AD | Being able to get outside in the fresh air and spend time in our garden and orchard is something I never take for granted. We’re very lucky to have our outside space, as you’ll know if you follow my monthly gardening blogs. But even if you live in an apartment, cultivating a small balcony garden can be a very rewarding activity too. Container gardening means you can grow your own fruit and vegetables, and some beautiful flowering and structural plants as well. And of course, you’ll be doing your bit for wildlife and nature alike.
Growing up: vertical gardening systems for a small balcony garden
Generally speaking, balconies don’t tend to have acres of space, hence the growing trend for planting upwards rather than outwards. And the possibilities are endless. Think free standing trellises, pots attached to wires or railings, or even living wall systems. Really, your choice of vertical garden planters is only limited by your imagination (and your space, of course).
What else do I need to think about when planting a small balcony garden?
If you have enough space for a small table and/or chairs, then you have enough space for a small balcony garden. But, and this is key, you need to consider how much weight your balcony can take. Remember, balconies are built to take people, not whopping great terracotta pots full of soil. Next, you’ll need work out how much sun or wind or shade you get. Because that will determine your choice of the best plants for a sunny balcony or good plants for an exposed balcony. And of course you need to decide how much time you have to devote to your balcony garden too.
Trellises add screening and privacy
Good balcony plants for a trellis planter include scented climbers such as jasmine, honeysuckle, or some clematis. Or you could consider ivy as this evergreen produces both flowers for bees and berries for birds. If you grow it, they will come… And once these plants cover your trellis, you’ll have some beautiful, natural screening too.
Tower pots
If you’ve got room for a few pots, why not try a tower pot kit? These are great in any garden for growing your own vegetables such as beans or tomatoes. And a beautiful ivy geranium or my all-time favourite purple scented climbing petunia.
Hanging pots
Low maintenance balcony plants are ideal candidates for colourful pots hung from your railings or even from wires attached to your outside wall. Think pansies, carnations, geraniums for flowers, and hardy balcony plants like herbs such as rosemary, sage or thyme, both for cooking and a tea garden. And don’t forget, you can ring the seasonal changes with some small bulbs such as tete-a-tete, crocus, grape hyacinth, dwarf iris, or even some tulips.
Living walls
Living wall planters have really come into their own in recent years, not just on balconies or in courtyards, but inside offices too. And no wonder, they’re a brilliant option for small spaces and you can fit heaps of easy balcony plants into all the pockets.
Creative upcycling options
Remember I talked about imagination being no limiter? Well, a small balcony garden provides an ideal opportunity for some creative upcycling. Consider cutting some large plastic bottles in half, or even some guttering, either of which make great containers for growing salads. Or why not paint a few tin cans and grow some herbs in them. And if you have children, you could recycle their old welly boots for some strawberry plants. Just remember to drill a couple of holes in the bottom of whatever you use, to allow some drainage. Because nearly all plants hate having their roots sitting in water.
Small balcony gardening for beginners
As some of you know, I love documenting and sharing what I’m doing in my garden in my monthly garden diary updates. But I hope I’ve shown that even if you don’t have a huge outside space, you can still enjoy growing edible plants and flowers on your balcony. Top tip: if you’re a landlord, why not install a few vertical garden planters for your tenants to use? Because gardening has so many mental and physical health benefits that we can’t ignore. And the joy and satisfaction of nurturing and harvesting something that you’ve grown yourself is an experience I believe everyone should enjoy, no matter where they live – don’t you?
Have you ever tried your hand at a small balcony garden? Do you think it’s something you’d enjoy doing? Which vertical planting system appeals to you the most? And what do you think you’d like to grow?
* This is a sponsored post and also features affiliate links (please see my Disclaimer) but all opinions are my own.
Oh these are definitely interesting tips! I’ve been wanting to do something with my small balcony for ages, so I might actually try some of these 😊
Thank you, I’m so pleased this was helpful – happy balcony gardening!
Great post with some wonderful ideas! 👏🏼
Thank you so much 🙂
This post is so helpful! Growing flowers and plants on a small balcony can be quite tricky. Thank you for sharing these ideas.
Antonia || Sweet Passions
Thank you, that’s great to hear, and I’m glad they were useful.
This is such a helpful post. I think balcony gardens look so pretty and can be really colourful too.
Thank you, Kelly, and yes, I agree, they can look beautiful.
My Dad is doing vertical planting on our balcony too. It’s nice to have a garden although you’re living in an apartment.
Oh, that’s interesting, I’m so pleased to hear this 🙂
I’ve never had a balcony (but luckily have a garden) but if I did only have a balcony I think I’d be more into gardening and keeping it looking nice with flowers because having an outdoor space is really important to me. Balconies can definitely look really pretty! Fab post 🙂
Thank you, Jenny. We had a window box for 15 years when we lived in a flat so I know all about keeping pots in a small space! And yes, I had mainly flowers back then, plus one strawberry plant 🙂
This is valuable advice for those who have a balcony and are not sure what to do and buy in terms of plants and flowers! I’d never heard of vertical planting until reading this post x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
It’s an odd term, isn’t it? But thank you, Lucy, I’m glad it was helpful! x
These are all such great ideas! If I had a balcony, I’d absolutely fill it with plants and grow a little vertical garden! We have minimal outdoor space, so I’m focusing on houseplants at the moment. Hopefully one day I’ll have a garden. x
Thank you – if you have a window box you could try a few plants in that? That’s what i did for 15 years when I lived in a city! x
Lovely post! So many ideas here that i can try out myself and share with others.😍 Having a balcony garden would be a refreshing spot to declutter your mind.
