Prioritize trees suitable for light and area
For small apartments, balconies are not only places to welcome the wind but can also become mini gardens that help the living space be closer to nature. According to gardening experts, assessing the amount of light and balcony area is the first important step before planting trees.
Mr. Matthew Geldin - Head of Farmscape's farm division, USA - said that a south-facing balcony or one with 6-8 hours of sunshine a day will be suitable for growing vegetables and fruit trees in pots. Areas with less light should prioritize shade-tolerant plants to limit pests and help plants grow stably.
According to Mr. Jack Sutcliffe - co-founder of the Power Sheds brand, UK - tree growers need to consider both wind and weather factors when arranging balcony gardens. Locations with too much wind can cause plants to lose water quickly and be difficult to grow.
Experts recommend beginners to choose compact, easy-to-care for plants such as basil, cilantro, cherry tomatoes, small peppers or strawberries. These are all plants suitable for small pots and can grow well in limited space.
In addition, instead of planting too many types of plants at the same time, gardeners should prioritize a few plant varieties suitable for balcony conditions to facilitate care and increase success.
Utilize vertical space
According to experts, a small balcony does not mean a lack of planting area. Users can take advantage of walls, railings or shelves to expand green space vertically.
Mr. Matthew Geldin recommends using large pots if possible, because small pots usually dry out faster and make plants susceptible to stress in hot weather. Drought-tolerant plants such as lavender, saplings, or geraniums are also suitable for sunny balconies.
Meanwhile, Mr. Guy Barter - head gardener of the Royal Horticultural Society - RHS - believes that green balconies can help urban residents reduce the feeling of stuffiness in a dense concrete environment.
He recommends that plant growers should regularly water, supplement fertilizer periodically and check the load-bearing capacity of the balcony before placing too many pots of plants or furniture.
In addition to growing vegetables and flowers, many families also combine small tables and chairs, decorative lights or hanging ornamental plants to turn balconies into places to relax, read books and drink coffee every day.
