How Can I Create a Garden on a Balcony or Roof Terrace?
Want to green up your raised outside space? Follow these expert tips to create a leafy urban retreat up high
If you’re lucky enough to have a small outside space in the city, there are plenty of ways to turn it into a cool, green haven, high in the sky. Here are some of the key questions to ask before you start.
Professional advice from: Emma Lyne of The London Gardener; Roberto Silva of Silva Landscapes; Jamie Wyver, spokesperson for the RSPB
Professional advice from: Emma Lyne of The London Gardener; Roberto Silva of Silva Landscapes; Jamie Wyver, spokesperson for the RSPB
What are the biggest challenges?
“One of the great challenges when designing a balcony or roof terrace is the access,” Roberto says. “This needs to be carefully assessed.”
“Lugging plant pots and compost up stairs is not much fun,” Emma agrees and advises you “enlist a strong friend”.
Emma also flags up “water and light availability” as potential issues that will need to be addressed. “It’s important to check if there’s a tap close by and think about whether you’re going to be up to watering the pots frequently,” she says.
She also suggests you assess how much sun the balcony or terrace gets. If your patch is north-facing, for example, this will dictate the planting.
“One of the great challenges when designing a balcony or roof terrace is the access,” Roberto says. “This needs to be carefully assessed.”
“Lugging plant pots and compost up stairs is not much fun,” Emma agrees and advises you “enlist a strong friend”.
Emma also flags up “water and light availability” as potential issues that will need to be addressed. “It’s important to check if there’s a tap close by and think about whether you’re going to be up to watering the pots frequently,” she says.
She also suggests you assess how much sun the balcony or terrace gets. If your patch is north-facing, for example, this will dictate the planting.
How do I connect the garden to my inside space?
“Usually, balconies and terraces are very close to the living room and they should feel like one space,” Roberto says. “The best way to design it is to incorporate elements from the interior outside.
“Outdoor rugs and colourful pouffes, modern lanterns or candles, sculptural benches and funky cushions can all make the space unique and tailored to the owner’s taste,” he says.
Did you know you can keep track of communications with your designer, plus project schedules and daily logs, through the Houzz Client Dashboard feature? Just check if your pro uses Houzz Pro software.
“Usually, balconies and terraces are very close to the living room and they should feel like one space,” Roberto says. “The best way to design it is to incorporate elements from the interior outside.
“Outdoor rugs and colourful pouffes, modern lanterns or candles, sculptural benches and funky cushions can all make the space unique and tailored to the owner’s taste,” he says.
Did you know you can keep track of communications with your designer, plus project schedules and daily logs, through the Houzz Client Dashboard feature? Just check if your pro uses Houzz Pro software.
Which plants should I choose?
“Consider how much time you have to devote to looking after the plants,” Emma says. Also ask yourself, “What sort of look am I after?”
If you want to create an abundant, lush space, for example, you’ll need to approach it differently than if you just want a few larger, more structural plants in bigger pots.
Get your vision clear in your head first, then you can work out what to grow, be that salad, herbs or flowering plants.
More: What Happens When You Hire a Garden Designer?
“Consider how much time you have to devote to looking after the plants,” Emma says. Also ask yourself, “What sort of look am I after?”
If you want to create an abundant, lush space, for example, you’ll need to approach it differently than if you just want a few larger, more structural plants in bigger pots.
Get your vision clear in your head first, then you can work out what to grow, be that salad, herbs or flowering plants.
More: What Happens When You Hire a Garden Designer?
Which are the best plants to grow in pots?
“Summer-flowering bedding plants such as ivy-leaved geraniums (Pelargonium peltatum) are easy, flower well and trail softly,” Emma says. “I love having scented plants close to a seating area, such as jasmine-like Trachelospermum – which could climb through railings or up a wall – lavender, and Pelargoniums, with their wonderful scented leaves.”
For growing in pots, Jamie Wyver says, “Try marigolds, verbenas [the purple flowers seen here], petunias, fuchsias, heathers, dead-nettles, pelargoniums, ivy and nasturtiums. These wildlife-friendly plants will all thrive in small spaces if fed and watered frequently.”
For an edible garden, Emma suggests, “Plant sun-loving herbs, such as rosemary, thyme and sage. Also try saladisi, which will give you cut-and-come-again salad leaves for around six months and is easy to grow from seed. Rocket – both wild and common – is the same.”
“Summer-flowering bedding plants such as ivy-leaved geraniums (Pelargonium peltatum) are easy, flower well and trail softly,” Emma says. “I love having scented plants close to a seating area, such as jasmine-like Trachelospermum – which could climb through railings or up a wall – lavender, and Pelargoniums, with their wonderful scented leaves.”
