How to create a balcony garden

How to Create a Balcony Garden

Balcony gardening offers the promise of fresh produce and a fragrant oasis in the sky.

This article was originally published in 2019 and has been updated.

When I think of balcony gardens, the first thing that comes to mind is the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Flowers, vegetables, and herbs cascading over railings softening hard angles and providing food to both the gardener and bees. This is how the mind of a gardener works. Dismissing the minor obstacle of space or aspect, a gardener can envision and create a beautiful space with selected plants and a bit of dirt.

The balcony garden can be as big or as small as the mind of the gardener, or the size the space permits. It can range from a few railing baskets to multiple pots and vertical gardens covering every inch of wall space. If you share the gardener’s creative mind but are new to the concept, the following steps will ensure a great start to beautifying your space.

Related: Gardening on Concrete With Raised Beds and Patio Containers

What's your aspect?

Does your balcony face the shady north, the hot south, or the rising and setting sun of the east or the west? The aspect of the sun is the most important factor to consider when beginning your project. All plants require their own unique amount of sunshine, so it’s important to choose varieties that coincide with what the balcony has to offer. Full sun is considered to be at least six hours of sunlight a day but for many vegetables, this is the low end of the spectrum. Vegetable gardens ideally require 8-10 hours. If your balcony receives less than 6 hours, it is considered partial shade and anything less than three hours is considered full shade. If this is the scenario for you, don’t despair. There are still many varieties to choose from.

Can any balcony have a garden?

Yes! But don’t rush to get it done without some investigation. Wet soil and terra cotta pots are very heavy, so you want to ensure you know the weight restrictions of the balcony before you choose pot materials. Speak with your building manager or a builder to establish the weights you can work with, especially if you have a small balcony.

The type of construction material will also determine where the water will go when pots overflow. The neighbours below may not appreciate the rain shower as you water each morning, so consider this issue before a complaint by providing catchment or diversion systems for the containers.

Designing gardens for balconies

Once you have determined the sun aspect and weight limits, you can begin to design your balcony micro-scape. Be creative with the small space by using the wealth of container options different suppliers will have to offer, or by testing the boundaries with your own creative ideas. Design a kitchen garden to grow a portion of your produce or a herb garden for the epicurean.

By combining edibles and flowers correctly, you can get the best of both worlds. In your designing stage consider the “thriller, spiller and filler” technique of planting, which incorporates multiple varieties in one pot—the thriller being the focal upright, the spiller to cascade over the pot, and the filler to take up the spaces in between. This design tip uses the beauty of the small garden to add to your exterior home decor.

Thrillers

Tomatoes, peppers, rosemary, snapdragons

Spillers

Strawberries, squash, lobelia, bacopa, nasturtiums

Fillers

Parsley, carrots, basil, amaranth, violets, geraniums

Related: 25 Beautiful Plants for Your Edible Landscape

Consider your containers

Planters and pots

If weight is not an issue, large planters and pots made of wood or terra cotta are very attractive and offer ample space for all types of growing. Keep in mind that terra cotta usually dries out quickly, however. Resin and plastic pots offer a lightweight alternative in the greatest number of sizes, shapes, and self-watering options.

With large pots and planters, the gardener has the opportunity to grow individual small shrubs, perennials, or a wide variety of traditional garden vegetables. Smaller pots and planters are great for planting kitchen herbs, perennials, and annuals. They can be used in combination with vertical gardening.

The Vegtrug wallhugging planter is designed specifically for narrow, urban spaces like balconies.

Going vertical

Vertical gardens are a space saving concept to the home gardener because they employ the vertical walls of your balcony. There are many creative ways to use this method: using pallets filled with soil and affixed to the wall, attaching pots to a trellis, hanging gutters from a chain, or terracing on planter stairs. On the downside, the vertical garden can have a splash factor that can dirty the walls from overhead watering and dripping from a height. Drip irrigation works well to avoid this problem combined with a catchment system at the bottom.

