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Gardens for balconies


21 Balcony Garden Ideas for Beginners in Small Apartments

Learn the basics of planning and designing a small-scale balcony or rooftop garden, plus get tips for selecting the best plants and containers. By Anne Balogh

Photo by: Proven Winners

Growing plants in a limited space like a balcony or terrace can be a challenge even for an experienced gardener, but it’s also a great opportunity to be creative and have fun.

From deciding what to grow (an urban vegetable garden? a tropical paradise?) to choosing imaginative containers (such as an old watering can or wood crate), the entire process can be an adventure. Yes, you still must adhere to the strict confines of your space, but there are many tricks for making every square inch count. Here are some tips to help you get started:

On this page: Maximize Your Space | Know Your Restrictions | How to Water | What to Grow | Choose Your Containers | Balcony Garden Ideas

On this page:

MAXIMIZE YOUR SPACE

How much space do you need for a balcony garden? Surprisingly, not much at all if you take advantage of walls, railings, and overhead structures.

Turn your balcony into a vertical garden. Attach pots, shelves, or trellises to the walls; and if your balcony has a ceiling, add a few hooks for hanging plants. Cover the railings of your balcony with chicken wire to support climbing plants, or purchase plant hangers that can be attached to the top of a railing. (See more vertical gardening ideas.)

Think of your balcony garden as an extension of your indoor living space. If you choose plant colors and textures that echo the interior design, even the smallest balcony will look more expansive and welcoming.

KNOW YOUR RESTRICTIONS

In addition to the square footage of your balcony, there may be other restrictions that will limit what you can plant and where. If you live in an apartment building or condo, be sure to check what’s permissible by the building owner before you begin.

Weight. There may be weight restrictions and rules regarding what you can hang from balcony railings and walls. If the balcony is attached to your home, know how much weight it can safely support. The weight from large ceramic containers and wet soil can add up quickly.

Microclimate. The amount of sunlight the space receives is the most critical factor to consider, but wind exposure and temperature are important too.

Tip: If wind is a problem on your balcony, consider using balcony privacy screens as windbreaks to protect more fragile plants. You can also put plants that don't like the wind in low pots near a wall to give them more protection.

HOW DO YOU WATER A BALCONY GARDEN?

Few balcony or rooftop gardens have access to an outside water source, which means you’ll have to rely on water from a sink or bathtub to keep your plants well-hydrated. To minimize your trips back and forth lugging heavy jugs of water, try some of these strategies for watering your plants:

Keep in mind that the hotter and windier the conditions on your balcony, the more frequently you’ll need to water -- sometimes as often as twice a day. If a convenient water source is far from reach, make life easier by growing plants with low water requirements, such as cacti and succulents.

WHAT CAN YOU GROW IN A BALCONY GARDEN?

Photo by: Ania K / Shutterstock

Just about any plant you can grow in a container is fair game for a balcony garden, as long as you have the space for it and can give it the appropriate amount of sun or shade. If you live in a climate with cold winters, consider growing some plants that are hardy enough to leave outdoors year-round or that can be overwintered indoors so you don’t have to start from scratch again each spring.

WHAT CONTAINERS ARE BEST FOR A BALCONY GARDEN?

Anything that can hold soil and has good drainage has potential for a balcony container garden. The style can range from fancy to frivolous, depending on your tastes, but the container should be practical and suit the purpose. Some factors to consider include container weight, durability, weather resistance, ease of watering, and cost.

See more tips for choosing the right container.

Featured in: Garden Design's Top 10 Garden Trends for 2022 ("Maximizing Balconies & Porches")

BALCONY GARDEN IDEAS

Most herbs will flourish on a sunny balcony or terrace and require very little space to grow. If your balcony doesn’t have good sun exposure, some herbs that grow well in partial shade include parsley, chervil, cilantro, and tarragon. Photo: Franz Peter Rudolf / Shutterstock

On a small balcony, take advantage of vertical space to maximize your growing room. Wood pallets turned on end, old book shelves, or tiered planters are all practical solutions for gardening up rather than out. Photo by: Eurybia / Shutterstock

Don’t be afraid to play with colors and plant types. A mix of small trees, shrubs, foliage plants, and colorful annuals will add interest and diversity to your balcony garden. Photo by: Udo Kroener / Shutterstock

Flowers cascading over railings and climbing up trellises bring breathtaking color and fragrance to this charming European balcony garden. The symmetrical arrangement of the plantings helps define the space and create balance. Photo by: Leigh Trail / Shutterstock

Slatted walls covered in climbing plants and other greenery turn an open balcony into a private retreat. The walls also function as windbreaks, protecting the delicate foliage. Photo by: Tapui / Shutterstock

A dwarf olive tree is the perfect choice for a balcony garden because of its low water requirements and resistance to high winds and subfreezing temperatures. If you plan to use the tree as a focal point, uplight it at night to reflect the beauty of the silvery foliage. Photo by: Ania K / Shutterstock

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Grow a Balcony Garden Full of Veggies, Herbs, and Flowers

If you’re looking to transform your balcony into a lush garden—or even if you have a tiny patio space, Field Guide to Urban Gardening by Kevin Espiritu of Epic Gardening is a really helpful guide to figure out what you need with your space constraints and unique growing conditions. This excerpt from the book about growing a balcony garden was provided by Cool Springs Press/The Quarto Group.

