Maximising small balcony space is important so that you, as the gardener, can coincide with the beautiful garden you spend your time and energy on. While it’s rewarding to have a fully grown garden on your balcony, being able to enjoy a green and functional balcony is the true return on investment.
If you’re someone who lives in the thick of the hustle and bustle, a place to be still with a hot morning beverage or a cold evening beverage may be what keeps you going. Or, if you’re someone who loves to entertain and would enjoy a space to show off to your friends, comfortable furniture and a funky nook might be a great idea. Whatever it is, there’s no reason you can’t have it all.
maximising balcony space layout
When planning a balcony garden, the layout becomes a priority so that moving around and enjoying the space is easy. If you intend to enjoy your balcony garden, choosing the seating area should act as your focal point of the space as you build your garden around it. You may decide to position seating in the middle of your space and have your plants around the walls of your balcony, or choose a side of your space to place the seating and build your plants out from the opposite wall. This would look like a layering arrangement, where larger plants such as small fruit trees, or shade providing trees will be placed towards the back, and smaller plants will be placed towards the front. Keep in mind the arrangement of your plants; for example, ensure your plants are arranged into rows for easy access when watering.
maximising balcony corners
Maximising small balcony spaces means taking full advantage of each inch of the floor surface area. The corners of the balcony should be used strategically, as they are a great place for larger objects such as shelving or storage, larger planting containers with small fruit trees, or even a narrow raised bed. Raised garden beds come in all shapes and sizes, and I love them for that. They can hold a large amount of soil, which is fantastic for feeding your plants over a long period of time. Although you use more floor space than a pot or stacked pots typically would, they can be used as the perfect home for vertically growing plants with the help of a trellis. When considering shelving for your balcony garden, a triangle-shaped shelf that fits snugly in a corner would definitely contribute to maximising small balcony space. It would act as a perfect way to store your gardening equipment as well.
multifunctional furniture
To maximise a small balcony space, choose functional yet stylish outdoor furniture. Functional, as in multipurpose outdoor furniture. An example would be an outdoor storage box with a cushion placed on the base of the lid for seating or an outdoor storage bench. That’s essentially a bench seat with a storage box underneath the bench seat itself. These offer large storage capacity for gardening equipment like garden tools, netting, containers, and your watering can. Accompany your outdoor storage box seat with a small table slightly placed to the side, and you will have yourself a functional balcony space that you can enjoy.
containers and pots that maximise small balcony space
I always emphasise to beginner gardeners to plan, plan, plan at the beginning of their gardening journey. When planning is done right, it saves you time in the future and prevents potential balcony problems (read more on balcony garden challenges). One factor that requires careful consideration is the containers you choose to grow your plants in. To maximise small balcony spaces and grow an abundant number of plants, vertical growing and narrow containers would work tremendously. Using hanging pots will mean that your floor surface area will remain free; however, hanging pots require something to hang from. If this isn’t an option, don’t stress – there are plenty more. Stacked pots, which are pots that stack onto one another, are efficient at keeping the footprint of your containers to a minimum while you get to grow more. Self-watering containers are another great option for balcony gardeners due to their low maintenance (read more on self-watering containers), especially for the larger plants positioned in the back of crowded spaces, as you will not need to water daily.
final tip for maximising balcony space
A final tip for maximising small balcony gardens is to have your garden pots or containers placed on wheels. To be able to move your plants around throughout the seasons, or when a particular plant needs more attention, this replacement can be a lot simpler if the plants on your balcony are portable. Secondly, if you happen to discover a more efficient location to have your plants later on, moving them to the ideal place will be easy. Understandably, not all plant containers or pots come with wheels, but there is a product known as a pot plant trolley (or caddy). This is a small, sturdy platform with wheels attached underneath the base, which you place your plant pot onto, providing the means to maneuver your plants as you please. Can I hear a high-tech amen!
There you have it. Maximising small balcony spaces is completely possible so that balcony gardeners can enjoy a green and abundant garden that is functional and relaxing. Choosing suitable containers, planning out your balcony space into zones, taking advantage of multipurpose furniture, and portable plants are the ingredients for a successfully maximised small balcony space.
