How to Greenify Your Balcony in a Weekend
Have a quiet weekend planned? With spring officially here, there's no better time to green up your balcony. Here's how
A lush and leafy balcony oasis is more than just nice to look it, says Michael Vyse, Nature in Cities science and planning manager at Greening Australia, an environmental organisation that aims to protect, restore and conserve Australia’s native vegetation. “Having a green outlook is proven to help you focus and concentrate, plus certain plants can also help filter dust and air pollution so you can breathe easier,” he says. “In addition, introducing plants to your balcony can help increase and support the biodiversity of nature that lives alongside us, such as birds and bees.”
Here, Vyse shares his top tips for turning your balcony from bare to lush in a single weekend.
We’ve accompanied this story with images of beautiful balcony gardens from homes on Houzz to inspire you.
Here, Vyse shares his top tips for turning your balcony from bare to lush in a single weekend.
We’ve accompanied this story with images of beautiful balcony gardens from homes on Houzz to inspire you.
What to consider
When choosing plants, it helps to think about how much sun your balcony gets, how windy it is and how much space you have. To get an idea of what sorts of plants may thrive on your balcony, think about places in nature where similar conditions can be found and take note of what grows there.
For example, it is very sunny and windy by the beach, so perhaps some coastal plants would work well on a high, north-facing balcony. On a south-facing balcony, it’s better to choose plants that are shade tolerant, such as ones that you would find in a shaded gully.
Want help with your balcony garden? Find a local gardener on Houzz
When choosing plants, it helps to think about how much sun your balcony gets, how windy it is and how much space you have. To get an idea of what sorts of plants may thrive on your balcony, think about places in nature where similar conditions can be found and take note of what grows there.
For example, it is very sunny and windy by the beach, so perhaps some coastal plants would work well on a high, north-facing balcony. On a south-facing balcony, it’s better to choose plants that are shade tolerant, such as ones that you would find in a shaded gully.
Want help with your balcony garden? Find a local gardener on Houzz
Plants to choose from for balcony gardens
Native plants are great choices to support biodiversity in the city. The species listed below are all very hardy and just need some sunlight, watering a couple of times a week, and the occasional application of fertiliser.
Native plants are great choices to support biodiversity in the city. The species listed below are all very hardy and just need some sunlight, watering a couple of times a week, and the occasional application of fertiliser.
- Lomandra longifolia (mat rush) is a beautiful, green, strappy native grass with a great structural look that is super hardy.
- Dianella caerulea (blue flax lily) is another hardy and very easy-care plant, growing up to a metre high and wide if left to go wild. It has beautiful purple-blue flowers in spring and summer, and deep blue berries.
- Chrysocephalum apiculatum (yellow buttons) is a low-growing, spreading native ground cover that looks great in a pot as it hangs over the edge. It has gorgeous sunny flowers, silvery foliage and is very popular with pollinators such as bees.
- If you’re interested in something more like a succulent, Carpobrotus edulis (glaucous pigface) has a hard leaf and colourful flowers in spring. They can even be planted in a hanging basket if you have vertical space to spare.
- With their large, bottlebrush-like flowers, Callistemon (bottlebrush) can add colour to your balcony. It’s common right across Australia so it should be easy to find one that’s local to your area. As an added bonus, Callistemons are like magnets for native bees and birds so they are perfect for creating food and homes for native wildlife.
Consider trees
If space and weight allows, you could plant trees in large, heavy pots on your balcony (the pots need to be heavy so trees won’t tip over in gusts of wind).
Consider planting a native pine (Callitris gracilis), which you can bring indoors at Christmas time.
Remember, before adding a tree to your balcony it’s important to check with your body corporate or building drawings to make sure there aren’t weight or visibility guidelines your balcony may be subject to.
Browse more images of beautiful Australian balcony gardens on Houzz
If space and weight allows, you could plant trees in large, heavy pots on your balcony (the pots need to be heavy so trees won’t tip over in gusts of wind).
