Have you ever fantasised about owning your own arcadia? For people who live in the concrete jungle having a balcony garden amid the urban sprawl could be like having a slice of rapture, therefore.
Look at these straightforward suggestions and ideas we have put together, get inspired to construct your urban garden paradise if you are fortunate enough to have an open patio in your own house or even a rental apartment. We are positive that the plants will be therapeutic for both the mind and the body.
Discover the Natural Conditions | Balcony Gardens
Step one, the waterproofing of your roof, is crucial. You’ll want to make sure it’s water-resistant and leak-proof to avoid seepage problems. You should also make sure that your structure can support the added weight of pots and plants. Furthermore, It’s futile to acquire a variety of colourful plants to brighten up the balcony garden without first determining whether the conditions are conducive to their existence. To survive, each plant species requires a specific set of weather conditions.
Choose the Right Kind of Flora
Another thing to keep an eye on concerning the weather conditions on your balcony is to keep track of how many hours of sunlight your space receives each day, as well as whether or not it is windy. This will also assist you in choosing the appropriate plants for your balcony garden.
Plants for low balconies: As the amount of sunlight available in a balcony garden on a lower floor is restricted, shade plants are the best choice. Orchids, Peperomia, succulents, and African violets, in addition to ferns, will work well.
Plants for windy balconies: If a balcony is located in an area with strong gusts, the type of plant chosen should be able to survive them. As a result, plants with a thin, easily broken stem should be avoided. Succulents, crotons, and cactus are among the best plant species for such balconies.
Balcony gardens with plenty of afternoon sun: Plants that can withstand the strong sunshine are appropriate for this style of balcony. The ideal plants for sunny balcony gardens are bougainvillaea and geranium.
Plants that need morning sunlight: Morning sunlight is gentler than afternoon sunlight. As a result, flowering plants that prefer partial shade will thrive in these areas. The best species for these gardens include peace lilies, anthurium, and begonia.
Enclosed balconies: Plant growth can be affected by air circulation on covered balconies. Indoor plants, on the other hand, may grow in such conditions while simultaneously purifying the air on the balcony. Plants like the spider plant, English ivy, aloe vera, and azalea can be used in confined balcony gardens.
Strategise your Plan of Action
Because balcony gardens are limited in space, you must carefully consider your layout. After you’ve tested your roof’s waterproofing, make a design for where you want the turf, vegetables, flowers, and/or plants to go. You must also ensure that the plants, as mentioned earlier, are properly planted and positioned effectively. Aside from the plant varieties, the garden’s design will be determined by the quantity of space available in the location. The appropriate layout and design can enhance the appearance of the balcony without making it feel claustrophobic.
Consider building a vertical garden to conserve room on a small apartment balcony garden. A low-maintenance option for a balcony garden can be installing a vertical garden system with drip watering. A DIY alternative to a vertical garden is to put small pots or planters on wooden shelves. Add a pair of chairs to give comfortable seating. Growing creepers or vines along the wall or partition grill is another intriguing approach to create a privacy partition in the balcony garden. When space is limited, keeping the floor clear is a good idea. Planters that attach to the balcony rail allow you to cultivate plants without taking up any floor space. You can be as creative as you like, from growing vertical plants on the wall to using exquisite tiles in an area of your garden. After all, everyone knows that gardens aren’t only for planting; they’re also great places to socialise.
Time to Invest and Let it unfold | Balcony Gardens
Growing veggies in pots on your balcony will undoubtedly necessitate a substantial time commitment. You must be patient and know you can’t force this garden to flourish at a more accelerated rate than it wants to. All you have to do is fill the container with equal parts soil, compost, sand, and vermin-compost. After that, moisten the soil and seed or tuck a slender trunk, then watch it unfold. Make sure you have enough time to devote to the upkeep and care of your balcony garden.
There’s also a lot more to the efficient design of the terrace or balcony space to make it appealing and usable. As a result, we recommend a landscape architect consult and advise you on the best layout, technique, and species to use in the context. Consulting professionals have the advantage of being able to assist with everything from installing self-watering balcony planters to installing drip irrigation to remove the daily effort of watering the plants with a hose. As a result, give it more than it gives you. And one thing is for sure: this therapeutic investment is well worth your time, money, and effort.
References:
Skize.com. 2021. [online] Available at: <https://skize.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Guide_to_Balcony_Gardening_compressed.pdf> [Accessed 7 September 2021].
homify.in. 2021. Simple balcony garden design ideas for Indian homes | homify. [online] Available at: <https://www.homify.in/ideabooks/5985101/simple-balcony-garden-design-ideas-for-indian-homes> [Accessed 7 September 2021].
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