Follow these brilliant Balcony Gardening Tips before Setting up a green space in your apartment to make the most of it!
Here are some top Balcony Gardening Tips to Follow before Setting up a Balcony Garden that’ll save you time and effort while maintaining a beautiful tropical space in your home!
Learn the best gardening tips for extreme heat here
Balcony Gardening Tips to Follow before Setting up a Balcony Garden
1. Set Your Budget
Set a budget before you begin. Ideate the price of the plants, fertilizers, and growing medium and act accordingly.
You can look for alternatives to save money: like collecting cuttings, propagating vegetables from kitchen leftovers, and repurposing old containers to design a beautiful garden with a limited budget.
Check out the best budget gardening tips here
2. Plan in Advance
While the Insta trends and Pinterest picks might pique your interest but planning out your garden according to the available space, sunlight, and weather conditions will save you time and effort. Make a list of suitable varieties, their availability, and weather conditions, and plan your tiny garden accordingly.
3. Start with Low-Maintenance Specimens
A balcony garden might get a little burdensome to maintain, especially if you are busy or new to gardening. To keep things simple, begin with low-maintenance plants irrespective of their categories, whether they are annuals, perennials, vegetables, fruits, succulents, or foliage plants.
Learn the best gardening tips for extreme heat here
4. Watch out for the Rules
If you live in a rented condo or apartment, you need to know if there are specific regulations and rules to follow, depending on the place you live.
There may have restrictions on the load weight of pots, planters, and the usage of the trellis. So it is better to find before you begin.
5. Recycle and Reuse
Practice sustainable gardening and recycle the stuff available for planting. Salvage old containers, jute bags, beer bottles, grocery jars, and coconut shells to give your garden a creative look.
It will not just save you money but add depth and an attractive appeal to your garden.
Find out some amazing ideas to reuse kitchen items in the garden here
6. Count the Sunny Hours
Check out the hours of sunshine your balcony receives. Plan your garden in a way that the sun-loving varieties can bask in long hours of sunlight while the non-loving ones can enjoy some shade.
7. Do Not Forget to Fertilize Well
Keep an eye on the nutritional needs of the plants. Check for the signs in their growth and provide the needed fertilization. You can use water-soluble fertilizers on a regular basis to keep things easy.
8. Make the Most of the Available Space
Give attention to space and choose flowering plants according to it. For instance, you can grow climbing vines as they acquire vertical space or if you have more room, plant shrubs in pots.
Also, utilize the nooks, railing boxes, and the ceiling for hanging beautiful species.
Look at some stunning railing planter ideas here
9. Get Some Flowers
To add a bit of gaiety and color to your balcony, grow flowers. Depending on your taste, desire, and constraints of your balcony (space, sunlight, budget), the possibilities are endless.
10. Strike a Balance
Grow both perennials and annuals. Give space to exotic plants but don’t forget to plant the natives, as they are the easiest to grow. Also, grow a combination of vivid and pastel blooms along with foliar specimens to strike the right balance between shades and texture.
11. Keep the Seasons in Mind
Keep the seasons in mind before starting the seeds. Grow the ones with longer blooming seasons for a pretty look.
If you are growing vegetables, get the ones with a minimum harvesting period.
12. Get the Ideal Pots that Fit in the Space
Depending on the available space, look for the pots that will serve the best view. Go for narrow, tall pots for the corners; line herb planters in the railing boxes; hang showy macrame planters from the ceiling, and line pretty ceramics on the plant shelves.
13. Experiment with Colors
Go creative and experiment with the varied colors. Blooms are available in a range of shades, and you can pair them together for added appeal. You may also opt for colorful foliage plants for a change.
14. Grow Veggies on the Balcony
Apart from the houseplants and flowers, you can create an edible balcony garden as well. Grow flavorful herbs, vegetables, and tasty greens on your balcony. Get the hybrid seeds for advanced propagation.
Make sure the place receives enough sun before starting a vegetable garden.
Want to grow a balcony vegetable garden? Click here
15. Opt for Portable Containers
If you plan to install big planters, place them on caddies to make your work easier. This way, you can move them indoors during unfavorable conditions and clean your garden effectively.
16. Get High-Quality Potting Mix
While growing in containers, it is important to get a good quality potting mix to ensure successful propagation in a limited space. Educate yourself on the specific needs of the plants and choose the growing medium accordingly.
If you are growing a succulent or a houseplant, ensure to get the right medium to avoid mishaps.
17. Practice Companion Planting
Companion planting is a savior for balcony gardeners. Grow companion plants together to help them combat pest issues, boost pollination, and compensate for humidity needs on their own.
Learn about the best companion herbs here
18. Set a Watering Schedule
Depending on the weather conditions of your place, set a watering schedule to make up for the plant’s moisture needs.
If you are a busy gardener, install self-watering planters or drip watering devices for better maintenance.
Check out some clever self-watering hacks here
19. Prepare Your Garden Before Going on a Vacation
Make sure to create a self-watering system before heading on vacation. Also, if your balcony receives too much heat, hang a thin curtain to protect the foliage from burning in the sunlight.