For growing in pots, Jamie Wyver says, “Try marigolds, verbenas [the purple flowers seen here], petunias, fuchsias, heathers, dead-nettles, pelargoniums, ivy and nasturtiums. These wildlife-friendly plants will all thrive in small spaces if fed and watered frequently.”
For an edible garden, Emma suggests, “Plant sun-loving herbs, such as rosemary, thyme and sage. Also try saladisi, which will give you cut-and-come-again salad leaves for around six months and is easy to grow from seed. Rocket – both wild and common – is the same.”
What are the best plants for creating a screen?
“Everyone I know thinks bamboo is great for screening,” Emma says, “and it is. However, be aware that it will shed leaves every day of the year – it’s a messy plant!
“You can get plants grown on a thin frame or screen,” she says, “such as Ceanothus, which is evergreen with beautiful bright blue flowers in April/May, honeysuckle for scent, or clematis.
“If space permits,” she continues, “you can plant in tiers, with taller plants at the back graduating to smaller ones. A good mix of different pot textures and colours adds to the design.”
Inspired by these small gardens? Find a garden designer in your area today.
“Everyone I know thinks bamboo is great for screening,” Emma says, “and it is. However, be aware that it will shed leaves every day of the year – it’s a messy plant!
“You can get plants grown on a thin frame or screen,” she says, “such as Ceanothus, which is evergreen with beautiful bright blue flowers in April/May, honeysuckle for scent, or clematis.
“If space permits,” she continues, “you can plant in tiers, with taller plants at the back graduating to smaller ones. A good mix of different pot textures and colours adds to the design.”
Inspired by these small gardens? Find a garden designer in your area today.
Can I create a wildlife-friendly space on a balcony or terrace?
“Certainly,” Emma says. “Hang some bird feeders nice and high away from cats. Add a bug hotel made from bamboo and hollow pipes in a sunny spot on a wall. And your scented flowers will attract and feed our beloved bees.”
“With a little imagination, you can transform a balcony into a mini haven for nature,” Jamie agrees. “Look out for plants that will give pollinators a boost – you’ll be helping the birds that feed on insects, too.”
“Try to aim for flowers that are blue, purple, white and yellow,” Emma says, “as bees have good colour vision and can see these best; single flowers are preferred. Butterflies enjoy bright yellow, orange, pink and red. Avoid using pesticides – kind of obvious – which are toxic to bees and other pollinators.”
“Certainly,” Emma says. “Hang some bird feeders nice and high away from cats. Add a bug hotel made from bamboo and hollow pipes in a sunny spot on a wall. And your scented flowers will attract and feed our beloved bees.”
“With a little imagination, you can transform a balcony into a mini haven for nature,” Jamie agrees. “Look out for plants that will give pollinators a boost – you’ll be helping the birds that feed on insects, too.”
“Try to aim for flowers that are blue, purple, white and yellow,” Emma says, “as bees have good colour vision and can see these best; single flowers are preferred. Butterflies enjoy bright yellow, orange, pink and red. Avoid using pesticides – kind of obvious – which are toxic to bees and other pollinators.”
What are the biggest mistakes to avoid?
Don’t be afraid to make a big statement in a small space, Roberto says. “Many people end up having small pots and plants that don’t make any impact on the space, as they’re afraid to choose bigger ones.”
“As a general rule, the larger the pot, the less watering is required,” Emma adds.
“Last year I designed a balcony using two large containers on each side and planted them with Betula trees,” Roberto says. “The white bark with the deep blue of the container was a good combination, and the 2.3m-high Betulas were enough to make the balcony on their own.”
Tell us…
What are your tips for designing a small outside space? Let us know in the Comments.
Don’t be afraid to make a big statement in a small space, Roberto says. “Many people end up having small pots and plants that don’t make any impact on the space, as they’re afraid to choose bigger ones.”
“As a general rule, the larger the pot, the less watering is required,” Emma adds.
“Last year I designed a balcony using two large containers on each side and planted them with Betula trees,” Roberto says. “The white bark with the deep blue of the container was a good combination, and the 2.3m-high Betulas were enough to make the balcony on their own.”
Tell us…
What are your tips for designing a small outside space? Let us know in the Comments.
“First, and very importantly, ensure the balcony or roof terrace is load-bearing,” Emma Lyne says.
Next, she advises, think about all the practical considerations before you start choosing plants or planters. “Decide whether you want to put furniture on the balcony,” Emma says, “as that should dictate where the plants might go. Function over form.”
“Assessing the views is another important point,” Roberto Silva says. “All the pot arrangements and plants have to support and not block the views, and sometimes they have to be totally out of the way.”