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10 Things to Consider When Balcony Gardening

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Gardens bring a sense of freshness and calmness to a house and are therapeutic. However, in present times, it is not easy to stay in an independent house and condo leaving is more popular. The main issue in apartments in condominiums is the lack of open space to have a garden. When you buy a house you want to do everything best, like a good and comprehensive homeowners insurance policy or the best furnishings. Then why feel bad about not having a green area.

If you have a rooftop, patio, terrace or balcony, you can still grow lots of plants and have a beautiful green corner in the house. Balcony gardening is fun and there are many interesting ways to create a calming space in the house. All it needs some planning and basic knowledge of the conditions and of course the plants.

Let's discuss some basic tips which can help you in creating

1. Society Rules

Each condominium has some rules set by the society which manages the maintenance and other functions. Before you start preparing to set up a balcony garden, you should check the rules and regulations and understand if any restrictions are there. There are buildings which do not allow growing fruits and vegetables as these attract pests and birds. Thus, for buildings with such rules, only flowers and plants will be allowed.

2. Water Outlet

When you intend to have plants, the one thing you need most importantly is water. Water is needed regularly and having a water outlet is important as getting buckets full of water from inside the house is not practical and easy. If there is no water tap, the choice of plants will change. There can be self-irrigation plants. What homeowners insurance is to a house, water is to the plants. The water and the right quantity are what will ensure the plants grow well.

Another issue that comes with plants is that the water can drop to the floor below or outside which can cause problems. Ideally, there should be saucers under the pots which will collect the excess water that can be thrown later.

3. Check the Feasibility

Balconies are built in a way that they can only take a certain amount of weight. Filling the balconies with ceramic or terra cotta pots is not advisable as these are heavy. Fibreglass, plastic or other pots that are lighter should be chosen.

4. Choose the Plants Carefully

Once you have decided on the pots and soil etc., the biggest concern is the right choice of plants. Each space cannot have anything growing well and thus, wasting space and choosing wisely is needed. The way the plant will grow depends on the sunlight that area gets. Depending on the sun you can choose the plants. Like plants like lettuce and spinach do not need a lot of sun and so is the case with some herbs.

Then there are low-light plants like ferns and begonias, and plants like cacti which when watered properly can thrive on a balcony which has a lot of sun. Understanding the amount of sun is important as many times we do not realise that many plants need at least 6 hours of sun daily.

Also, if you are intending to grow some vegetables, be careful about the pests and the birds that might come and not only spoil the plants and the vegetables and also dirty the place.

5. Heat on the Balcony

Besides the sun, there are other factors which can heat the balcony and excessive heat is not good for the plants. Many balconies have outdoor units of air conditioners which throws hot air out. If the plants are close to the unit, they are bound to die. Another reason for excess heat is when the sun reflects on the windows. This also heats up the area and plants tend to wilt. For such balconies, tropical plants or succulents are a good choice.

6. Choose Your Decor

If you want to enjoy your morning cup of tea or coffee in this corner of the house, plan the area so that you can have a small seating area. You can add wind chimes or fountains to make the place more relaxing. Having an electrical point to play music might be a good idea as well.

7. Vertical Gardening

Contrary to the belief, you do not need a big balcony to have a balcony garden. What works best in a small area is vertical gardening. There are options like railing planters, stack planters, hanging baskets and vertical wall planters. There are some plants like air plants and succulents which look beautiful and grow well vertically. Wall pockets are another great idea where different kinds of plants are grown.

8. Hide The Railing

If you are not on a very high floor, privacy can be an issue and you cannot sit on the balcony. In such cases, covering the railing with climbers like jasmine or ivy is a great idea. This also adds to the aesthetics of the place and makes it calming and peaceful to sit.

9. Check the Wind

Balconies on higher floors tend to get a lot of wind and in summers or extreme winters, this can damage the plants. In such cases, making a provision to block the wind is recommended. In an extremely hot climate, it might be a good idea to move the plants to an area where the sun and the hot wind are less or cause less damage.

10. Time Available

Gardening needs time and money. Before you set it up, you should be aware of the time you have to spend in the garden. Maintaining the area and watering the plants is important and if you think you cannot do it daily, you should have someone available to do it. Also picking up vegetables before they get spoilt is important. Thus, keeping a check on the area is important.

Conclusion

A balcony garden is a beautiful addition to any home as it not only looks beautiful but also makes the atmosphere peaceful. When starting always take baby steps and grow the area seeing all factors. Planning is always good to set up an area to utilise the space well and also to see how gardening fits into your schedule. Like you, research and plan before taking homeowners insurance, plan your garden and enjoy the greenery.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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