Railing or hanging baskets

Railing baskets, window boxes, or hanging baskets are the easiest choices for the tiny balcony. Made of wood, steel, or plastic, these containers are built to hang off the balcony railing or from the eaves. Usually shallow in nature and more prone to dry out, these types of baskets are suitable for drought-resistant plants or those smaller in size. Succulents, annuals, strawberries, herbs, and lettuce can be successfully grown in a railing or hanging basket. Both of these container options should be secured using zap straps, screws, or brackets to prevent the container from being knocked off by wind or an accidental bump.

Related: Container Gardening Secrets – Ideas to Inspiration

Up-cycled containers

As a gardener, you are the artist and have the creative licence to explore a variety of containers. To add your own personal flair to the balcony landscape, transform household items into a plant container by adding sufficient holes for water drainage. Up-cycling colourful rubber boots, old yogurt containers, mugs, jugs, baskets or any other vessel is one way to reduce your garbage and also save you money.

Type of Container	Plant Varieties Suitable
Planters and large pots	Boxwood, small conifers, dwarf fruit trees, squash, carrots, rosemary, onions, garlic, citrus, datura, banana, bamboo, Japanese maples, bay laurel, pampas grass, aloe, sensevieria.
Vertical gardens	Lettuce, strawberries, spinach, basil, parsley, trailing annuals, beans, peas, clematis, honeysuckle, melons, ferns, spider plants.
Railing baskets	Hens and chicks, sedum, stonecrop, strawberries, lettuce, marigolds, pansies, petunias, geraniums, basil, parsley, cilantro, thyme.

Soil and food

Soil is the bed for your plant, and like people, some plants want a firm bed while others like it soft. Soil mixes are the foundation on which the plants depend to grow; they are the source of moisture and oxygen to the root system. By addressing soil structure at the onset you will save water and time in the future.

Vegetables and fruits prefer a richer soil with a large amount of water retaining compost and organic matter in combination with good drainage, while Mediterranean herbs prefer a drier soil that is coarse with sand. Keep in mind that porous pot material like terra cotta dries out faster so will need more compost or water retaining medium.

A general combination of a 1:1:1 ratio of compost, peat and perlite or sand is a standard mix. For long-term feeding, prepare the soil with a slow release organic fertilizer and top feed twice a week with compost tea.

Related:3 Useful Soil Mixes for Planters and Raised Garden Beds

Challenges

The pitfalls you might encounter on a balcony are different than the traditional garden landscape. Prevent these challenges before you start by reducing the risk of hazards.

Windy locations

High winds that occur on tall buildings will knock small pots over or railing pots off and will also increase dehydration. Secure all vessels by fastening to a stable structure and use a thick mulch to reduce the evaporation of water.

Watering overflow

Excess water from overflow when watering your plants can cause rot on wood balconies or flow down to the neighbour’s deck or onto unsuspecting people on the sidewalk. Include large trays for all pots or catchment system for planters. Be mindful of what’s below when watering pots.

Birds and wildlife

Pigeons and other wildlife can be as attracted to your plants as you are. They feed on developing fruit, use structures or railings as roosts, or in the case of rodents, burrow into the soil. Deter these creatures by limiting the room they can roost upon or by covering exposed soil with fine chicken wire.

Cold weather

Winter preparation is necessary for those gardeners located in sub-zero locales. Ceramic pots should have soil removed to prevent freezing and cracking of the pot. Plants intended for year-round display should be placed closer together and pots wrapped with burlap to assist with insulating the roots.

Beautiful balcony gardening

Don’t let the task of building a balcony garden intimidate you. One weekend of collecting supplies and potting up plants can have your balcony on its way to Babylon, creating a peaceful spot where you can sit and contemplate the nature you have brought into your space. Over time you’ll recognize the unique personality of your micro-scape and the growing of your garden will become easier and easier.

