Balcony Gardening

Gardening is not a hobby reserved only for people who own houses and land. With the popularity of container gardening, apartment and condominium dwellers with balconies or small patios can create colorful flower gardens or fragrant herb gardens in their outdoor living areas too.

Balcony Garden Inspiration Board

Outdoor furniture and garden product sources from this inspiration board are listed below.

Ideas & Tips for Creating A Balcony Garden

Here are a few tips and ideas for turning your balcony or small patio into a garden room that functions equally well for relaxation and the pursuit of gardening.

1. Divide your space into two functional areas - one area for sitting, relaxing or dining al fresco, the other area becomes a planting and growing zone. Define the seating space with an indoor / outdoor mat or area rug, then furnish it with a small scale bistro set - a folding table and two folding chairs. A potting bench opposite the seating area defines the planting /growing zone, provides a work space, plant display area and storage for a gardener’s essential hand tools.

2. Use plant pots in varying heights, shapes and sizes for visual interest. I like to use plant pots that are all of the same material, such as simple galvanized metal.

3. Introduce vibrant colors with your flowers and greenery.

4. Plant saucers with casters allow you to easily move and turn large planter pots to make sure all of the plants inside the planters get equal exposure to the sun.

Balcony Garden Plan / Design

These are two views of a balcony garden plan / design created with Plan3D.

The balcony design is kept clean and uncluttered with minimal furnishings and a collection of neatly planted boxes and containers.

Selecting Flowers, Herbs & Other Garden Plants

Just as you would for a regular garden plot, choose plant materials that are suited to the conditions offered by your balcony. The important factors to consider are:

Sun Exposure
Plant Height
Plant Spread
Plant Spacing

You will be providing the appropriate soil type and watering plants based on their individual requirements.

Annuals or Perennials?

Planting annuals gives you the option of starting with a clean slate each year or if you’ve become attached to some favorites, there are many annuals that can be brought indoors for over-wintering.

Alternatively, you may want to fill your planters with perennials and treat them as annuals - letting them die down at the end of the growing season. Some perennials, shrubs and evergreens can be overwintered outdoors in containers provided that they are sufficiently protected from the environment. Other tender perennials can be brought indoors and used as house plants.

Featured Products & Sources

1. Sweet Potato Vine
2. Geranium
3. Gerbera Daisies
4. Radius Garden Tools - Ace Hardware
5. Huson plant pot - Ikea
6. Sean Conway Wood Potting Bench - look for it under Lawn & Garden Accessories at Target.com
7. Beta Watering Can - Ikea
8. Varen tray with 6 plant pots - Ikea
9. Beta Plant Glide (saucer on casters) - Ikea
10. Folding Bistro Table - Pottery Barn
11. Folding Chairs -Pottery Barn
12. Shag Indoor/Outdoor Mats by Chilewich - Lumen Light & Living