Besides the obvious advantages for your plants, there are plenty of benefits to balcony gardening that are often overlooked. Kevin explains that once he started growing his own food, he never looked at balconies the same way again. All he sees is growing potential. Field Guide to Urban Gardening provides lots of tips and advice for growing in small spaces.

By growing on your balcony, you’re beautifying a space that’s otherwise pretty drab. On top of that, you’re able to accomplish these things:

Planning your balcony garden

Your first major consideration when growing on a balcony is whether the balcony itself can support what you’re growing. Most balconies should be able to handle a few containers or beds, but it’s a good idea to test the sturdiness of your space before you start loading it up with plants.

You’d be surprised at how heavy a container can get once it’s full of soil, water, and a loaded tomato plant, especially if you have a bunch of them. Spread your pots around your balcony instead of clumping them in one area. Doing this will spread out the weight distribution and you won’t have any nasty balcony gardening mishaps.

Even the smallest balconies can be designed creatively to include productive greenery. Sit-on-top planters make great use of railing space, but be careful if you get a lot of wind.

Take stock of the growing conditions on your balcony

Sun

What direction does your balcony face? South-facing balconies are the best, but southeast- or southwest-facing will do. And if you’ve got a north-facing window, you can still grow plants. You’ll just need to adjust the types you grow to be shade-loving varieties.

Shade

Kevin recommends going out on the balcony in the morning, afternoon, and evening to see how the shadows fall on the space before setting up your garden. Oftentimes you’ll set up a balcony garden only to find that you placed your plants in an area that gets shaded by an obstruction for 80 percent of the day.

Take note of how shade plays over your balcony to help inform the best location to set up your garden.

Wind

Wind issues are the biggest problem with balcony gardens, far more so than for raised beds or containers on the ground. Your first option is to plant wind-tolerant plants, such as rosemary. A second option with more flexibility is to stake your plants well and use windscreens to help break some of the nastier gusts.

Similar to checking the shade on your balcony, walk out a few times during the day to see which way the wind is blowing as well as how strong the gusts are. If you get a lot of wind, make sure you use heavier-duty pots, such as terra-cotta.

Dealing with water drainage

Most balconies have drainage holes, or at the very least are sloped so water runs in a specific direction. Check this when you’re growing on a balcony; the last thing you want to do is annoy a downstairs neighbor by raining dirty water all over them every time you water the garden.

If you live in an area that gets a lot of rain, you can earn extra conservation points by installing a balcony rain barrel. This way you prevent massive amounts of runoff from being wasted and get to water your garden with fresh rainwater, which is always preferable to using city water.

Balcony garden design

Every balcony is unique, so the urban gardening masterpiece you decide to create should be tailored to your situation. That being said, there are some basic rules of thumb to follow to create a balcony garden that’s beautiful, functional, and, best of all—productive. Balconies have three distinct sections to consider, which are the floor, the railing, and everything else. Thinking in these three layers will help you make the absolute best use of the limited space you have.

What to do with the balcony floor

If you’re willing to sacrifice some foot room, the floor of your balcony is a great spot for larger containers full of plants that need a bit of space to grow. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and beans are all great plants to grow in containers on your balcony floor. Over time, they’ll fill out the space well.

Don’t be afraid to litter your balcony floor with plants.

Installing balcony railing planters

Your railings are the crème de la crème location in your balcony garden. They’re exposed to the most sun and don’t take up extra space as they hang off the balcony. For all their value, there is no more confusing piece of gardening gear than balcony railing planters. Because there are so many different types of railings, it’s often confusing exactly how to attach planters to railings. Given the amount of wind that balconies are subject to, the last thing you want to do is shoddily attach a railing planter only to see it tumbling down to the ground below.

Sit-on-top planters

If your railings are a standard size, you can often pick up planters that have a notched bottom of exactly that size. These are great options if you want to go with a plug-and-play option. All you’ll need to do is plop some soil in them, pot them up with plants, and start growing. If your balcony gets a fair amount of wind, these may not be the best choice, as they can blow off, especially when the soil gets dry and the planter gets lighter.

