Garden Leisure
Create instant magic with balcony furniture
May
This time we’re looking at beautiful balcony furniture, an adventure into a space that’s often neglected. If you don’t know what to do with your balcony, you’re not alone. A small walled rectangular space high above the ground with a concrete floor, it presents a challenge to the most imaginative gardener. But make a balcony set – also called a Bistro Set – the focus of the space, set at its heart, and everything magically becomes clearer.
Did you know ‘balcony’ is an Italian word, taken from ‘balcone’ which means ‘scaffold’? Basically it’s a platform projecting from a building, supported by columns or brackets and enclosed by a balustrade. In real life, in the UK, most balconies are found on modern blocks. Some Victorian and Edwardian terraced houses have balconies with pretty old iron railings. And some new-builds have them as a useful modern feature in a crowded climate change world, often with toughened glass wall panels for safety. Most of the time the old-school balcony is not up to much. Now and again you find a haven of colour, scent, fresh air and comfort high above the ground – and that’s what this post is all about.
First, choose a balcony furniture set to fit the space and still give you room to walk around and past it. Otherwise you’ll risk tipping yourself or someone else over the edge. Now you don’t just have a focal point, you can also see exactly how much room you have left to play with.
Second, the planting. You’ll want to measure the area and take note of the amount of full sun it gets so you know which plants will like it. Is there a weight limit of any kind or will it safely support pots, soil and plants? And is it exposed to the wind? Pick plants your based on sunlight and space. Herbs, for example, love full sun and most Mediterranean herbs prefer to be dry, not soaking wet. Grow your own food if you like, nurturing delights like exotic salad leaves, spinach, various fragrant mints, and tasty parsley. If it’s shady most of the time you can choose exciting plants like ferns, snake plants, hostas and peace lilies.
Then there’s a load of gorgeous vertical climbers to try, from edibles like beans and peas to ornamental and miniature ivies, which you can easily trim back so they don’t end up climbing to the skies! Evergreen climbers are fabulous year-long and fragrant ones like tobacco vine and hardy honeysuckle give off lovely scents. They’re all good bets for creating privacy and shade.
If a bold, bright display of blooms will make you smile most of all go for easy-grow, generously-flowering basics like pansies, geraniums, busy lizzies and nasturtiums. Cacti and succulents are cool when you’re not really into looking after plants. They’ll stand a bit of benign neglect when other plants that depend on water will soon give up and die. Alternatively think about a vertical garden against the house or flat wall or up the sides of the balcony. Shelving will do the trick, or you could buy a ready-made self-watering vertical gardening kit.
If you’re worried about weight, use plastic planters instead of stone or pottery. There are some stunning ones in the shops that look just like ceramic, in jewel-like colours and textures. Buy hanging baskets designed to slot neatly over a balcony wall or fence and add trailing plants to add more texture and soften the hard edges.
Your balcony is furnished and planted. Now for accessories! Do you have space for a small, neat patio heater like the award-winning Enders NOVA below? You can buy miniature gas powered table-top patio heaters for a balcony table, such fun.
How about LED solar fairy lights to hang around the balcony railing or the door leading inside, or to weave in and out of the plants? A cushion or two, maybe even a floor cushion if there’s room? Can you plug in one of those little beer and wine fridges? Will a washable rug underfoot help keep you comfortable after dusk? What about a pile of fluffy fleece blankets or throws to snuggle into as dusk falls? Maybe even a pair of binoculars to watch the world go by from above?
Once your plants have grown into the space and you’ve accessorised it to suit your relaxation plans, you’ll find your balcony hard to resist. goodbye bald, boring concrete square. Hello gorgeous mini-garden up in the air.
