B57: “Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?”

8 Things I've Learnt About Balcony Gardening

​Now, if I had a Euro for every time I heard that nursery rhyme recited to me, I could have retired 10 years ago 😂.  But as it happens, one of my Covid-19 lockdown projects has been exactly that…getting my garden to grow.  Actually… my livingroom Balcony and bedroom Terrace to be more precise…seeing as I live in a 6th floor city centre apartment in the middle of Dublin.  While in lockdown, private outside space is more valuable than ever; we’ve all learnt and I've found that gardening is really good for the soul.

Now, I’ll start off by confessing that I’m no gardening expert. Indeed, for years my outdoor space has been known as “Death Row”, testament to the extreme climatic environment and my extreme lack of care 😂.  In my defence, I'd like to explain that both spaces face South/ South West with the Terrace also open to the East/ South East…..so both are exposed to cold winds whipping around the high gable end from the East while scorching sun from the South (when we’re lucky to get it in Ireland 🌞) and driving rain from the South-West ☔... makes it a rough ride for the toughest of plants.  Definitely no wimps need apply!  That hasn’t stopped me from trying my hand and experimenting with different plants and flowers each year.  It also doesn’t stop Charlie calling out “Dead Plants Walking” (referring to the Green Mile 1999 movie) as I wheel my plant victims/  choices to the check-out desk at the garden centre!

Location of Balcony & Terrace (Top Right)

​So in my blog this week, I cover what I’ve done this year and you can see how I got on.  Although I designed it, researched it  and sourced the plants and bits and bobs, I want to give a shout out to Charlie for the hard graft with the construction and installation of everything (e.g. grass, hedge, shed, storage seats/ boxes, painting, wall lights etc)…and to Eoin for the heavy lifting.  Enjoy!

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​How I went about making the most of my Balcony and Terrace space during lockdown….... with 8 things I’ve learnt to date!

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1. Aspect The first thing to work out is whether your balcony is sunny or shaded. If your balcony is facing south in Ireland then it will be sunny, allowing you to grow a wider range of flowers and vegetables. If your balcony is north or west facing, it will be shady, colder and more limited in what you can grow. The amount of sunlight is the most critical question.

• Does your balcony face south and receive DIRECT sun all day long? Many flowers and most vegetables—if kept well-watered—will love it there. 
• If your balcony faces north or is shaded by other buildings for most of the day, look to low-light plants such as coleus, ferns, impatiens, hostas, and begonias.
• Some greens like chard, spinach, or lettuce can grow with less than a half day of sun. Some herbs manage, too, which is great for culinary uses! 

My Balcony - Facing East (Before)

My Balcony - Facing East (Now)

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My Terrace - Facing East (Before)

My Terrace - Facing East (Now)

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2. Plants:  First and foremost, when growing on a balcony or roof terrace, you need to choose the right plants. Dreams of 10m-tall palm trees have to be set aside, but there are plenty of plants that will flourish in pots on a balcony. In general, I have found over the years that summer bedding plants, like begonias, petunias, osteospermum and busy Lizzies are all great container plants and will brighten up a balcony from late spring right through summer and into autumn.  And in general, plants that have the following qualities work well high up on my Balcony and Terrace:

• Drought-tolerant, sun-loving plants: Plants in pots on sunny balconies can really bake. The answer I’ve found is to choose drought-tolerant, sun-loving plants. Look to the Mediterranean for your inspiration. Lavender, rosemary and oregano will fill a sunny balcony with flowers and scent, while pelargoniums will add colour and interest.
• Wind-tolerant plants:  High winds aren’t just a problem for gardeners who live on the coast. Even inland there are plenty of gardens at higher altitude such as balconies which will regularly get a battering from prevailing winds.  It may sound obvious, but it’s crucial to use plants that flourish and enjoy growing in windy conditions. It’s also a good idea to create a windbreak if you can.  See Number 7. below where I talk about Shelter & Privacy which I got by installing an artificial hedge trellis facing the prevailing winds. This has the benefit of reducing wind speed, and so protecting other plants on the Balcony and Terrace.

• Fragrance: If you’re going to be spending any time at all enjoying your outdoor space, there’s nothing better than choosing at least a couple of plants that have a fragrance. It does your heart good to get the waft of a lovely scent as you sit enjoying a cup of coffee or glass of wine.
• Pollinators: It’s always a good idea to help our friends, the honey bees.  Now, I know what you’re thinking, the last thing you want when enjoying your outdoor space is to be chased indoors by a bee…but take it from someone who grew up obsessed with avoiding all manner of flying insects …..bees generally leave you alone as they’re beavering away collecting nectar.  Wasps now are another kettle of fish!

