How to Grow a Garden in Your Apartment
Having an apartment means less outdoor space, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a garden in your apartment! Balcony gardens are a great way to use your space and grow produce and flowers. Here are some tips and balcony garden ideas to help your balcony garden flourish!Balcony gardens are achievable, intimate, and absolutely stunning!
Here are our suggestions for a fantastic balcony garden!
Consider weather conditions before you plant
Balconies are usually considered “microclimates”, meaning it’s a very small or restricted area that differs in the climate of its surrounding area. Depending on the location of your suite, the microclimate of your balcony can be different from that of your neighbour’s.
In terms of exposure, the most important factors to keep in mind are the sun and wind. You should keep in mind the direction your balcony is facing from the sun. If your garden is turned toward the east, you’ll be getting the delightful morning sun and some afternoon shade. As for wind, the higher up your suite, the more windier it will be on your balcony. People tend to forget that the wind can be more devastating than the scorching sun.
Also keep in mind the amount of heat the surface of your balcony retains. Not all plants, such as lettuce, can survive the extreme heat. Consider implementing succulents if you’re balcony radiates intense heat.
The good news is that there are plants that are fit for almost every condition possible. So don’t be too worried if your balcony has less than ideal weather conditions compared to that of your neighbor’s.
Make Sure You Have the Right Containers and Soil
When choosing containers, take into account the drainage capabilities of the containers. Drainage holes help guard against roots rotting due to over-watering. Additionally, putting saucers under the container prevents water from spilling down off your balcony onto your poor neighbour below.
Grow Vertically to Save Space
This is the single biggest way to maximize a small space. Depending on whether or not your balcony has railings, walls or both, consider some essential space saving gardening accessories like hanging baskets, wall-or-railing-mounted containers, and trellises.
MHA offers hundreds of high quality apartments for any stage of life, whether you’re moving for school, a new job, or downsizing. MHA Apartments have amazing amenities in every building, from fitness centres to games rooms to outdoor community seating areas. You can search our variety of apartments here! Contact us at each specific building for more information, we’d love to hear from you!