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Creating A Balcony Garden Oasis
 By
Lee Dobbins
Having a garden is one of the highlights of summer for many people but not
everyone has a yard in which to plant flowers. Luckily, there are a few ways
that even apartment dwellers can enjoy gardening.
If you are fortunate enough to have a balcony or deck off your main living
area, you can use containers to turn it into a mini garden. Today, you can
purchase containers that hang right on the railing without any invasive
installation and large pots can be used on the decking. If you have a roof above
your balcony, you may even be able to install hanging plants. Just be sure that
you review the rules of your apartment complex before you add anything to your
outdoor area.
When choosing flowers or plants for your outdoor area, you want to be sure to
buy plants that will thrive in that environment. If your apartment balcony is
shady then you want to get plants that like the shade. If it has blazing sun all
day, buy ones that can take the hot sun, or be sure to move them into the shade
during the noon heat if they specify that they are for partial shade. Buying
annuals is probably a best bet as they will flower all season and you won’t have
to deal with them in the winter.
When selecting your containers, be sure to get ones that have good drainage.
You may even want to add some small rocks on the bottom to provide additional
places for water to go. If you will be putting the containers on your decking,
be sure to buy saucers for them so the water doesn’t seep onto the deck and
stain it - if you don’t you might find yourself forfeiting your security deposit
or re-staining the deck when you move out. Before drilling holes for hanging
plants, be sure to check with your landlord or apartment caretaker.
Be sure to use a good potting soil for your plants and water thoroughly.
Plants in containers can dry out rapidly and you may have to water them every
day. Be sure that you don’t over water, you want the soil to be moist with no
standing water. Container plants do well when fertilized about once a month with
a general fertilizer or one made specifically for your type of plant.
In addition to planting flowers outdoors, you can also enhance your balcony
area with interesting potted palms and other tree like plants that can be moved
into the apartment when cold weather comes and enjoyed all winter long. When
arranging the plants, be sure to use pots and plants of varying heights - all
plants of the same height will look boring, but if you put together containers
of different sizes and heights in groups this will add a lot of interest.
Be sure to check your plants every day and pinch off any dead flowers and
leaves to keep your balcony garden oasis vibrant and fresh.
Lee Dobbins writes for
Apartment Rental Guides where you can learn more about apartment rentals
and apartment living.
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