• Ground cover plants: I also wanted some ground cover plants for under the artificial tree and for under any larger plants like the Marguerite Daisy standard. If you're like me, you hate having to pull weeds....and ground cover plants keep the unwanted nuisances to a minimum.
• and finally some dramatic Colourful flowers with lots of foliage and big coloured petals.  Anyone who knows me know how much I love colour.  I followed the prevailing wisdom in filling the Terrace troughs and went for Thrillers (Passionflowers, Osteospermums), Fillers (Hosta. Crocosmia, Geraniums) and Spillers (Trailing Petunias, Stipas) in a mix of colours.

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My Balcony - Facing West (Before)

My Balcony - Facing West (Now)

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My Terrace - Facing West (Before)

My Terrace - Facing West (Now)

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​So I'm looking for quite a lot out of a small space but this is what I currently have growing:

Balcony:
Troughs

• Petunia (Mixed) (12) (to be replaced with winter flowering Pansies in Autumn/Winter) - Lidl,

Pots and Planters

• Dahlia Thomas A. Edison (purple) (1) – Ratoath Garden Centre,
• Lavandula Augustifolia (English Lavender) - Lidl,
• Impatiens hawkeri (New Guinea Busy Lizzy) (1) – Ratoath Garden Centre,
• Cyclamen (1) – Johnstown Garden Centre (last year),
• Cala Lillies (2) – Johnstown Garden (last year),
• Narcissi (to bloom next spring) – several years old (6),
• Helleborus Niger (Christmas Rose) (to bloom next winter)(1) – Johnstown Garden Centre last year.

Terrace:
Troughs

• Passiflora (Passion flowers) (2) – Lidl.  For vertical growth these are wonderful climbers.  Unusual in that they only flower for 24 hours….but luckily mine have produced flowers every day so far,
• Stipa tenuifolia (Pony tails) (2) - Ratoath Garden Centre.  This has wispy green leaves and silver-green flowers that billow gently in the breeze. It grows well in sunny sites.  I moved one to a separate pot as it was taking over the trough!,
• Crocosmia/ montbretia (Lucifer) - Ratoath Garden Centre,  This hasn't flowered yet.

• Geranium (red, white & pink) 3 – Woodies – drought-resistant and bees also love them,
• Petunia (Mixed) (6) – Woodies – available in lots of colours and produces lots of flowers as long as you keep it watered and dead-headed.
• Hosta Fire and Ice (plantain lily) (1) - Ratoath Garden Centre – this is a new one I’m trying but hostas have always worked well on the Terrace as it’s in half shade from 4pm onwards,
• Osteospermum (1) - Woodies. Unfortunately this is a bit smothered by the Petunias but has still managed to flower.

In retrospect I could probably have done with fewer Petunias as they sort of took over the troughs and swamped the poor Hosta, Osteospermum and Geraniums but I’ll know better next year!
 
Stand-alone Pots

• Climbing Jasmine (1) – Lidl – has sprouted up the drainpipe but hasn’t flowered yet!,
• Argyranthemum Frutescens Standard (Marguerite Daisy Standard) – Lidl.  This is a first for me and is doing well so far this summer.  It doesn’t seem to like a lot of water but needs dead-heading to keep blooming,
• Sedum (Spot On Deep Rose) (2) and Campanula Portenschlagians (Dalmatian bellflowers) (2)- Ratoath Garden Centre. These give good ground cover under my electric blossom tree as well as under the Marguerite Daisy Standard.  I’ve surrounded them with white stones which keeps down weeds and also is a good contrast,
• Lavendula (Lavender) (1) – Woodies.  This is great for the scent and bees love it,
• Hebe (1) - Woodies last year,
• Cordyline ‘Firecracker’ foliage (1) – Woodies. With narrow bronze-purple leaves and a particularly spiky habit, this is a striking cordyline. Grow it in moist, well-drained soil in full sun or part shade.
• Phormium Tricolor (1) – Ratoath Garden Centre.  This is another foliage plant that I love as it adds colour and texture all the year through and moves well on a windy terrace.
• Dahlia (1) - Woodies.  This has thrived so far and loves water…but doesn’t like to be “up to its knees” in it either.  

