Have a balcony you’re looking to spruce up? Consider beautifying it with your own garden. Although there’s a lot to consider when starting a balcony garden, the whole process will be worth it.
Plants for Your Balcony Garden
To create a beautiful, full garden, try an evergreen backdrop. An evergreen palette will allow gardeners to have a year-round garden adorning their balconies. In addition, gardeners should consider planting ferns in shadier areas.
To add a pretty pop of color to the garden, layer the evergreen backdrop with flowering plants that are compatible with the USDA hardiness zone you’re located in.
Wondering what flowering plants could be added to your balcony garden? Check out a few suggestions below.
Potted Plants
Hydrangeas
These long-flowering shrubs are low-maintenance, making them a great plant for beginner gardeners. Additionally, these plants come in a variety of colors, from a deep ruby red to a crisp white, there are a number of options for gardeners to consider, allowing gardeners to add variety and personality to their gardens.
Hydrangeas will grow in the sun or partial shade, thrive in pots, and grow best in USDA zones 4 through 9.
Jasmine
With the delicious scent it radiates during the evening, Jasmine is a great plant to place in a balcony garden, especially if the space is used during this time.
Jasmine is a vine; this means that, when planting it in pots, the plants will need trellises or other supports to effectively grow. Also, gardeners should make sure containers are at least 18 inches in diameter to allow enough room for growth — most of the more common varieties grow up to 15 feet tall!
Depending on the variety of jasmine, the plants will grow best in USDA zones 6 through 10.
Plants for Hanging Baskets
Strawberries
Yes, strawberries! Planting this fruit in hanging baskets will add some more delight to your balcony garden. To keep the strawberries coming throughout the summer, Homes and Gardens recommends planting three hanging baskets, each with different varieties that will ripen at different times throughout the summer.
However, for those who have room for only one strawberry plant, the ‘Mara de Bois’ is the best choice.
Lobelia
These South African natives provide a remarkable bright blue pop to any garden. The plants will thrive in locations with partial shade or full sun and are grown as half-hardy annuals. This means they won’t tolerate frost; this allows gardeners to have the freedom to change up their gardens each year.
And there you have it, four amazing plants to help gardeners get their balcony garden started!
Looking to learn more about gardening? Look no further. Our blog posts a new gardening article every week. From starting your own compost at home to growing your own kitchen herb garden, we have information to help your gardening start.
