Balcony gardening is an excellent idea if you live in an apartment building and want to grow your own vegetables, herbs, or flowers.
Even if you have a small balcony, it’s possible to turn it into a mini garden by adding some plants and arranging them in the most efficient way possible.
You can grow greens like lettuce, spinach, arugula, and basil or flowering plants like lavender and rosemary to impress your friends, family, and neighbours with your green thumb!
Here are 12 ways to make the most of your small balcony garden ideas for an apartment.
1) Choose Your Balcony Wisely
When picking out your apartment balcony garden, you want to make sure it gets enough sunlight throughout the day. After all, plants need sunlight to grow! You’ll also want to think about how much space you have to work with and what kind of plants you want to grow. Once you have a good idea of what you’re looking for, you can start planning your garden!
Here are some small balcony garden ideas for an apartment:
- Start small: If you don’t have a lot of room on your balcony, starting small is a great way to go. Choose one plant or one type of plant (like succulents) that will take up minimal space and add more as time goes on.
- Plan ahead: Draw up plans for what kinds of things you would like in your garden before you get started planting anything so that nothing overlaps or grows into another area too quickly.
- Vegetables: One thing many people overlook when they start gardening is growing vegetables! Veggies such as tomatoes, peppers, beans, cucumbers and lettuce are easy to grow and usually require less care than other types of plants.
Tomatoes are especially easy to grow in apartment balcony gardens because they require very little sunlight. A pot full of tomatoes can be the perfect addition to any small garden ideas for your apartment! Start off by placing some stakes along the inside edge of your pot, spacing them around 6 inches apart.
Fill the bottom of the pot with gravel to allow water drainage then place tomato starter cells around each stake. Plant seeds according to package instructions and voila–you’ve got yourself a little tomato garden!
Alternatively, if you have larger pots available, fill them about halfway with soil then insert stakes about 6 inches apart along the inside edge of each container.
2) Go Vertical With Hanging Pots
One way to maximize space in a small balcony garden is to go vertical with hanging pots. This will give you more room to grow plants and flowers, without taking up valuable floor space. Plus, it adds a touch of charm and whimsy to your garden.
Here are a few tips for hanging pots –
- Hang them near the wall, so they don’t take up much space on the railing.
- Use hooks or eye screws that can easily be screwed into the railing for hanging.
- String decorative twine or fishing line from hook to hook to create an interesting display that is both secure and aesthetically pleasing.
- Hang containers so they’re at least six inches away from each other, allowing plenty of air circulation for good plant health.
- Choose sturdy pots made of glazed ceramic, terra cotta, plastic or metal for outdoor use.
Selecting flowering vines like ivy or jasmine is also a great option if you want to keep the look light and free-flowing. They add colour while keeping the planter weightless. They’ll need regular watering but won’t require any fertilizing as long as you water them regularly. One of the best small space balcony garden ideas for some reasons.
- Succulents and cacti make another good choice, because they only need watering every couple weeks (or less). Plus, succulents and cacti come in tons of different shapes, sizes and colours!
You can experiment with different arrangements until you find one that works best for your apartment.
3) Avoid Invasive Plants
Many apartment balcony garden ideas are actually home to invasive plants. These plants can take over your garden, crowding out the other plants you’ve worked so hard to grow. To avoid this, do your research and choose non-invasive plants for your garden. Some common options include geraniums, ivies, petunias, chrysanthemums, and daisies.
You may also want to plant vegetables or herbs like cucumbers or basil. If you’re concerned about small space balcony garden ideas, think about what grows well in shady conditions such as ferns, hostas, and horsetail grass. When planting flowers close together, keep in mind that they need room to grow up and will eventually overtake one another if not given enough space.
Finally, don’t forget to water your garden regularly! Be sure to do a quick visual inspection of your plants each day. And try not to overplant your space—too many different types of flowers, vines, and foliage can make it difficult for any single type of plant to thrive.
One way to help with this is by putting certain plants on opposite sides of the balcony. That way, at least one side will get plenty of sun while the other side stays shaded. The best time to plan a small balcony garden is during winter when there’s no danger of frost destroying all your hard work.
In addition to apartment balcony garden ideas, wait until the ground has warmed up from winter before digging into the soil. Spring and summer are ideal seasons for planting flowers because this allows them to flourish and bloom before autumn’s chill sets in.
4) Grow Edibles
Growing your own food is a great way to save money and get fresh, healthy produce. When it comes to gardening ideas for small space balcony, herbs are especially easy to grow in small spaces, and can be used to add flavour to your meals. If you don’t have much sun, consider growing leafy greens or other shade-tolerant plants.
Container gardening is also a great option for small balconies. Consider using old pots as planters (clean them thoroughly first) or recycled plastic bottles with the bottoms cut off. Fill the containers with soil and then plant your desired flowers, herbs, or vegetables! Be sure to give them enough water and sunlight.
Experiment with different combinations of plants – it’s fun to see what grows best together! You might find that some plants act as natural pest repellents for others. For example, catnip repels mosquitoes. Basil repels flies and mosquitoes.
Nasturtiums deter whiteflies from attacking other plants in the area by masking their scent. Planting lemon balm near cucumbers will help keep cucumber beetles away while improving pollination rates at the same time!
For an even bigger effect with balcony garden ideas for small spaces, try planting flowers around your balcony to attract beneficial insects. Most importantly, remember to always check if the plants you want require any special care requirements before adding them to your balcony garden space. Some may need extra water or protection from certain pests.