Do you have any balcony gardening tips or garden ideas to share? Let us know in the comments below!

How to Create a Balcony Garden - 1

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About the Author

Jessica Dawe
The owner of a garden center, Jessica has been practicing integrated pest management and permaculture since graduating in 1995 with a degree in horticulture.

How to Make a Balcony Garden

When you only have a balcony or roof terrace, it can be difficult to know what to grow and how to ensure it thrives. Stepping out onto your balcony to be greeted by bare walls and a half-dead pot plant can be pretty dispiriting. And when space is at a premium, you don’t have room for experiments that go wrong. So, we’ve taken the guess-work out of balcony growing, to ensure you get it right every time. We’ve picked out the best flowers, vegetables and herbs to grow on a balcony, and we explain how to grow them. There are also clever tricks for fitting more plants into a tight space, and solutions to those common balcony problems.

More advice on gardening for beginners:

Gardening for beginners - 10 tips
10 tips for gardening with children
Working at home - quick gardening breaks

Before you start your balcony garden, it’s important that you’re confident about how much weight the balcony can bear. Wet compost and stone or terracotta pots can be surprisingly heavy. You may want to opt for lightweight plastic or resin containers, although if your balcony is exposed and windy these can get blown over easily unless they're fastened in place. There are also lightweight composts available, specifically designed for container-growing, which are worth considering.

Choose the right plants

Coleus growing in pots on railing

First and foremost, when growing on a balcony or roof terrace, you need to choose the right plants. Dreams of 10m-tall magnolias have to be set aside, but there are plenty of plants that will flourish in pots on a balcony. Summer bedding plants, like begonias, petunias, osteospermum and busy Lizzies are all great container plants and will brighten up your balcony from late spring right through summer and into autumn. Succulents make great houseplants and are perfect for growing in a pot on a balcony. There are also lots of vegetables and herbs that will grow happily in pots.

Best plants for balconies
Best perennial plants for pots
Succulent container displays

Shade plants for balconies

Shade-loving plants growing in a container

Many balconies are shady. If yours faces east or west, it’ll only get direct sun for part of the day, and if your balcony is north-facing it may not get any direct sunlight at all. Add to this shade cast by walls, screens and overhangs and you’re looking at a pretty shady spot for growing plants. But don’t despair, many plants actually prefer shade. Lettuces, salad leaves, rocket, parsley and chervil are all best grown in partial shade to stop them running to seed too quickly. While hostas, begonias, heucheras, geraniums and ferns are great for brightening a shady balcony.

Best container plants for shade
Best shade loving plants
Plants for full shade
Shade-loving herbs to grow

Plants for sunny balconies

Pelargoniums in pots

Plants in pots on sunny balconies can really bake – especially if the balcony has a clear screen, creating a greenhouse effect. The answer is to choose drought-tolerant, sun-loving plants. Look to the Mediterranean for your inspiration. Herbs such as lavender, rosemary and oregano will fill a sunny balcony with flowers and scent, while pelargoniums, stachys and succulents will add colour and interest.

Pot plants that tolerate neglect
Low maintenance summer containers
Plant combinations for full sun

Plants for windy balconies

Ornamental grass – stipa tenuissima

Another challenge you may face when creating a balcony garden is wind. Many balconies are windy and exposed – delicate petals get ripped from flowers, while moisture is whipped out of leaves. Create a windbreak if you can, and make sure pots and furniture are not going to get blown over the side, securing them in place if necessary. And choose plants that can cope in a windy spot – such as those that naturally grow by the sea.

Plants for windy gardens

Grow up the walls

Vertical planting, with vegetables and herbs on a wall

When space is limited, you want to make the most of every bit of it. If you’re able to attach pots or trellis to the walls of your balcony, they can provide extra space for growing plants – plus the walls will look more attractive covered in plants. You could make a simple planter for salads, or make a dramatic statement with a living wall. Many climbing plants will grow happily for two or three years in a large container, and you can train them up a trellis attached to the wall. Jasminum x stephanense grows well in a large container and is covered in fragrant flowers all summer.

