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Balcony garden

 By Maria Vivish

A balcony garden can be as big or as small as the mind of the gardener, the available space and of course, the budget. It can range from a few railing baskets to multiple pots and vertical gardens covering every inch of wall space. The first step would be to decide exactly what you want and how you envision your balcony space.

North, south, east or west — which way does your balcony face? The direction will determine whether it is on the sunny side or the shady side. The level of light is an important factor when selecting plants. The same applies when choosing your balcony furniture. 

If you prefer wooden furniture, for example, this is better suited to a south-facing balcony. For one very simple reason: It will dry quicker here than on a shady north-facing balcony. But the same heat in a south-facing balcony would make metal furniture uncomfortable to sit on.

South-facing balconies get to bask in the sun almost all day long. Flowering sun worshippers include oleanders and hibiscus, bougainvillea, lantana or zinnias. 

You can catch the first rays of the day on east-facing balconies,  From midday, the sun moves on and it gets darker and cooler on east-facing balconies, so plants that prefer semi-shady locations are best here. This includes impatiens and petunias; philodendrons and boxwood are also good choices. 

Urban Balcony Image Credit Alice Gordenker 

On west-facing balconies, you don't feel the sun on your face until early afternoon. As with east-facing balconies, plants that enjoy partial shade are the ideal choice.

The north-facing balcony is the south-facing balcony's counterpart. Here you will go more or less the whole day without seeing the sun. Ferns and grasses are ideal for a bit of greenery, as also ivy and begonias.

The watering requirements of your plants will also change depending on your geographic location as also on the direction of your balcony. If you own a South or West facing balcony or if your balcony is windy or if you live in tropics you will need to water more often.

You will need to make sure your plants get watered when you are away on vacation. Calling on your neighbor to help can be an option. If not, opting for an automatic watering system, like drip irrigation, for your pots and planters is a great idea.

Please do remember to take into consideration the load bearing capacity of the balcony when choosing the container and potting soil mix.

For most urban gardeners, the balcony garden space has become our little oasis, a haven of greenery and peace we can enjoy.