The Balcony Gardener: Creative ideas for small spaces

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You can sow them from around early March, right up until October time. And if you want to try to take them through the winter, the great thing about growing in pots is that you can control the environment of it so much more easily than you can in the ground. So you could move it inside, you could leave it in a more sheltered part of your balcony or you could put a piece of glass on top of it which creates essentially a mini cold frame or mini greenhouse which means that the salad will grow all year. If you live in a city where things are generally a bit warmer, you can grow salad all year round,” Alex said.

One thing that is often forgotten on balconies but is really important is fragrance. Scented plants so close to the house are really magical, not just in summer but in winter too. If you want to make a small garden look bigger, Isabelle advises: 'Lighter color flowers really open up a space, so put your lightest flowers at the furthest point so that your eyes are drawn outwards.' How do I arrange my balcony garden? Work with the conditions. If your balcony is on the sunny side you will probably need to bring in shade, if it's windy try creating wind-breaks. If there's a bad view, screen it off with plants and trellis. Looking for balcony ideas to transform your space? Balcony gardens are in some ways the perfect outdoor spaces. Convenient, big enough to sit on (hopefully) but not so big as to create too much work, and the perfect canvas to create real wow factor outside. Also try grasses, not only will these thrive in sunny dry conditions, they move beautifully in any breeze and bring a lovely gauziness.I never know what’s in front of me, which is exciting.” What Would You Say To Those Wanting To Try Garden Design? In love with bamboo? Why not assimilate it into your balcony and create a balcony garden with the most stunning Balcony Garden Ideas? 30. Balcony Herbs Tower Isabelle Palmer is a renowned city garden designer and the founder of The Balcony Gardener, her innovative and fresh approach to garden design and gardening retail has earned her well deserved attention. Strawberries can be hassled by slugs so having them in a hanging basket is good because slugs can’t get to them,” she added.

Books I love: The Story of Nancy Astor by Adrian Fort, The Duff Cooper Diaries by John Julius Norwich Your balcony could be the most comfortable spot for summertime reading. 39. Apartment Vegetable Garden There are some really great seeds where you can literally just pour them directly into a window box in about May and you'll get a complete window box full of wild flowers,”she added. The geranium is one of the best bedding and balcony plants. Sufficient light and water are all is needed for these plants to grow and flourish. Pelargonium EuropeIsabelle has also collaborated with well known brands, such as Anthropologie and US furniture retailer West Elm, to create special events and products for a greener city life. She was also been shortlisted for a Red Magazine Hot Woman of the Year Business Start-Up Award in 2011. You can plant your favorite succulents and cacti in the balcony garden using a metallic stand and window boxes. Do not forget to add a plastic flamingo too! 70. Minimalistic Balcony Garden While many people might think growing fruit and veg on a balcony would be too challenging, Alex feels it’s very achievable if you use your imagination. You have to pot them on every two or three years to a big container, or failing that you can top dress, which is where you take off the top layer of soil and put some new compost on. You can do that after the second year as well to elongate that container.” Providing some great inspiration for city dwellers, a prominent theme of this new category is how to turn a balcony into a calming space to escape and relax. It's the perfect time to highlight this small outdoor space, as balconies have been a lifeline for thousands over the course of the pandemic.