You don't need to have a yard to create an outdoor space that you will love. Even if you only have a tiny balcony area to work with, you can still have that intimate, manageable, useful, and stunning balcony garden.
Here are some tips on how you can build that perfect balcony garden according to Apartment Therapy:
Weather conditions
Find out the type of plants that could thrive in your balcony's weather zone. The best way to find out is go to your local plant shop since they won't be stocking on plants that won't survive your area's weather conditions. Consider the amount of light that your balcony gets, if it's windy or sheltered, or if it is shady. By knowing those, you will be able to pick out the right type of plants to go to your garden. What's a balcony garden without luscious greens and flowers!
Annuals or perennials
When choosing your plants, consider whether they survive throughout the season or just a season or two. Generally, it is nice to mix both. You can enjoy your delicate fresh herbs like basil, summerflowers, or some veggies and at the same time expect for some life in your garden even during gloomy winter months.
Containers and soil
Aside from the appearance, you should also consider the function when it comes to choosing your containers. Terra cotta is a good choice since it is made of porous material that offers better drainage compared to plastic made ones. Considering proper drainage prevents root rot and over-watering. Avoid water from dripping over your patio by using saucers under your containers.
Your choice of soil should vary depending on the type of plant you want to grow. While all-purpose mix is almost often fine, some plants need a specific type of soil in order to grow such as succulents. You can expect health foliage and blooms if you start off your plants right.
Furniture
Depending on the purpose of your balcony, you can place appropriate furniture. It would be nice to put a bistro table with a couple of chairs so you have a relaxing place to have your coffee, eat your croissant, and do crochet. Or, if you love having people over, you can go for a full-blown dining table (if your space allows) which is perfect for barbecues and drinking chill nights.
Vary placement
Usually, your balcony plants would go to the floor. But to give more interest and create that illusion of more space, you can use varying heights of plants. You can also have hanging plants that hung from the ceiling or from small stands. These will enable to you to create that feeling of an enveloping garden.