It’s not uncommon for new gardens to suffer from pests like aphids, so invest in an organic insecticide to keep these pesky bugs at bay!
5) Grow Flowers
Flowers add color and life to any space, no matter how small. If you have a sunny spot in your balcony, consider growing some flowers in pots or boxes. Zinnias, impatiens, and petunias are all good choices for container gardens.
Just make sure to water them regularly and give them plenty of sunlight. You can also grow vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, and herbs. You can also try planting vine-like plants like morning glorys or wisteria that will take up little space but produce lots of colorful blooms!
In addition to your small flat balcony garden ideas, there must be several other types of vines in your apartment balcony small balcony garden ideas, that could be great options if you’re looking for something with a more vertical look. Hanging plants are perfect if you have the height available on your balcony; they create a cool jungle effect while letting other areas dry out so they don’t rot.
Hanging baskets can be mounted on the railing to display their beautiful colors as well as to provide another place for flowering vines. If you have room to spare, adding a few miniature succulents into hanging containers is a nice way to include greenery in your home.
Keep in mind that succulents need very little water and care which makes them perfect for those who might not always remember when it’s time to water their plantings.
And if you don’t have enough room for hanging baskets, there are still ways to incorporate greenery into your space without breaking the bank.
6) Add a Water Feature
A water feature is a great way to add some life to your small balcony garden ideas for the apartment. Not only will it look great, but the sound of running water will also help to drown out any noise from your neighbours or the street below. Plus, it’s a great way to keep your plants hydrated.
7) Create Separate Areas for Privacy and Outdoor Dining
If you have a small balcony, you can still create separate areas for privacy and outdoor dining. Add some potted plants to create a natural barrier between your seating area and the rest of the world. Then, use some simple furniture to create an inviting space for dining and entertaining. With a little creativity, your small balcony can be both private and functional!
8) Give Yourself an Escape from Your Neighbours
A small balcony garden can be a great way to get some privacy from your neighbours. You can use plants to create a natural barrier between you and them, and adding some privacy screens or curtains can also help with your small balcony garden ideas.
Plus, a balcony garden can give you a place to relax and escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. A hanging chair is perfect for relaxing in the sunshine on a nice day. And if there’s not enough space for outdoor furniture, benches and potted plants are easy ways to add seating space.
9) Decorate With Mosaic Tiles
Decorating your apartment balcony garden with mosaic tiles is a great way to add colour and personality to your space. Plus, it’s a relatively inexpensive way to change the look of your balcony.
Here are two tips for adding mosaic tiles to your small balcony garden ideas. Consider using bright colors or dark colors to complement the rest of your outdoor space.
- Pick tiles that have a matte finish so they will blend in well with the other surfaces on your balcony.
- Choose smaller pieces that are more uniform in size if you want an intricate design like mosaics; larger pieces work better for larger spaces like walls.
10) Don’t Forget About Your Furry Friends
Creating a garden on your balcony doesn’t mean you have to forget about your furry friends. You can create a garden that is both pet-friendly and stylish. Here are some tips for designing a small, balcony pet-friendly garden:
- Plant ground cover plants such as thyme, lavender, or catmint to keep the space from getting muddy;
- Use rock mulch instead of soil to prevent grass from spreading onto the floor;
- Create an herb garden with pots for herbs like basil, oregano, parsley, chives and thyme;
- Add artificial turf for dogs to run around on.
11) Something Stylish
Your apartment balcony garden ideas doesn’t have to mean boring. In fact, there are plenty of ways to style up your space and make it your own. From colorful flowers to unique furniture, there are endless possibilities.
Here are some (sub) small balcony garden ideas to get you started:
- Add some color with flowers. Whether you go for a few potted plants or hanging baskets, adding some greenery is an easy way to spruce up your balcony. Check out this blog post on the easiest houseplants to grow indoors to find the perfect fit for your home.
- Give yourself some extra storage by installing a shelving unit next to the railing.
- Play around with light colors and textures like glass bottles, marble tables, and natural stone wall finishes.
- If you’re feeling especially daring, try creating your own landscape design by filling planters with sand and planting succulents in them! 5. Don’t forget about lighting too! You can install solar lights or use candles and lanterns to create your desired ambiance.
- Throw some chairs around the table to add seating space so that you can enjoy dinner al fresco in style.
12) Comfy Seating Area
A small balcony doesn’t have to mean cramped seating. In fact, it can be quite the opposite! By adding a few comfy chairs or a loveseat with your small flat balcony garden ideas, you can create a cosy spot to relax and enjoy the outdoors.
Add some pillows and throws for extra comfort, and you’ll never want to leave your balcony! A great way to give yourself more space is by using furniture that comes with an attached ottoman.
The ottoman is perfect for serving as an additional seat when needed, but also doubles as an extra surface space when not in use. If you’re still feeling claustrophobic with just one seating area, try two matching lounge chairs placed at different angles from each other – this will make the space feel larger and more open.
You don’t need to have an acreage of land in order to create your apartment balcony small balcony garden ideas. In fact, you can grow some interesting plants right on your balcony if you know what to do. These gardening ideas in small balcony will help you start and maintain your small-space gardening project with ease. With these tips and ideas from the experts, your apartment will be the envy of the neighbourhood before you know it!