Balcony, Patio, And Courtyard Gardening

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Individuals choose balcony, patio, and courtyard gardening for several different reasons. Some are moving from a large house to smaller accommodation, some don’t want the hassle of a big property, and some chose to live in rental property to avoid the high-cost of owning a home. Whatever the reason, this doesn’t mean we can’t garden. No space is too small for a small space garden. One plant in a container is often a garden. In fact, ever more gardening options are available in terms of pots, half-barrels, window boxes, troughs, cast-iron planters, recycled resources – the list is unending with possibilities.

Planning a Small Space Back garden

When planning your small space garden several steps are fundamental. The 1st consideration is to determine what purpose this space will serve. Do you want to grow vegetables, herbs, entertain family and friends, meditate, create a place of peace, healing, a memorial garden – the list is endless. Next, walk all-around your space and definitely look at what you have. Where are doors, sheds, permanent planters located? Is there any clutter? Clear out the clutter by asking yourself: ‘Do I love it? Have I used it inside past year?’ If it no longer serves you, turf it out, paint it or fix it, give it to somebody who needs it.
If possible, take a chair and sit down, move it all around, and think about where the energy feels best for you. Wherever which is, place your seating such as a park bench, lounge, Muskoka chairs, dining furniture, swing, etc. Do you want a formal or informal setting? What features do you want? Features such as water, flowers, vegetables, herbs, wind chimes, wild life, colour, etc. add the finishing touches for your small space garden. Finally, make a plan particularly should you are going to use large features such as a half-barrel. Once filled with soil you will not want to be moving it.

Creating a Small Space Garden

Containers. Generally speaking natural supplies such as wood, clay, stone, or cast iron in all their forms make better companions for plants. Remember that wet soil weighs a whole lot so in the event you garden on a balcony weight restrictions might apply. Containers produced from lighter weight materials such as fibreglass are ideal for roof or balcony gardens. Styles of containers include hanging baskets, wirework stands and baskets, wood window boxes, sinks, troughs, galvanized buckets, old shoes or boots, bathtubs, old tires, and all manner of recycled objects.

Scale. Scale is very critical in small space gardening. For example, small plants appear more balanced in small containers, big plants in large containers. I especially like the effect of vines growing on trellis in half-barrels with smaller plants edging the container. Within the half-barrels I use, I have grown a lot of different vines but have found that the effect of scarlet runner pole beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) is really a knockout with their gorgeous red flowers and you’ll be able to eat them too.

Microclimates. Which plants prefer which location? Choose plants according for the conditions suitable for their optimum growth. Plants such as begonia (Begonia x semperflorens), coleus (Coleus x hybridous), and Fuchsia (Fuchsia x hybrida) prefer shaded areas whilst geraniums (Pelargonium x hortorum), marigolds (Tagetes erecta), and petunia (Petunia x hybrida) prefer full sun. Wind may be a major factor and damage fragile plants. Choose plants that are wind tolerant such as several from the grasses; the sound of the rustling in the grasses as the wind blows through them is extremely pleasing for the ear.

Soil. I buy pre-mixed potting soil from the back garden centers or shopping malls. These are generally lighter in weight to carry, sterilized to prevent weed seeds from germinating, and contain a lot of peat moss that helps loosen the soil so that it doesn’t compact in pots. I also buy organic soil that doesn’t have synthetic chemicals added as I dump my pots of used soil into the back garden where I grow vegetables.

Watering. Check daily as container plants often dry out more quickly. This can be especially true when you are using clay pots. Make sure pots have drainage holes, as roots sitting in water will rot. When there has been excessive rain or water, empty saucers that are full. When you back garden on a balcony sit plants on something to catch the water so that it doesn’t run down on your neighbours.

Fertiliser. Due to frequent watering, container plants require fertiliser on a more consistent basis then plants inside ground do. Use organic fertilisers such as blood meal, bone meal, or fish emulsion, particularly if the soil is going to be added to the garden at the end from the season, as chemical fertilisers harm the wildlife.

Function. When you are creating your small space garden you are actually designing an outdoor room. Keep in mind that this is usually colour co-ordinated to appear as an extension of the home. I move my indoor plants outside for the summer (which they love) and design these areas as garden rooms.

Focal point. Create a focal point such as a big pot, tall plant or tree, colour, or a water feature. Perennial vines such as Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) will grow in a large container and come back year after year. Produce a sense of mystery by hiding a plant or ornament behind something else to give the pleasure of discovering it.

Colour. In a small space, use three colours such as pinks, blues, and whites; reds, oranges, and yellows; reds, whites, and blues; or reds, whites, and purples that provide continuity rather than too many colours which tend to become distracting. Cool colours make the space appear bigger and brighter although intense colours shrink spaces. A white and green colour theme called a ‘moon garden’ is more formal and particularly at night is spectacular. A lot of white flowers are fragrant at night as well.

Lighting. I especially like the small Xmas lights hidden in plants and interwoven throughout a trellis with climbing vines. Up lighting with small spotlights can focus attention on a particular area for evening entertaining.

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