"Balcony Gardening for Beginners: Step 1"
The arrival of spring brings out the inner gardener in Brits around the nation, but not everyone has the luxury of a large garden or allotment to work with during the growing season. Instead, they must look to container gardening to satisfy their green dreams.
Lechuza, can help urban dwellers to manifest those dreams on balconies and windowsills in cities and towns up and down the country, helping them to grow-their-own and bring the bloom of nature to their outdoor spaces.
Whether you’re dealing with a slimline Juliet balcony or a spacious rooftop terrace, have an urge to grow vegetables, cultivate geraniums or seed some wildflowers, Lechuza has a solution for your requirements.
Step 1: Seeing the Light
Before you start buying plants or planters, it’s crucial to understand your balcony’s environment, in particular the amount of light it receives at different parts of the day. Spend a day watching how light moves across your balcony. Take note of sun traps and shaded corners as these clues are essential for plant placement.
• Full sun (6+ hours/day): Ideal for sun-lovers like tomatoes, peas and fruit bushes, basil, roses, geraniums and petunias.
• Partial shade: Ferns, begonias, camelias and impatiens will thank you.
• Full shade: Hostas, ivy, and shade-tolerant grasses thrive here.
Wind chill factor
Higher floors often mean stronger winds. Counter this with sturdy planters and plenty of support:
• Strong, stable planters like LECHUZA TRIO with matching trellis will fit neatly against a wall and enable you to neatly train plants upwards, supporting climbers and enabling you to grow vertically rather than horizontally in limited space.
• Natural windbreakers like bamboo screens or tall, flexible plants like ornamental grasses will also provide a buffer against high winds.
