want to do yet. Talk with neighbors or friends who have a balcony garden to get some ideas.
Choose your plants carefully. Since you will not be able to have a lot of variety, you need to choose plants that you really enjoy. Most people have daisies or similar flowers on their balconies, but rarer plants such as bamboo, peperomias or crotons are just as easy to grow. If your balcony is exposed to sun rays through most of the day, you can even consider growing some exotic plants.
Play with shapes and textures. Your small garden will be a lot more interesting if your plants are growing in different directions. Ivy plants make a great addition to balcony gardens since you can easily shape the plant as it grows. Install some small hooks on the rail of your balcony or even on the walls on either side of the balcony to guide the direction in which your ivy plant grows. Cut your ivy plant regularly so it does not bother neighbors.
You can create variety by using different kinds of pots for your plants. You should go to a gardening store and compare the different shapes and colors. Pick pots that will go well with the color patterns you want to create with your plants. You can also create variety by using suspension systems or transforming objects such as coffee mugs, teapots or watering cans as pots for your plants.
You can keep some potted plants inside your apartment to continue the patterns you have established with your balcony garden. You could, for instance, get some exotic plants, banzai trees or a nice cactus since these plants are too fragile to grow outside. Place your plants near a window so they get plenty of exposure to the sun or use a special light if a plant requires more light or heat. If you live in a cold area, you might have to keep your outside plants in your apartment during the winter months.
These tips should help you create a great balcony garden if you are ready to get started on this project. Start by establishing a budget for this project, and do some research on different types of plants before you head out to the closest gardening store.