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My Balcony - Facing South (Before)

My Balcony - Facing South (Now)

Outlook from Livingroom (Now)

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My Terrace - Facing South (Before)

My Terrace - Facing South (Now)

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So here are some close ups of the plants and flowers at the minute:

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​3. Containers Choose a pot that is lightweight but frost hardy. I wanted ones light enough to move around even when full with my reduced strength post-stroke …but not too light that they will blow over in the wind; I’m lucky that I don’t get a lot of frost being only 2 miles upriver from the Irish Sea. There are now a huge range of extremely durable plastic containers available in many colours. Plastic might not seem at the outset to be Eco-friendly but if you buy good quality ones made from re-cycled material they will last you years saving resources over time. 

Troughs are generally the best options are they are long & narrow so will take up less space but offer the most growing space. If you wish to grow a large plant such as bamboo, acers or small trees you will require pots that are at least 80 Litres.

CLICK ORANGE LINKS BELOW TO GET FURTHER INFORMATION
​For my Balcony:

• I invested in 4 x troughs (Elho Corsica Easy Balcony 60) and 3 x tall pots (Elho Loft Urban Square) with built-in reservoirs in Vintage Blue from Amazon and Interissmo.  The troughs fix easily to the inside of my balcony railings as we are not allowed place pots on the outside edges of balconies for fear of clobbering a poor misfortunate if they fall off.  They are also easy for me to handle post-stroke as I don’t have to bend down as much when watering and deadheading.  The colour of my troughs and pots match my interior décor in the Livingroom and I’m a fan of Elho as 80% of the materials that they currently use are made with recycled plastic. 
• The 2 x cement planters were there when I moved in and are super heavy so are great in a storm.
• I used to have hanging baskets which I loved, first two then one….but after my stroke I found them difficult to reach and keep watered and the one on the left (as you look out from inside) never did well as it was always caught by the wind.  As our complex doesn’t allow pergolas or tall constructions, last year I replaced the baskets with Artificial Buxballs from Primrose instead of the hanging baskets… which have included solar lights so they light up at night.  They came through all storms over the last year, are still working and have retained their leaf colour….so they’ve worked out well…even if I admit to still missing the hanging baskets.

For my Terrace:

• I went with two large grey plastic Troughs and Trellis that I bought online from Oxendales. They came with trellis that was intended to be fixed to the troughs but Charlie fixed it to the gable wall for me.  So this year I’ve attempted a bit of vertical gardening.  So far the Passion Flowers are thriving and have even given me flowers within a few weeks of planting.  
• I’ve used some green trellis wire on the drainpipe for the jasmine climber.  This trellis was here 16 years ago also. The jasmine has shot up the drainpipe but no blossom so far.
• The 2 x large grey metal pots in the front corners were there originally when I moved in almost 16 years ago so I know they’re tried and tested. 
• The 2 x terracotta-coloured Ribbed Pots are from Oxendales this year – orange is my favourite colour; being the colour of sunshine….and I think they will look good even on a grey winter’s day.  They also contrast well with the blue lavender.
• The 2 x royal blue pots are years old…I think I got them at a garden centre.  Again, they are tried and tested.
• The 2 x Anthracite Pots are also Elho from Woodies this year.  The neutral colour contrasts well with green and bronze leaves.

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The Roll Of Artificial Grass Arrives for the Balcony....

4. Surface Cover: Usually with a balcony or rooftop you have to be careful that it can take the added weight of pots full of soil.  My Balcony and Terrace are not overhanging and have concrete slab floors so this wasn’t a huge concern for me.  When I moved in both already had concrete paving slabs.  Whilst they worked well, I decided to add a bit of colour by adding artificial grass. 

For my Balcony: I wanted a grass that looked realistic and after doing some research and seeing samples decided to go with 40 mm Boyne Grass from artificialgrass.ie.  Charlie and Eoin laid it on the Balcony last summer (2020) for me on a scorching hot day (thanks again, lads).  We said we would see how it would fare as I was a bit concerned about drainage. The balcony is roughly 4 feet by 17 feet.  They used artificial grass glue to stick it to the existing concrete paving slabs the edges, once I had given it a good sweep.  As the original slabs were well laid and very even there was no need for underlay.   I’m happy to say that it worked really well and came through last winter with no problems. 

Eoin & Charlie having just fitted the grass on the Balcony in June 2020

For my Terrace: They therefore did the same for me in 2021 on the Terrace which is roughly 10 feet by 9 feet using the same grass.  It came in a huge 4 metre roll as I didn’t want any joining (i.e. trip hazard).  The janitor here, Brendan, enlisted the help of a friendly contractor (who was onsite working on another apartment) to cut it to size for me down in the carpark and then bring it up folded in the elevator.  Charlie and Eoin then trimmed it and rolled it into place, again trimming it and sticking it around the edges to the existing slabs with no underlay, and we put ornamental stones around the edges.  I’m delighted with it….it’s soft under foot, it’s a lovely realistic colour and looks quite lush. 

