Life in the city distances you from nature. If you live in a flat and would like to introduce at least a bit of nature into your home surroundings, then why not create a garden on your balcony, which will not only be beautiful, but also very useful. So how can you turn your balcony into a nature reserve?
Life in the city distances you from nature. If you live in a flat and would like to introduce at least a bit of nature into your home surroundings, then why not create a garden on your balcony, which will not only be beautiful, but also very useful. So how can you turn your balcony into a nature reserve?
A balcony garden – how should you start?
A balcony garden will give you a lot of pleasure and joy. However, in order for this to happen, you will need to properly plan the space, paying particular attention to the size of your balcony. The first step to creating a garden on your balcony is making precise measurements. Transfer them onto a piece of paper and sketch the shape of your balcony, then draw all the elements you want to include on it.
At this stage, consider your realistic expectations – whether you want it to be more a place of relaxation or a practical garden for growing fruits and vegetables. Consider also what style you are going for and plan some privacy by protecting yourself from the neighbours’ view. Still not sure how to go about creating a mini garden on your balcony? Read on to find out!
Types of balcony gardens
When it comes to growing plants in your balcony garden, you have many options to choose from – both in terms of the flowers, vegetables or herbs, as well as how to grow them. Which version will you choose?
A vertical garden
Can you create a garden on your balcony that will not take up all the available space, and at the same time give you a chance to grow various varieties of flowers, vegetables or herbs? The ideal solution in this situation will be to create a vertical garden, thanks to which you will economically take advantage of the space.
A vertical balcony mini-garden can be made of ready-made components or built from scratch. You will need a solid, high wooden or metal trellis, and handles with which to attach flower pots to it. The flower pots should be placed at a slight angle so that you always have good access to the earth when watering and looking after your plants, and to give them enough space for proper growth. Growing plants in this way is very convenient – similar to the case with raised pallet beds. You won’t even have to bend down when looking after most of the flowers!
A vertical garden on your balcony can be used in many ways – it can become a decorative wall of greenery that will not only give your surroundings a natural feel, but also separate you from your neighbours’ balconies, ensuring some well-earned privacy. However, such a construction is just as well suited for growing herbs, colourful flowers, and even some vegetables. Most importantly, however, a vertical garden is a good idea even for small balconies – you can grow a lot of plants, but also leave enough free space for other needs.
A conservatory
If you love to grow plants and spend time looking after them, you probably always worry towards the end of the season that you will soon need to take your beloved plants inside. If so, then why not turn your small balcony garden into a real winter garden?
A winter garden is like a mini conservatory, and you should therefore cover your balcony with glass walls, turning it into a perfect relaxation zone not only during the summer, but also in the middle of winter. However, don’t forget to provide some form of heating – an unheated one will have a temperature approx. 5°C higher than outside, which will not be enough on cold winter nights.
A portable heater or radiant heater will solve the problem temporarily, but a better solution would be to connect it to your home heating system – such a small space should not be expensive to heat.
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A vegetable garden
Would you like to have your own vegetables at your fingertips? Fresh, organic and grown without the use of chemicals? Such delicious, home-grown vegetables can easily be within your reach. Not all vegetables can be grown in such conditions, but you can successfully grow at least a few types of vegetable in such a garden. So what should you choose for a balcony vegetable garden?
- tomatoes,
- radishes,
- lettuce,
- green beans,
- chives,
- peppers,
- peas,
- onions.
Bear in mind, however, that not all plants can be grown on your balcony straight away. Some of them, such as tomatoes or peppers, are grown from vegetable seedlings, which are best prepared at home and should only be re-planted in your balcony vegetable garden once the weather is stable.
Which vegetables are not suitable for a balcony garden in a block of flats? Among others Cucurbitaceae plants, otherwise known as the pumpkin family, will not be a good idea, because they grow heavily and produce large fruits. Growing brassica and most root crops would be similarly troublesome. You will therefore not be able to grow all your usual vegetables, but you will be able to grow at least some of them throughout the season!
A herb garden
Growing herbs is as much fun as growing vegetables. With a choice of your own home-grown herbs available at all times, you can spice-up each dish in a way that will outdo any dried herbs usually bought in shops. How should you plant herbs so that they don’t take up much space on the balcony but are always available when you require them?
A herb garden on a balcony can be planned in many ways. One solution could be to hang boxes with the plants on the balcony railings, create a vertical garden as mentioned before or arrange the pots with herbs on standing shelves – it all depends on the space you have.
Which herbs can be grown in this way? Your balcony garden can host almost all your favourite flavours: basil, dill, coriander, marjoram, parsley, chervil, tarragon, lavender, sage, thyme, lovage, mint and rosemary, as well as all kinds of garlic and onions.
A herb garden on your balcony will enhance the taste of most of your dishes, to the benefit of all household members. Fresh herbs are also very healthy, so you should them in your cooking as much as possible.
Necessary tools for creating a balcony garden
Creating a garden on your balcony will require some basic tools for looking after the plants later on. Large tools will not be necessary for a mini garden – instead you can use mini garden tools, which are also easier to keep. Which tools will you need to look after your balcony garden?
- A basic set of hand tools should do – consisting of a shovel, rake, hoe and a bulb planter.
- Watering – a traditional watering can should be enough, unless you want to go for a more professional drip hose.
- Spraying – this can be done as preventive action, using a sprayer with natural ingredients, or to save plants already infected with diseases.
- Scissors or secateurs – these will make it easier to trim plants or remove leaves, e.g. in the case of tomatoes.
- Gloves – these are necessary to keep your hands clean while looking after your vegetables, herbs or flowers.
If you have enough space, you could also choose to have a storage box for all the tools, accessories, fertilisers and other items needed to grow a garden on your balcony.
Seating space in your balcony garden
Your balcony garden does not only have to be about growing and looking after plants, but can also be used to simply relax in a more natural environment. Therefore, make sure you don’t block the entire space with plants, but also include some garden furniture. What key aspects should you take into account?
In the case of a small balcony garden in a block of flats, you should be ok with a basic set of furniture consisting of two chairs and a small table – perfect for enjoying a morning coffee in the fresh air. However, if you have more space then you could allow for a little more creativity.
A comfortable pallet sun lounger, a suspended armchair or a hammock will all be great for relaxation, turning your balcony garden into a real relaxation zone – for reading, afternoon naps or enjoying a drink in the evening. And don’t forget about the appropriate design of the garden as a whole. You could decorate it with lights, creating a unique chill-out feel.
When the days are getting longer and the sun is shining, the outdoor chaise lounge becomes your favorite place in on the terrace. You can enjoy it on this rattan light grey sunbed with an adjustable backrest or a different steel framed sunbed. This grey steel frame adjustable backrest sunbed is perfect if you prefer the steel frame to the rattan, if you’re looking for a darker colour, then these black rattan sunbed, black wave shaped sunbed, and black steel framed sunbed and with aluminium frame are your best choices.
A balcony garden – summary
Regardless of whether you want to grow herbs and vegetables or just beautiful flowers – a balcony garden could become a hobby what will give you a lot of satisfaction. In addition, well-designed space is also ideal for relaxation, and will be a great get-away for anyone living in the city, away from the beauty of nature. A small balcony garden is therefore full of advantages – let them help you relax in your very own garden in a city.
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