Screw-on-top planters

These types are the same as the sit on tops, but they don’t have a notched bottom. These are screwed directly into the railing, so they’re great for wood.

Attachment-style planters

These are the most common type of railing planters, and they have a hook design to place around the railing. The planter then rests on its own weight, pressing into the  side of the railing. They’re great options if you know that the design will fit your railing.

Because so many different railing designs exist, it’s hard to tell at first whether one of these will fit your balcony. Measure the width of your railing and comparing it to the size of the hook or attachment on the planter box.

For those with windier spots, secure your planters with decking screws.

Making balcony garden care easy

Balcony gardening is attractive because it’s such an easy method to get started with, but the following are a few tips that make it an absolute breeze.

Plant seedlings, not seeds

It’s easier to get your garden off to a good start if you buy seedlings from a local nursery and simply transplant them into your balcony garden. Starting seeds is certainly a fun option to try if you want to flex your gardening muscles. But if you’re a first-time gardener looking to get growing fast, buy seedlings from a local nursery.

Bigger containers = better

The biggest downfall of growing in containers on a balcony is just that… you’re growing in containers. They dry out quickly, especially if you’re using terra-cotta pots. To counteract this and give your plants the even moisture that they need, select the largest pots you can. The increased volume will allow the soil to hold more water and evaporate much more slowly.

Choose the biggest containers you can fit and manage on your balcony, especially if you are growing thirsty crops like tomatoes.

Use self-watering containers

One step above choosing larger containers is choosing larger containers that are self-watering. These containers wick water from a chamber at the bottom of the pot to give your plants’ roots a consistent supply. You can find large self-watering containers at most nurseries or big-box stores, or you can build your own using the plans in Kevin’s book. The extra cost is well worth the time you’ll save watering your plants.

Easy crops for a balcony garden

The only true requirement for a balcony garden is that you don’t grow anything that will absolutely take over the space. Sprawling squash plants, for example, wouldn’t be the best choice. That being said, even squash is possible. However, there are some plants that are better suited for beautifying a balcony, as listed below.

Herbs: Basil, sage, thyme, oregano, and so on
Leafy greens: Loose leaf lettuce, spinach, kale, and so on
Garlic: ‘Artichoke’, ‘Silverskin’
Tomato: ‘Patio Princess’, ’Balcony’
Lettuce: ‘Green Oak Leaf’, ‘Black Seeded Simpson’
Peppers: ‘Camelot’
Eggplant: ‘Fairy Tale’, ‘Bambino’
Swiss chard: ‘Rhubard’, ‘Rainbow’
Beans: ‘Blue Lake’ (pole), ‘Purple Queen’ (bush)
Cucumber: ‘Spacemaster 80’
Strawberry: ‘Ozark Beauty’, ‘Seascape’

More small-space gardening tips

For more on urban gardening techniques for balconies, rooftops, and other small urban spaces, grab a copy of Field Guide to Urban Gardening.

Some further reading:

All images by Shutterstock

8 ideas from IKEA - INMYROOM

Tips

In a small space with a tiny balcony, you can easily find a place for a mini-garden. And even if there is no balcony, these ideas will come in handy. The main thing is to correctly approach the organization of the place

We looked into the IKEA catalog and chose eight of the most interesting ideas for a home garden. All the necessary products with prices are already in the selection, you just have to choose the ones you like.

Garden in a glass jar

You can replace the greenhouse for seedlings with an ordinary glass jar. Just do not close it with a lid so that the plants always have air. Ideal for succulents that usually live in florariums with their own microclimate.

You will need: jar with lid KORKEN (199) + pedestal for flowers KRYUDPEPPAR (1 299) + succulents (349)

Green flooring

To feel like in a real garden, lay a green carpet on the balcony complement it with green plants and botanical print curtains. The best part is that you do not have to mow such a lawn.

You will need: RUNNEN street decking (2 699) + TORGERD fabric (499) + FEJKA artificial plant (2 499)

Mini-Greenhouses

It is not necessary to transplant plants into a pot - a mini-garden can be grown in waterproof bags. Place wet cotton balls inside with seeds and seal tightly. So you can grow beans or peas, or try planting seeds from berries.

You will need: ISTAD resealable bags, 60 pcs. (149)

Small Hanging Garden

You can even grow plants on a small clothes hanger. Just hang glass vases with water on threads.

You will need: ECRAR hanger (1,699) + RIMFORSA containers (1,999) + TIDWATTEN vase (79)

Vertical gardening

places. And combine real and artificial plants.

You will need: MÜHRHEDEN clipboard (1 299) + NORDREN basket set (699) + FEJKA artificial plant (399)

Hanging bags

At the entrance to the balcony, you can also organize a mini-garden. Hang wicker baskets or mesh bags from a curtain rod. Use lightweight materials so as not to overload it.