 ​It’s also lovely to look out on a bit of colour and texture instead of the grey concrete slabs. If there is one minor downside it is that I gather a lot of static if walking back and forth across it when it’s very dry; resulting in mini shocks when opening my sliding doors/bug screens….but it’s a small price to pay 😎.

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Balcony at Night

5. Atmosphere & Practical Use:
CLICK ORANGE LINKS BELOW TO GET FURTHER INFORMATION ON EACH ITEM
When you’re living in an apartment being able to use available outdoor space as a multi-purpose space at different times of the day is super-important.  I therefore wanted to balance the practical with the atmospheric.  So to get the practical stuff out of the way first, I needed:

• Storage, Seating & Tables:
  • For the Balcony: I chose the grey Keter Glenwood Storage Box from VidaXl.  I never had enough storage and in the before photo you can see paint cans etc under the bench; now it all fits in the box.  I have a Table, 2 x Chairs and a Bench (Plantagen Garden Centre 15 years ago) with navy & white striped outdoor cushions from Woodies.
  • For the Terrace:  This year I bought
    • the Keter Hudson Storage Bench (which doubles as seating),
    • an inflatable Outdoor Pouffe – Buyitdirect.ie (which adds colour and doubles as a table to rest plates etc.)
    • the Outsunny Fir Wood Shed - Aosom.ie.  Here I store my zero gravity Recliner Chair with Canopy (that I bought on Amazon years ago) when not being used.  I also store gardening bits and bobs here.
    • a Tray Table from Ikea.  This allows me carry my breakfast from the kitchen to the outdoors. This came in grey but Charlie painted it orange for me.
• Power:  For both the Balcony and Terrace: I bought a Masterplug Waterproof Kit Outdoor Power (2) – (Amazon.co.uk) that I use with TCP Smart Plugs (currently 2 per box).  The Balcony has an outdoor double socket for many years so I just had to get 2 x Masterplug extensions plugged in here; with one running to the Terrace around the corner and one serving the Balcony.  The Terrace currently has the electric blossom tree and fountain operated by Amazon Alexa and I plan for the Balcony to have my Christmas Lights and Rudolph the Reindeer operated by Amazon Alexa this holiday season 😂.
• And for the Atmosphere and Lights, I got the following:
  • Waterfeature:
    • For the Balcony: None needed as it overlooks the Apartment Complex waterfall!
    • For the Terrace: The Kelkay Illusion Falls Easy Fountain - Stakelums home & hardware.  Eoin very kindly set this up for me and I'm delighted with it as it  lights up at night.
  • Lights:
    • For the Balcony: 2 x Solar Bux Balls (as before) and 2 x Wall Lights (installed in 2018).
    • For the Terrace: LED Electric Cherry Blossom Tree 6 FT Pre-lit 300 lights (Amazon) and Phillips Python LED Outdoor Wall Light (1) (Lights.ie). Two Battery-Operated Dorset Lanterns - Oxendales.
• Wall Art:
  • For the Balcony: La Hacienda 3D Leaf Posy Steel Wall Art – Littlewoods.ie
  • For the Terrace: Elephant Side Table - Gift from Martin.
• Wall Paint - Dulux Magnolia - Woodies

Terrace complete with fountain, LCD tree, elephant side table, storage bench, orange tray table, inflatable pouffe, and lanterns.

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6. Herbs & Vegetables: Although I don’t grow herbs, salad leaves or vegetables on my own Balcony and Terrace (partly because I’m not a big veggie eater and also because I prefer to see flowers), I know that several of my neighbours do indeed grow veggies and herbs on their balconies.   Herbs such as parsley, rosemary, mint, thyme and chives grow well in shade and are perfect in pots.  Lettuce, radish and beetroot can be grown and harvested all year round if grown under cover in winter.  For sunny spots, cherry tomatoes can be grown from hanging baskets.  The good news is that you can grow most vegetables on a balcony.
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The ones to avoid, according to my neighbours, are those that just take up too much space. For that reason it is best to avoid Courgettes and Potatoes (unless you are happy to grow a small quantity in grow bags).  Cabbage, Brussels sprouts and Broccoli are also not ideal for balconies. That leaves pretty much everything else. If you wish to grow root crops like carrots and parsnips, ensure your beds or containers are at least 50cm in height. If you wish to grow cucumbers, chilies or tomatoes ensure to give them the sunniest spot and to provide support and somewhere to climb by late summer.

