Are you interested in growing plants on your balcony? From urban gardening on a small balcony to using your existing balcony as an addition to your garden, anything is possible. If you’re fortunate enough to have some private outdoor space then it could be time to develop your green thumb.
Discover how to begin your balcony garden journey with our handy guide, and your balcony will bloom in no time.
Check if your balcony is fit for a garden
The very first steps in your balcony garden journey are checking your building’s regulations, your balcony’s weight limits, and the space you’ll be working with when gardening.
What are your building’s rules?
Before you buy your tools or seeds, you first need to find out if your building allows plants on balconies. This especially applies to those who rent or own a flat. Some buildings have restrictions on growing plants on balconies due to the chance of attracting pests. Others only allow flowers for the same reason.
How much weight can your balcony take?
If you’ve got the go-ahead to garden, then next you need to find out what kind of weight your balcony can bear. Terracotta plant pots and wet soil can be very heavy, so it’s crucial to find out. You can use alternatives to lighten the load, such as plastic or resin pots.
You can do this by consulting the building owner or checking the original building plans.
How much space do you have to work with?
If you’re fortunate enough to have a large projecting or cantilever balcony, then you won’t need to worry too much about space. If your balcony is small, however, you may need to get creative. Wall trellises and shelves allow you to grow plants off the ground and save space, and they look great, too.
Choose the right plants
You’ll need to choose the right plants for your balcony before you buy equipment. It all depends on your space and resources and the type of weather your balcony is subject to.
Sunny balcony plants
If your projecting balcony gets a lot of light and warmth then you should choose plants that thrive in the sunshine. Opt for plants that prefer direct sunlight and are draught-tolerant, like pelargoniums and hedge nettles. Succulents add character, while herbs like lavender, rosemary and oregano will fill your balcony with beautiful scents.
If you have a glass balcony, sunlight will spill in through the glass panels. This makes the area brighter and gives the illusion of more space. Because of the sun coming through the glass, any plants tucked behind the balustrade need to be resistant to strong rays.
Shady balcony plants
If your balcony gets little to no light, have no fear. Plenty of plants, such as begonias, fuchsias, and ferns, prefer shade over sunlight. These will add brilliant colour to the space without relying on a constant stream of sun.
A glass balcony is perfect for plants that need just a short dose of light a day. It’ll keep them fairly warm and shielded from the wind while allowing sunlight to stream through the glass onto the plants. Grow primroses and impatiens and place them where they get just a bit of sun each day, and watch them bloom.
Climbing plants
These plants are perfect for when you don’t have a lot of space, or really want to fill your balcony with life. If you’re able to put up a trellis or two or some shelves, then plants that climb or trail will thrive.
For a trellis, choose a plant like jasminum x stephanense, a hardy climber that blooms small pink flowers. Trumpet vines with their dark orange trumpet-shaped flowers are also an excellent choice. For shelves, you could plant anything small enough into pots to sit on them or pick trailing plants like colourful petunias.
Gather your equipment
Now that you know what to plant, you can buy the right tools and equipment. Certain plants like particular potting soils and containers, so make sure to check what your chosen flowers need.
Ensure you have all the tools you’ll need to start, grow, and maintain your garden. For a balcony garden, you’ll need:
- Pruning shears – a must-have for maintaining your balcony garden.
- Hand trowel – you can use your hands, but a hand trowel is quicker and cleaner.
- Gardening gloves – while not necessary, they do make the job less messy.
- String and sticks – these will be useful for supporting any plants that grow upwards.
- Watering can – this isn’t necessary, but the way a watering can disperses water like rainfall is good for plants.
- Potting soil – check the plants you’ve chosen for what soils they prefer. Lightweight soils are helpful for balconies that can’t take a lot of weight.
- Pots and containers – don’t forget to buy the pots your plants need to live in.
- Shelving or trellises – if you’re opting for a vertical garden, pick up the necessary equipment.
- Pruning shears – a must-have for maintaining your balcony garden.
- Hand trowel – you can use your hands, but a hand trowel is quicker and cleaner.
- Gardening gloves – while not necessary, they do make the job less messy.
- String and sticks – these will be useful for supporting any plants that grow upwards.
- Watering can – this isn’t necessary, but the way a watering can disperses water like rainfall is good for plants.
- Potting soil- check the plants you’ve chosen for what soils they prefer. Lightweight soils are helpful for balconies that can’t support a lot of weight.
- Pots and containers – don’t forget to buy the pots your plants need to live in.
- Shelving or trellises – if you’re opting for a vertical garden, pick up the necessary equipment.
Once you’ve got what you need, it’s time to get planting.
Start your glass balcony garden journey
Do you feel inspired to get outside and start planting? There is no time like the present. If your balcony is outdated, or the railings need replacing, get in touch today. Let’s remove the old wood or metal balcony railings and replace them with glass panels, perfect for getting more light to your balcony plants.
If you don’t have a balcony but would love the addition to your home, then we can design, cut, build and install it from start to finish. We’ll organise the work so you can sit back and plan what you’re going to grow.
Give the Norwich Glass Company team a call on 01603 431 409 to learn how we can create the perfect projecting balcony for plant growing.