If you can’t attach anything to the walls of your balcony, you can still make the most of the vertical space. Grow sweet peas or a clematis in a large pot and train the plant up a wigwam inserted into the pot.

Make a space-saving salad planter
Clematis container ideas
How to create a living wall

Grow vegetables on a balcony

Vegetables growing in upcycled pots

You don’t need a garden to grow your own vegetables at home. Now’s the perfect time to sow vegetable seeds, and with just a few pots on a balcony, you can look forward to harvesting fresh, flavoursome vegetables and herbs. There are lots of edible crops that you can grow in pots – tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, potatoes and a host of herbs are all ideal for growing in containers. And you don’t need to buy purpose-made pots, try using a woven plastic shopping bag, or lining a wooden crate with an old compost bag – just make sure you make some drainage holes in the bottom.

Container crops to sow in April
Growing summer veg in containers
Get the best from vegetables in pots
Herb container projects

How to create a cozy garden on a balcony: 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 to 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

Bet on annuals that bloom from spring to frost.
Do not take perennials - in extreme conditions of balcony life (temperature changes, wind, soil freezing), they will not show high decorative qualities.
Take indoor plants to the balcony. They will noticeably improve over the summer.
Use wood for flooring. It is pleasant to walk barefoot on it, it is warm. A composite board is also suitable: it lasts a long time, does not fade, does not deform, and is almost indistinguishable from wood.
Create a place to relax: a small sofa, an ottoman or a chaise longue with a soft mattress, pillows will do.
Place a sisal or cotton rug for comfort and coziness.
Use different light sources: lanterns, candles, garlands of light bulbs. This will set the mood for the holiday.
Set up outdoor furniture, since we want to make a garden on the balcony.
Place a rack with different plants at the end of the balcony. Another variation on the same solution: hanging plant boxes.

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 your outdoor balcony the right way

If the balcony railings are as open as possible, then geranium, begonia elatior and climbing vertical ivy, as well as blooming annuals: 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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How to create a mini-garden on a balcony or terrace: five tips from a Kaliningrad designer (photo)

Articles

Author: Tatyana Levkovich

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2:26

In the photo: roses. Photo: Olga Shapkina

You can create a green oasis with petunias or radishes and strawberries right on your balcony or terrace. Designer Yulia Dide told Kaliningrad Homes magazine how to equip your own garden.

The unity of the exterior and interior

The style of the mini-garden should echo the interior decoration of the apartment. If the living space is designed in a minimalist way, you should not use bright colors on the balcony. From plants, it is better to choose succulents, agave or cacti, tall vertical ones like bamboo or laconic compositions with a large tree in the middle, for example, ficus, dieffenbachia, dracaena and palm.

Photo: Olga Shapkina

Seasonality of greenery

If you want to enjoy your garden all year round, you should choose evergreens. Yews, arborvitae, boxwoods and junipers, for example, survive the cold well, are not afraid of shade and are a suitable backdrop for flowering annuals.

In the photo: petunia. Photo: Olga Shapkina

Color combination

Bright pelargonium and petunia will look spectacular in a certain season, as well as perennial flowering herbs. Bulbous - tulips, daffodils, hyacinths - will help make the balcony elegant, but such plants need more thorough care, including regular feeding and pinching of shoots. If the sun shines brightly on the balcony most of the day, the designer recommended hiding the plants under a canopy, umbrella or behind a screen.

Photo: Olga Shapkina

Multi-level garden

Compositions of plants of different shapes and heights look more dynamic. Different levels can be achieved with the help of pots and planters - if they are bright colors, they can act as decorative accents on their own. Plants in this case will have to be selected in a single range or non-flowering.

How to create a balcony garden