The Terrace Lit Up At Night

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7. Shelter & Privacy:  As I alluded to earlier, gardening 6 floors up means gardening in extreme conditions. The higher up you are, the more wind you are likely to have, and hot drying winds can quickly parch your plants. Last year I decided to go for Artificial Hedging Trellis from Outdoor Living which came already fixed to a bamboo trellis panels.  Charlie very kindly installed it for me by stretching it out to fit the space and cable-tied it to the existing railings - leaving space on top on the Balcony for me to wrap my Christmas Lights.  It has worked out really well.  It came through the winter rain and snow unscathed on both the Balcony and the Terrace. 
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This hedging has been a revelation as it works double-duty in blocking prevailing winds while also adding a touch of privacy. I can still peak through the hedge to have a gawk at the neighbours while sitting down and if I want to see the Dublin Mountains or surrounding inner dock water all I have to do is stand up. 

The hedging has also reduced the glare of the sun indoors as you can see in the photos.  My sliding doors are by Centor and I got them installed by Nordan in 2018.  They come with sliding bug screens built into the frame on one side and sliding vertical blinds/blackout screens on the other side.  When pulled over even partially the latter helps shield from the sun ….whilst the bug screen means I never have to have a fly swatter.  My late dad, Mickey, would have been “done out of a job”!! 😂

I’m lucky in that there is very little traffic noise to be heard in my complex.  Connolly Station blocks any noise from the main thoroughfare on Amiens Street and a row of office buildings and the CHQ building separates us from the North Quays of the River Liffey.  I can see and hear the ding-ding of the Luas (electric tram) but I quite like that and it reminds me of the cable car bells in San Francisco; another of my favourite cities.

I have placed a 6ft outdoor artificial blossom tree in one of the grey metal pots on the edge of the Terrace. I bought it online on Amazon.  It is an extremely windy spot and I have yet to find a living thing that can survive there.  The artificial blossom tree is slender enough to allow wind blow through and flexible enough to bend without breaking.  When lit at night it is also tall enough to give extra privacy to my bedroom.  I have it plugged into a smart plug in an outdoor extension box and can control it with Amazon Alexa.

LCD Cherry Blossom Tree Lit At Night on the Terrace

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 8. Watering & Maintenance: Watering is key to balcony garden success I believe.  Since wind is drying, you really have to stay on top of watering. Maintenance is also important in any small garden. When plants are in containers instead of the earth, they need to be watered more often. Fertilising once a week (I use Goulding Plant Food Concentrate and Miracle Gro), deadheading every day, and pinching back leggy plants help to  keep them in bounds and encourage bushiness.
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For my Balcony, as I said under Containers above, I have invested in troughs (Elho Corsica Easy Balcony 60) and tall pots (Elho Loft Urban Square) with built-in reservoirs in Vintage Blue.  This has made a big difference I have found as it’s not a disaster if I miss a day of watering …like in previous years.

For my Terrace, I’m currently watering manually with my trusty green watering can – mostly in the early morning (if I’m out of bed) or in the relative cool of the evening.  It’s a bit of exercise for me and I find it therapeutic!  For next year though I’m considering investing in an outdoor tap and perhaps an automated irrigation system that I can control remotely with Amazon Alexa if and when I return to travelling.  I’m conscious that I have many neighbours living under me so it needs to be fail safe!

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​So there you have it.  I hope you have found this useful.  Any tips you have to pass on to me will also be gratefully received.  Hopefully, I can keep everything looking like the Garden of Eden instead of Death Valley.  Either way, I’m enjoying it.  And not a “cockle shell” or “silver bell” in sight.  I might even morph from “Mary, Mary, quite contrary” to being one of the “pretty maids all in a row” seeing as I'm feeling so zen!!  Now where's my watering can???? 😎

Bucket List Items Ticked Off in the above Blog 57
​Number 23 - Creative - Design/ Redecorate a Garden
Number 54 - Skills - Grow & Care for Plants
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​Other Blog Posts
Blog 11 - Sydney, Australia
Blog 12 - Hong Kong, China
Blog 17 - Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai, China
Blog 19 - California, USA
Blog 27 - Scotland
Blog 28 - Barbados
Blog 29 - Canada
Blog 30 - Alaska
Blog 31 - Everglades, Florida

Do you like gardening?  Tell me about your experience in the comments section below.
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