The Balcony Gardener: Creative ideas for small spaces

Product Information

Then, move on to the chapter entitled Creative Recycling, which provides all sorts of great ideas for recycled containers and beautiful features in your garden – make a Pallet Wall Planter or Olive Oil Drum to liven up your space. I bought the book on that basis only to be knocked out by the way it has been written, which was perfect for me - a novice gardener - as it is so straight forward to follow. A balcony garden is a must if you live in an urban, small space setting but still like to stay connected to nature. Balconies with gates or fences can support vining vegetables, but I would not recommend those as vining plants can quickly become unwieldy in small spaces.

That gives you a sense of a flourishing lush embodiment you would see in larger gardens and creates that oasis. If you live in an apartment building or condo, be sure to check what’s permissible by the building owner before you begin. If you choose plant colors and textures that echo the interior design, even the smallest balcony will look more expansive and welcoming.

You should position your plants where they’re going to get the most sun, and if your balcony is high up, you should try and find sheltered areas to protect your plants from harsh winds. This will ensure your plants mature fully and produce nice quality vegetables, as well as reduce pest issues from bugs that pounce on weak, sun-starved plants. Plastic and fiberglass plant containers are ideal for balcony gardens because they’re lighter in weight than terracotta or ceramic pots and come in a vast array of styles and sizes. If you've run out of space in the garden or have only a tiny balcony then these are the perfect solution. I found the different scented thymes, lemon verbena, rose scented geraniums, and mint to be well suited to baking heat and small space.

Love Island All Stars fans slam Liberty Poole for crying over Mitchel Taylor again despite pair's bitter split: 'They broke up like 10 times! Sure, a balcony garden more often than not, relies on growing in containers, but that's not to say that you are limited to only using your floor space – far from it. Nothing was daunting and when I showed it to a colleague, who is a formidable gardener, she fell in love with it too! Generally my strategy was to have a couple of tall pots with very tough plants in them and then nestle smaller things into their (still bright) shade to help keep them cooler. I picked up the Balcony Gardener book on a friend's coffee table and immediately fell in love with the photographs of all the different types of balcony and small garden designs.I just want to thank everyone following me for pushing me because without you I wouldn't have even put pen to paper and began the application process, so thank you very very much. Potted plants also need to be fertilized throughout the season to ensure there are enough nutrients for good quality vegetables. The first section explores the gardening items we will need to garden, how to choose a colour range for our balcony plants and flowers, how to select decorative items for a balcony space and gardening tips: how to choose pots for plants and how to mix soil. Isabelle Palmer, AKA 'The Balcony Gardener', is an award-winning garden designer who specialises in container growing and designing in small spaces.

It doesn’t matter if it’s not a hot sunny day in the summer, you really need to water potted plants. Wood pallets turned on end, old book shelves, or tiered planters are all practical solutions for gardening up rather than out. If you have lots of plants to water, consider investing in a large, lightweight watering can that you can fill in the bathtub.Last year’s high yield tumbling tomato bonanza was great for our summer salads, but there was barely room for me to sit with a cuppa without feeling like I was being attacked by fuzzy foliage. Limited space and time can be challenging but a bit of planning this winter will go a long way toward making your tiny garden a big success next summer. This book is good for getting ideas about what to do with a balcony or rooftop gardening/entertaining/relaxing space, but you would need a different reference to find information about choosing plants for your area and taking care of them. The easiest vegetables to grow on a balcony tend to have an upright, tidier and smaller growth habit, as well as smaller fruit. Beginner gardener or not, for a better success rate, choose varieties that suit your balcony space and growing conditions.