Thank you – and that’s a lovely way of looking at it, to declutter the mind!
Lovely ideas! And get tips. So wish I had a balcony. Course most of my year is winter so I don’t know how I’d set this up right.
Yes, I can see that might prove more of a challenge – hardy plants only then!
These are all wonderful tips here, I only have a balcony but want a garden so will take on these tips for the spring, great post 🙂
Mel 🌙
Thank you – I’m so glad this was helpful and good luck in the Spring!
I’m thinking of getting a plant and a couple flower boxes for spring next year! These are some great ideas that I’ll definitely be trying.
Daisy xoxo
That’s great to hear – good luck for next year!
These are great tips. I think i could do something similar in our garden when it is eventually finished! We have some lovely space for a bit of a hanging garden x
Oooh, a hanging garden sounds wonderful, Claire, I hope you’ll share some photos in due course! x
My aunt in Australia has a beautiful balcony with jasmine and tower pots. There is space enough to a little grill too. Since she lives in the city, is the only green space she has right at hand . . . I think it is that way for a lot of people so having a balcony garden is inspiring!
I do not have a balcony, but I love the idea of putting living walls and trellises on a porch! Hanging pots also fit in nicely. Once again, though, weight is a thing to consider; pots weigh more than one might think.
Thanks for sharing this!
Your aunt’s balcony garden sounds lovely, Jaya.And how wonderful she can do some outside cooking as well. You’re right, any of these ideas would be perfect for a porch too, thank you!
This looks incredibly gorgeous! I hope to get a house with a balcony in the future so I can create something similar.
Well, these are library photos, but yes, they are the balconies of my dreams!
I love this! I grew up with a large garden and have always had a herb garden on the windowsill. If I was in a flat with a balcony I’d absolutely cover it in plants.
Cora | https://www.teapartyprincess.co.uk/
Oh that’s great to hear, I’m so pleased! Also that you have your own herb garden too 🙂
I would love if my landlord included a trellis or vertical garden area for me to use! Love that you included that thought in here. I tried my hand at a little veggie garden on my front stoop this year. Was just looking at the empty planter thinking I need to do something new with it. This post is great inspiration! 😀
Thank you, Alison, I thought nothing ventured, nothing gained, haha. Good luck with your empty planters, I’m so pleased you liked this post!
We had one of these at uni but we couldn’t keep the plants alive! Great tips in this one!
Rosie
Oh no, that’s so sad! Maybe second time lucky? 🙂
What a great post to help those in smaller spaces to find space to grow a garden! I love the use of a trellis to create additional space vertically.Thanks for sharing.
Aw, thank you Jodie, that’s so kind of you!
THese look lovely – it really makes that area seem very homey!
Thank you, Lisa, yes, I agree!
These are all great ideas. I am lucky to have a large area for my garden, however, I am seriously considering starting a living wall along the side of the deck. I think it would be a great place to grow things like herbs and some vegetables where I could easily grab them when wanted. I love that I have so many different fresh food options on hand already with the garden, and that would just add to it!
A living wall alongside your deck sounds like a great idea! Perfect for easy dining and barbecues – thank you, Britt!
So many helpful tips, I love this post! I don’t have a balcony but could definitely apply this to the little beginner’s garden I have been planning to try out. Thanks for sharing, Lisa!
Anika
Ah, that’s wonderful to hear, good luck, Anika, how exciting!
I’ve always imagined myself waking up and watering my plants in the morning! Especially in the balcony! Sadly, we don’t have any. Great post! Your plants are glowing and healthy!
Ah thank you – these are stock photos, but yes, they are gorgeous 🙂 I hope you get a balcony – or even better a garden – some day!
Thanks for sharing, these look great ideas, for your balcony, even though I’m ground floor these will work hopefully for me 🙂
You’re welcome – and yes, they’ll work fine on the ground floor too!
These are some great ideas! I live in a flat so I have minimal space, but we are allowed to have plants in the common corridor which is exactly what my dad has done. We’ve got about 20 plants out there now! I definitely need to show him your tips 😊
✨ Marissa Belle ✨
Ooooh, corridor gardening sounds so much fun – what a talking point for you and your neighbours! 🙂
Great post and amazing tips! I’ll have to sort of my parent’s balcony when I’m home for Christmas!
Thank you so much – I hope they appreciate your efforts!
This was such a great read! I never had a garden until the last move back home and here in London, it’s like asking for a golden pot! Though I love to have plants in my room and my windows, they brighten up so much space! Thanks for sharing Lisa x
Ah, thank you, Cristina! I was hoping that this post would be helpful for city dwellers without much outside space 🙂 x