Who does not dream of a little corner of greenery at home? It is not necessarily necessary to have a garden to enjoy a little vegetation. A balcony or a window sill will suffice to create a small green area. Follow our tips for arranging a balcony with plants.
With a few tips and the right choice of plants, it will be easy for you to bring a breath of fresh air to your balcony, patio or window sill all year round. Green plants or fragrant flowers, you are spoiled for choice to give a touch of cheerfulness to your home. But it is important to make the right choices before you start gardening. Depending on your location and the sun exposure of the space you want to develop, the recommended plants vary dramatically.
1- Analyze your balcony
The first thing to do before embarking on the purchase of plants is to assess your space. How much space do you have? Are the floor or walls usable? Answering these questions will give you a first idea of the investment needs in plants and equipment.
Also check the orientation of your balcony. This information is essential because it will condition the choice of your plants. A south-facing balcony will suit plants that thrive in the sun and resist heat. On the other hand, if your balcony is in the shade most of the time, you will have to think about putting plants there that do not require direct light.
Wind exposure is also a factor to take into account. Depending on the region you live in, the wind can literally dry out or freeze your plants which will not survive. Good protection or a choice of robust plants will then be necessary.
2- Mix the varieties
Once you have taken stock of the characteristics of your balcony, you will be able to make an appropriate choice of plants. By mixing the varieties, you can even get a green balcony all year round. Nature offers endless possibilities, let yourself be guided by your desires!
For a green balcony in winter
Start by choosing plants that will provide you with greenery whatever the season. These are evergreen plants such as boxwood, bay laurel or ivy, for example.
Some shrubs like heather can also add a little color, pink, red or white. And this all year round.
For a flowery and fragrant balcony
In spring, with the arrival of the sun and the warming of temperatures, we can hope to see our balcony blooming.
Classic geraniums are excellent flowering plants in pink, red or white colors and are very easy to care for. They are perennial and will bloom again from year to year. No wonder they are among the most used in flower beds to decorate our windows.
To add a more intense floral note, choose very fragrant flowers such as lavender, wisteria or Mexican orange. They will perfume your balcony for a guaranteed relaxing escape.
To make the flowering pleasure last, alternate between flowers that bloom in spring and flowers that bloom in summer. For example the spring bulbs of grape hyacinths, daffodils or hyacinths and summer bulbs such as gladioli or alliums or even autumn bulbs such as dahlias.
For an edible balcony
To combine business with pleasure, why not grow aromatic or edible plants on your balcony?
These plants have the advantage of growing both indoors and outdoors if you respect their water and light supply. Lots of sun and heat for basil, thyme, chives, sage or rosemary. Mint, parsley and tarragon will prefer less exposed areas in partial shade.
Also think of edible flowers like pansy, elderberry or nasturtium. Very pretty, they are also perfect to decorate a cooked dish, with sometimes sweet and sometimes tangy notes.
3 – equip yourself well
Now that you have your choice of plants, let’s move on to the equipment. While growing plants on a balcony or window sill is possible, it is not, however, the most suitable environment for plants to thrive. We will have to help them with the right materials.
First, choose a good soil rich in organic matter to provide your plant with all the nutrients necessary for its development.
Then offer him a pot or a planter at his height. The bigger the pot, the more likely your plant is to last and perform at its best. Although there are inexpensive plastic planters that are very suitable for plants that like heat and humidity, it is still better to opt for pots made of more breathable materials. Today there are recycled canvas containers that will suit any type of plantation. They have the advantage of being light, breathable and above all eco-responsible. For shrubs or conifers, a solid wood planter (teak or exotic wood) will be perfect. Earthen pots, on the other hand, have the advantage of regulating humidity well for the most sensitive flowers.
If you have little space on your balcony, opt for climbing plants with a trellis resting along the wall.
And to optimize the space a little further, consider hanging planters. Stylish, they will add character to your balcony.
Large geotextile planter, € 36 at Mon petit coin vert
4 – Take care of your plants
Your balcony is now well installed, all you have to do is take care of it so that it offers you greenery, freshness, color and good humor throughout the year.
To do this, follow the advice provided on the labels of your plants to provide them with the quantity of water and light sufficient for their development.
Maintenance will be different depending on the time of year. In spring, it is the season when we are active in growing the seedlings, planting the bulbs, repotting … Regularly add fertilizer to help them flourish. In summer, water must be watered regularly to avoid drought. In winter, beware of frost. Remember to protect the most fragile plants from a wintering veil.
Winter cover – Nature, € 13 at Jardidéco
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Our selection of easy-to-maintain plants for balconies
A plant that adapts very well to the shady and windy balcony. It will also make an excellent screening
More suitable for sunny terraces. It will bring you color and relaxing fragrance.
A classic but which does not go out of fashion because it is very easy to maintain and generous in bloom. Flowering geraniums last from April to October.
To change from the geranium, the hydrangea will offer you magnificent bouquets of flowers. Its color varies according to the acidity of the soil in which it grows.
With lots of sun and sheltered from the wind, this climbing plant will offer a magnificent pink or red bloom from May to November.
This climbing plant adapts well to a shady corner and its evergreen leaves will provide greenery all year round.