Who doesn’t love a balcony filled with blooms and lush greenery? Elevate your balcony this spring with a beautiful selection of pot plants or maybe even a vertical garden! Not only will it make you want to spend more time on the balcony, it will also do wonders for the overall appeal of your home.
Before you get your gardening gloves on and try to replicate the many Pinterest ideas you’ve gathered, make sure that you know what type of conditions you are dealing with:
- Take a good look at the space and see if it’s sunny, shady or windy and where the rain falls.
- Think about the type of containers that will work best for the plants – whether that is in pots, climbing frames, or even vertical gardens.
- Find out what the rules of the HOA or Body Corporate are – you might not be allowed to drill anything into the external walls, and some complexes also have rules around what is and isn’t allowed on the balconies.
Now that you’ve planned your garden and know the space, it’s time to go shopping! Visit your local nursery and ask for advice to find the best suited plants. Alternatively, start with any of these hardy, rewarding plants:
- Agapanthus are a great way to add a pop of colour to a balcony space. These tough plants are built to survive hot summers but prefer partial shade in harsher climates like our own. “Aggies” actually prefer cramped root conditions, which makes them great pot plant options.
- Bougainvillea make for a beautiful creeper option and can be used to grow around a climbing frame to create greater privacy between you and your neighbour. These beautiful blooming plants can grow fast, so you might need to repot them every couple of years.
- String of Pearls or String of Bananas, are trailing succulents native to Southern Africa regions and thrive in hanging baskets. If you have a covered balcony, you can hang a few from the roof. If the complex allows, you could also install a hanging basket frame against the external wall.
- A mini vegetable or herb garden can also be grown in pots or planter boxes. When planting vegetables, just find out what season they grow in before you plant them. Cherry tomatoes and bean plants are great options for pots, and most herbs, including rosemary, thyme, and coriander, will thrive in small containers.
If you are planning on putting your home on the market, speak to your estate agent or visit RE/MAX to find out which plants and pots will instantly boost the appeal and possibly even the market value of your home.