Victoria Advocate - Create your own garden of

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Create your own garden of

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By KAREN PYE - Victoria County Master Gardener Edited by Charla Borchers Leon

May 08, 2008 - 12:00 a.m.

So, you live in an apartment, a condo, or a town home, and think you can’t indulge in your favorite hobby, gardening. Well, have I got great news for you. You can create a soothing outdoor retreat by selecting just the right containers and plants. With a little planning your balcony can actually seem to increase the interior space of your dwelling.

Getting excited about this? OK, but first there are a few things to consider.

Think safety

Find out what limitations you must follow from building management. Can you attach anything to the building or railings? What is the maximum weight the balcony can handle? Be sure to use lightweight growing media and lightweight planters to reduce the overall weight of each plant. How will you water your plants? Is there available water supply? You don’t want to have to lug heavy pails of water across your carpet. What about drainage? Ideally there should be a sloped floor with a drain and perhaps open-weave rubber mats to protect the floor surface. Otherwise excess water may drip on your neighbor below. Plant saucers can help, but remember to empty them after watering so the plants don’t sit in water.

Think small

Once you have all your answers, you’re ready to get started. As with all gardening, it is wise to first do some planning and designing. Start with a diagram that is to scale, including all the features of your balcony: windows, doors, railings and walls. This will give you a sense of how much room you have for plants, containers and furniture. Be sure to leave plenty of room to move around and enjoy the space. You don’t want plants that will grow too big too quickly. Think about the aroma the plants put out. The breeze will likely fill your home with garden smells, so make sure scents are light and pleasant. Because of the limited space, you will not want to be working on your garden all the time. It can be a hassle to move the plants around continuously. Choose to plant perennials in decorative containers. They last longer, so you will have to replace plants less often.

Think location

Does your balcony get lots of sun, only morning sun, the hot afternoon sun, or lots of shade? Which direction does the balcony face? Does it get constant winds? Knowing all this will determine what plants to select. Determine the “feel” you want to create in your garden; a secluded shady nook, an open tropical sun spot, or simply a very colorful, restful retreat. Consider the view from inside your home when placing plants outside. Opt for a design that will incorporate both vertical and horizontal lines, tall plants in the background, smaller plants in the front. Trailing plants along railings can give the illusion of width to the balcony.

Think furnishings

It is nice to be able to sit in your garden and enjoy it. If space is at a minimum, consider using lightweight furniture that you can bring out only when you want to use it. If your balcony is close to your neighbors, you may want to add a privacy screen, (lattice is relatively inexpensive and very effective) or rely on plants to enclose your space. Decorative planters can dress up a small space. There are so many styles to choose from. Here’s a tip on using large containers. You don’t have to fill the entire container with potting soil. Add about 3 inches to 4 inches of light weight Styrofoam-type peanuts to the bottom of the container, place a couple of sheets of newspaper over the peanuts, then add the potting soil. It takes a lot less soil, and makes the container lighter and easier to move. Consider adding the soothing sound of running water by placing a portable fountain in your balcony garden. All you need is a nearby source of electricity for the pump. Again, there are many sizes and shapes available so finding right fountain should be a snap.

Think plants

Now you’re ready to look for plants and containers. Since you are working with limited space, choose plants based on basic, efficient design schemes. Visit local nurseries for suggestions on plants, and let them know the plants are for your balcony.

Here are some ideas: For that shady balcony, consider Mona lavender, Persian shield, foxtail fern, impatiens, caladiums, or any of the dracaena family to add height and texture. For the full sun balcony there is always the ever-popular, ever-beautiful bougainvillea. Geraniums, ixora, asparagus ferns and variegated vincas add color. Plant a duranta in a big pot with a trellis for a spectacular backdrop. The hibiscus comes in an array of colors and makes a nice bush or tree, as does the firebush.

Plants that do well with only morning sun can include shade plants as well as red sister, cala lily, crotons and coleus. The Xanadu philodendron is low-growing and provides a nice tropical or oriental touch.

If the balcony gets lots of wind, ornamental grasses are graceful, colorful and make a good windbreak, thus protecting the other plants. The firecracker plant is both graceful and colorful. Gulf Muhly, Mexican feathergrass and dwarf fountain grass are colorful and mix wonderfully with plants.

Once you have all your plants and furniture in place, add a few candles in strategic places, hang a wind chime or two – and voila! You have your very own garden of Eden. Enjoy. Your work is basically finished.

The Gardeners’ Dirt is written by members of the Victoria County Master Gardener Association, an educational outreach of Texas Cooperative Extension-Victoria County. Mail your questions in care of the Advocate, P.O. Box 1518, Victoria, Texas 77901; or vcmga@vicad.com, or comment on this column at www.VictoriaAdvocate.com.

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