Barb Cannell loves her balcony which she has turned into a summer dream.
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www.localgardener.net
Steps to a perfect balcony garden
Gardening and living in the sky by Cathy Winters
ne of the negatives about living in an apartment or a condo has always been the sense that you are cut off from nature, living in the sky a long way from things of the earth.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. As long as you have a
balcony, you can create a personal space that will ease your frazzled mind, soothe away city stresses and act as balm for your soul. To begin, think about your personal style. Do you like
things cosy and cluttered or are you more the austere, mini- malist type? This will dictate the kind of furniture and plants you want to include. Then, look at your space. Some balconies are long and
narrow, making it hard to create conversation or eating spaces. In this case, keep furniture on the smaller side to avoid blocking traffic and alternate seating space, one seat looking over the balcony, the next one looking inward. In these narrow balconies consider making both ends of the
balcony planting space; you can add box-type planters (well lined with plastic to avoid dripping on your neighbour below). For eating space, look to a narrow sideboard with stools.
Collapsible individual tables can also come in handy as they can be easily stored at the end of the meal.
Don’t forget the floors Most people with balconies think about the furniture and
forget about the flooring. There is wooden outdoor decking made of interlocking
squares for the balcony. You could incorporate this look with a Japanese or Zen theme using river stone and wooden step- ping stones. Easy to install, rubber flooring products feel good on bare
feet and repel water. Today, there are also outdoor area rugs that can handle
rain water, but be sure to dry out the space under them after a rain to keep them mould free.
What to grow to block sun and wind Think about the light and sun exposure. If you get direct
afternoon sun, you will want some sort of shade. The ideas are endless: An umbrella with directional settings attached to the railing is an easy, clutter-free way to go. Lattices can be attached to railings.
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