Postpartum Psychosis: ‘It hit me completely out of the blue’
Postpartum Psychosis: ‘It hit me completely out of the blue’

Amanda Cassidy

The game of life: how to navigate failed expectations
The game of life: how to navigate failed expectations

Lia Hynes

Breaking Taboos: Shifting perspectives on fertility
Breaking Taboos: Shifting perspectives on fertility

Dominique McMullan

This tasteful seaside home in Co Waterford is on the market for €775,000
This tasteful seaside home in Co Waterford is on the market for €775,000

Sarah Finnan

‘Passages’: A messy (and undeniably sexy) look at modern relationships
‘Passages’: A messy (and undeniably sexy) look at modern relationships

Sarah Finnan

5 things we learned at last night’s Business Club event in Galway
5 things we learned at last night’s Business Club event in Galway

Sarah Gill

What to eat tonight: Sri Lankan devilled prawns, ideally paired with a Friday tipple
What to eat tonight: Sri Lankan devilled prawns, ideally paired with a Friday tipple

Meg Walker

Vintage lover Pearl Lowe shares her tips for finding your own second-hand treasures
Vintage lover Pearl Lowe shares her tips for finding your own second-hand treasures

Megan Burns

‘I didn’t expect the level of anger setting boundaries would cause’
‘I didn’t expect the level of anger setting boundaries would cause’

Amanda Cassidy

The tights edit: Patterned, fishnet and everything in between
The tights edit: Patterned, fishnet and everything in between

Sarah Finnan

Image / Editorial

Balcony Botany


By Sharon Miney
25th Mar 2015
Balcony Botany

Self-watering plant pot, €8, Ikea

See More Photos

As long as you have enough space for a windowbox, you too can be a green-fingered guru, and those with a bigger balcony will be in clover. Mark Grehan, of The Garden at Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, offers us a crash course in setting up a balcony garden for the uninitiated?

MGEmbed_01

When starting off, be sure to take into account considerations such as drainage. Where will access water run off? Another important thing to keep in mind is position – is it sunny or shady? Windy or sheltered? If windy, use heavy pots that won’t blow away. Also check that rainwater will reach pots, especially under overhanging roofs.

To get going in earnest, you’ll need: potting soil (generally clay-based), plants, and containers. You’ll also need a watering can or access to a hose, and a bit of muscle!

One of the major pitfalls to avoid is buying plants too small. Balconies can be windy, dry and sunny, so it’s a good idea to purchase plants that are semi-mature. Using he right soil is vital: John Innes clay-based compost with plenty of mulch and some grit will help keep in moisture and won’t dry out as quickly as peat-based compost.

Decide on plants you like and ones that are of interest all year round. If there is a wall, use climbers such as scented Jasminum officinale, which is evergreen, hardy to low temperatures and produces a beautifully scented white flower. Plants with texture and form such as succulents and bamboo tolerate conditions in pots.

For a mostly sheltered balcony, I suggest ferns such as Japanese maples, Helleborus niger, and Libertia grandiflora. A balcony that gets a lot of light will mean lots of sun, think plants such as succulents, sedum and lavender.

 

MGEmbed_02

The good news is that a balcony garden is far less labour-intensive than a regular one. Balcony plants really need just a general feeding and watering.

Vegetables are tougher as there’s a problem with wind drying out pots – tougher ones like onions, radishes, tomatoes and peas would be suitable. Mediterranean herbs tend to do well on balconies, as do bay leaf, parsley and rosemary – these are a good idea for an exposed spot which gets a good amount of light.

For a vibrant visual display, a top tip is not to overcrowd. Select plants you like and give them space – less is more. Create balance with different height of plants, and bring the interior out with the style of pots and containers you choose. For flowering plants, use colours that blend together and plant varieties that will have interest even in the depths of winter.

Ikea have taken stock of the momentum of the ?grow your own? trend and followed suit with fresh and sleek new range of plant holders, pots, storage and growing kits for the urban gardener. Shop their outdoor products here.

Pick up your plants from?The Garden and click through the gallery at the top of the page?for the perfect balcony accessories.

See next: cool things to do with common garden weeds.

Sharon Miney for @Image_Interiors