You will need: KUNGSFORS mesh bags, 2 pcs. (399)

Flower boxes

Hanging boxes help save space on a small outdoor balcony. They can be hung on a fence.

You will need : flower box with SOCKER holder (799) + BITTERGURK watering can (899) + HEDERA HELIX potted plant (229)

Windowsill garden

Not enough floor space? Remove everything you can on the windowsill, and hang the rest higher. And don't forget to decorate the rest of the space.

You will need: BITTERGURKA hanging planter (999) + CYLINDER vase, 3 pcs. (999) + decanter with cork IKEA/365 (199)

How to create a cozy balcony garden: 10 tips from a landscape architect

We asked Olga Stepanova, a landscape architect and teacher at the Details school, what plants to choose, how to place them correctly and what will help turn a balcony into a cozy garden, like in a country house.

Publication date: 05/18/2020

Material prepared: Julia Sakharova

“My motto is: we turn problems into opportunities,” says Olga Stepanova. - First, let's try to imagine not just a balcony in a multi-storey building, but a real hanging garden. The limited space of the balcony will be an occasion to create a garden microcosm, a cozy corner in which there will be all the best: flowering thickets, a sofa for relaxing, and a wooden covering, like on a terrace. You went out onto the balcony - and you are already at the dacha.

Photo: press office


A short formula for a cozy balcony garden

Using specific examples, we show how great these techniques work.

1. Use any free space for plants

At the end of the balcony, you can organize a place to relax. Why not, if there are many different surfaces for plants. Flowering annuals can take a light hanging box, and plants from the room can move to a narrow rack and window sill.

2. Choose simple solutions and handy tools


Use the simplest tools at hand, such as a shipping pallet as a base for an ottoman or a drawer as a table. This will give the garden on the loggia ease in the spirit of country style. Plant simple plants that are easy to care for. For example, a petunia will bloom all summer long, a thuja in a pot will turn green at any time of the year, and creepers will create a green wall - it will be cozy here for at least five months a year.

Photo: IKEA


3. Decorate an open balcony correctly


If the balcony railings are as open as possible, then geranium, begonia elatior and vertically climbing ivy, as well as flowering summers: surfinia, nasturtium, lobelia, will serve as an excellent decor for them.

4. Place foldable garden furniture


Place foldable garden furniture on the balcony: it saves space even visually.

Also take a look at hanging planters: they will help decorate the upper level of the space with greenery. Pay attention to multifunctional things: perforated containers are used instead of planters on this balcony. A bag of soil was inserted into each such container, the plants took their places in the cells. In this case, tulip bulbs and greens were planted. In the same way, you can plant gacinths and mini-daffodils.

Hardy plants - geranium, sansevieria, and a small ficus lyrata - were placed on the tables. Good choice, take note.

Photo: IKEA


5. Get by with houseplants, but big ones


It's easy to get by with just houseplants, but they need to be big enough. For example, the Nephrolepis and Schefflera fern are quite resistant and will not experience any stress if they are transferred to the street. Just make sure that they are not damaged by sudden frosts, and this happens even in June.

6. Create the illusion of a gazebo with ivy


Even on a small balcony, you can organize a cozy seating area - with a place to relax, pillows, a table, lanterns. Vertical gardening with vines (in this case, ivy) creates the illusion that you are in a gazebo outside the city. That's why creepers are worth using. True, for the winter the ivy will have to be moved into the house. Alternatively, climbing annuals like nasturtium can be used.

Also add flowers to this composition that will bloom all summer, such as Wittrock Violets ("pansies").

7. Combine large and small plants


Be sure to find a place for a real garden lounger. In the company of a mattress and homemade pillows, it is a cozy place to relax. Large indoor plants in this mise-en-scene play the role of trees, while medium and small ones play the role of bushes, flowers, grass. Pay attention to white flowers: a garden, solved in white, will always look elegant.

8. Set up a garden or mini-garden in hanging containers


If you need to save space, here's a useful idea: hanging balcony containers. In addition, to save space, plants can be placed on wall hanging shelves. A tiny herb garden is an elegant solution. Chives, any mint, parsley and dill, as well as small-fruited remontant strawberries are well suited for growing - the berries will be until autumn. Only a sunny place, rich soil and timely watering are needed.

9. Add romance


Paint the balcony walls with different shades of white: eggshell, limestone, chalk. If you love romance, decorate your balcony with pink flowers. They will create a mood of tenderness.

10. Create a color contrast

Do not be afraid of radical solutions and compositions based on contrast. An example is this loggia. The bright pink wall mural contrasts sharply with a splash of greenery, and this is an example of an actual color combination.

Photo: Farrow&Ball


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