Consider planting a native pine (Callitris gracilis), which you can bring indoors at Christmas time.
Remember, before adding a tree to your balcony it’s important to check with your body corporate or building drawings to make sure there aren’t weight or visibility guidelines your balcony may be subject to.
Browse more images of beautiful Australian balcony gardens on Houzz
What can I do with a slender balcony garden?
Use your vertical wall space to plant climbers such as Hardenbergia violacea (purple coral pea) or Billardiera cymosa (sweet apple berry).
Do you have a view you want to screen or get some extra shade from direct sunlight? Consider one larger shrub such as a Citrus australasica (finger lime) in a pot to give you the protection you want, without taking up too much floor space. Natives such as the finger lime are edible so you could get a feed too.
Use your vertical wall space to plant climbers such as Hardenbergia violacea (purple coral pea) or Billardiera cymosa (sweet apple berry).
Do you have a view you want to screen or get some extra shade from direct sunlight? Consider one larger shrub such as a Citrus australasica (finger lime) in a pot to give you the protection you want, without taking up too much floor space. Natives such as the finger lime are edible so you could get a feed too.
Secrets to planting success
It all starts from the ground up; roots and soil are key. Make sure you buy good-quality potting mix that’s suited for your plants.
And don’t automatically buy the biggest plants you see; buy ones that look healthy and in proportion with their pots, which are more likely to have healthy roots.
Then, when you are planting into a new pot, be sure to check the roots. If the roots are circling or bent in on themselves, you can trim them a little and loosen them before replanting. Plants need strong, straight roots to absorb water and nutrients.
It all starts from the ground up; roots and soil are key. Make sure you buy good-quality potting mix that’s suited for your plants.
And don’t automatically buy the biggest plants you see; buy ones that look healthy and in proportion with their pots, which are more likely to have healthy roots.
Then, when you are planting into a new pot, be sure to check the roots. If the roots are circling or bent in on themselves, you can trim them a little and loosen them before replanting. Plants need strong, straight roots to absorb water and nutrients.
Water is a major consideration when you’re growing anything in pots, particularly in sunny and breezy spots. Plants are like evaporative coolers – and nothing causes evaporation like hot sun and wind.
Check in regularly with your pots to see that your plants have enough water to keep pumping through those leaves. One tip to help with the evaporative effect on balconies is to group your pots together so your plants can provide each other with a little shade and protection from the wind. This also makes them easier to water.
Check in regularly with your pots to see that your plants have enough water to keep pumping through those leaves. One tip to help with the evaporative effect on balconies is to group your pots together so your plants can provide each other with a little shade and protection from the wind. This also makes them easier to water.
Start small with a couple of plants that are easy to care for, such as hardy natives, which will give you the best chance of success. Nothing will kill your desire for green space more than feeling like you can’t do it, so give yourself an easy win.
Consider choosing plants with leaves in a few different shapes and colours to add visual interest. Maybe add a couple of herbs that you can pick for your meals so you are interacting with and looking at the plants regularly.
Be warned though, once you’ve had a little success with your balcony garden, you may find it hard to stop!
Consider choosing plants with leaves in a few different shapes and colours to add visual interest. Maybe add a couple of herbs that you can pick for your meals so you are interacting with and looking at the plants regularly.
Be warned though, once you’ve had a little success with your balcony garden, you may find it hard to stop!
Your turn
Did you find this story useful? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
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Want more on gardens? Don’t miss this Before & After: How 3 Backyards Gained Privacy & Improved Views
Did you find this story useful? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Want more on gardens? Don’t miss this Before & After: How 3 Backyards Gained Privacy & Improved Views
Think about which plants you’d like, how big you’ll need the pots to be, then head to your local native plant nursery for supplies and spend a few hours potting everything up. You could make a plan on Saturday over breakfast and be dining among your new garden by dinner time.