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Herbs, vegetables, flowers: how to arrange a mini-garden on the balcony
Just imagine how pleasant it will be to drink your morning coffee there.
If the balcony is open, then it will be an ideal place for a summer garden. And if it is closed, glazed and insulated, then you can easily create a winter oasis there, which will delight you all year round. Landscape architect Elena Zavyalova tells how to do this.
Landscape architect, owner of “Landscape Factory”
Step 1. Looking at the light
First of all, you need to pay attention to how much sunlight gets to the balcony during the day. If it faces the south side, then the choice of plants will be obvious – you need light-loving ones. And if he stays in the shade most of the time, then plants that can calmly tolerate the absence of direct sunlight will do.
“In the case of an open balcony, even if it faces the east side and the sun is on it until 10-11 am, you should definitely consider ways of shading the plants, for example, curtains, as often the plants burn even with such a small amount of direct sunlight. rays “.
Step 2. Assess endurance
Be sure to understand what your balcony is capable of. This is very important in order to orientate yourself with the design of the garden and its appearance. How many items you can place there depends on the design and endurance of the balcony – after all, it must be strong enough. Otherwise, you risk being left without a garden and without a balcony.
“After watering the plants, their weight will noticeably increase, and you shouldn’t forget about that,” our expert reminds.
Step 3. Selecting plants
Climbing plants
The first thing that comes to mind is the classic climbing plants. These are, for example, kobea, morning glory, nasturtium, tunbergia, ornamental grapes, sweet peas, ivy, even beans. And some manage to throw cucumber whips up the wall. In order for the plants to twist in the right direction and look neat, it is worth making support structures for them.
Flowers and indoor plants
As soon as it gets warmer, all indoor plants can be safely taken out onto the balcony. For the summer, you can plant undersized flowers that will not break from the wind and will not dry out, pansies, marigolds, daisies, marigolds, violets, alissum, snapdragon, salvia, balsam and others.
“Almost all indoor plants are suitable for living on the balcony in summer. It is very convenient to plant them in special racks – such a mobile structure can be easily rearranged in a room in the fall, and into fresh air in the summer. It is important to remember that indoor plants must be hardened. Even in June they can freeze slightly, so it is worth “moving” them gradually, ”Elena Zavyalova shares her experience.
Large plants
If the area of the balcony allows, you can put large plants there in floor pots or containers: citrus fruits, cacti, pomegranates (the sunny side is suitable for these species), dwarf varieties of apple, pear, quince or even peach.
“Even various garden shrubs are good, for example, dwarf bladders, fieldfare, mountain ash. If you use special tubs, then such plants will be able to winter on the balcony, ”advises Elena.
Some vegetables, such as small varieties of tomatoes, can also be planted in the floor containers.
Fragrant Herbs
Sunlit balconies are perfect for them. The main thing is to think over the irrigation system.
“Plants in pots tend to dry out a lot – this is affected by a small amount of soil. For watering potted plants, I generally recommend using a micro-drip irrigation system. Of the fragrant herbs, you can pay attention to lavender, it will look very original on the balcony! “
Step 4. Create the composition
The plants are selected, now you need to understand how the plants will be located so that they do not overlap each other’s light, and the flowers are combined with each other, and what they will be planted in. There are a lot of garden equipment for balconies now.
- Photo Shoot:
- provided by Gardena
“You can take a closer look at complex systems that include modules of different shapes and configurations. They allow you to place plants not only on the floor and along the perimeter of the balcony, but also vertically. That is, you can build a multi-storey garden that will take up a minimum of space ”, – say the specialists of the Gardena company.
Plus, in systems like NatureUp! , drainage and a micro-drip irrigation system are usually thought out: water is supplied directly to the roots in the required amount, and if there is still too much water, then it flows into special trays, and the balcony remains dry and clean.
Step 5. Decorate
Everything is thought out, planted, displayed on the balcony. It remains to decorate our mini-garden. Additional decor will complement the picture and give it a complete look. Wicker furniture, a soft pouf or a folding table, a shelf for books or decorative lanterns under the ceiling – they just breathe coziness. The decor can be selected for any area, any financial opportunity – it’s only a matter of imagination.