Whether you’re adding a couple of cute planters or planting a full-on jungle, adding flowers and greenery can make even the most boring, cement-floored space feel more inviting. Here are 8 sweet ideas for making that outdoor space inviting.
1. Learn what plants will do well on your
Get tons of sun? Get plants that thrive with lots of light, like daylilies, catmint, petunias, and ivy geraniums. If your balcony is on the shadier side, try ferns, primrose, Swedish ivy, and begonias. Another thing to keep in mind is wind: the higher up you are, the windier it will probably be. Pick hardier plants and put them in heavy containers that won’t get knocked over or blown away.
2. Grow your own salad garden
Lots of edible plants do well in containers. Lettuce, cherry tomatoes, beans and spinach are easy to grow – and a snap to pick when you want a meal with super-fresh ingredients. And you can’t go wrong with herbs, either. Rosemary, thyme, mint and basil will add pretty greenery, and (bonus) they smell delicious.
3. Attract pollinators
Want to bring bees, butterflies and even hummingbirds to your balcony? Plant these beauties for 3-season blooms that’ll attract some buzz: helenium, yarrow, coneflowers and black-eyed Susans are some of their favourites. More ideas here.
4. Use your railings
Even if you’ve only got a Juliette balcony, you can still grow a lovely little garden. Try planters that sit right on the railing.
5. Get some zen
Want to make your space a little more meditative? Grow bamboo and grasses, and add rocks and stone planters. You can even include a soothing water feature – all you need is an outlet to power the water pump.
6. Create a hanging garden
Pick up sturdy hooks that can be secured to the ceiling, DIY a couple of macramé plant hangers, and put that empty space to good use.
7. Upcycle furniture
DIY a vertical planter by upcycling an old dresser. Paint it, open the drawers to look like steps – then fill each one with soil and plants. The effect is very whimsical. You can also use individual drawers as planters and attach wooden legs to them.
8. Think vertically
Install chicken wire on a wall or divider and fix small, cute pots to it for a vertical garden. An over-the-door shoe organizer is another budget-friendly option: just use the individual compartments as planters.
For more ideas on creating a cozy outdoor retreat, read 10 tips for creating a balcony sanctuary.
Looking for a home with a great outdoor space? Find out how easy it is to find condos (for sale or for rent) with balconies in this post about using filters on condos.ca.