A green balcony in 5 steps

In the city, most people do not have a (large) garden. However, this does not mean that you have to go to the nearest park to enjoy some greenery. Bring the outdoors into your home and turn your balcony into a green haven of peace. A few tropical plants and nice pots will go a long way. Follow our 5 steps to create your own green balcony that you can enjoy for as long as possible.

1. Orientation of your balcony

• North:

If your balcony faces north, your plants will spend most of the day in the shade. So it is best to choose shade plants such as ferns, hostas, begonias or tobacco plants.

• East:

With a balcony facing east, the first rays of sunlight in the morning are what you need. Ideal for turning it into a cosy breakfast corner! Marguerites, lady's mantle, African lilies and colourful pansies do well on an eastern balcony

• South:

Does your balcony face south? Then you are in luck and can enjoy the sun for most of the day. However, you should make sure that your plants get enough water, as they can dry out more quickly in the full sun. Tropical and Mediterranean plants such as olive trees or cacti are ideal for balconies in full sun. Geraniums, lavenders and ice flowers can also take a bit of heat. A lemon or orange tree on your balcony not only looks nice and summery, it also adds a fresh touch to your cocktail.

• West:

A west-facing balcony gets the sun in the afternoon and evening. This lends itself perfectly to turning it into a lounge area with a combination of sun and shade plants. Ornamental grasses, nasturtiums, lobelia and busy lilies can withstand strong west winds and rain.

2. Available space

Do you have a small balcony? No problem, you can also opt for a 'vertical garden'. Hang some colourful pots on the wall, or an iron rack to which you can attach small pots with herbs or plants. There are also real plant bags where you can put a plant in each compartment. These are made of felt so they look very natural too. You can even hang a planter from your balcony railing. This not only saves space but also ensures that your balcony is less visible and your neighbours can enjoy the greenery too!

3. Pots & decorations

The choice of pots depends on the look you want to give your terrace. Are you more of a sleek design? Then pots with a concrete look do well. Choose terracotta pots for a southern look. Or bring Ibiza to your balcony with some rattan baskets or macramé hanging pots. Vegetable gardeners can opt for a square metre garden in which they can grow herbs and vegetables to their heart's content. The potted tomato is one of our favourites, and ideal to keep on a balcony. It only grows to 30cm and requires no thinning. It bears many small, round tomatoes with a sweet taste. Make sure you give it enough water.

Our favourite? The pots of Ecopots! These ones do not only look beautiful but are also super durable!

4. Quality potting soil

Using good potting soil is very important, because the soil in the pots must remain airy. Good quality potting soil already contains nutrients and is permeable to water, but it does retain water, in contrast to the cheap promo '1+1 free potting soil'. Make sure there is a hole in the bottom of your pots so the water can drain off. You can put them on a tray so that the excess water does not run onto your terrace.

5. Maintenance

After you have decorated your terrace, it is of course important to take good care of the plants so that you can enjoy them for a long time. In summer, give the plants facing south enough water so that the flowers do not wilt. You can also give them some extra nutrients in the form of fertiliser. There are, for instance, special fertilisers for olive trees, citrus trees, lavender, roses and geraniums. In the winter, pay more attention if freezing temperatures are predicted so that your plants are not damaged. Would you like to enjoy a green balcony in winter too? Then we recommend the rhododendron and the shield fern.

Do you want the full experience of a garden? Then you can even have a piece of artificial grass laid on your balcony. Nice with those feet on the grass! Artificial grass also comes in different qualities and price ranges, so feel free to give us a call if you have any questions!

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