How to create a beautiful balcony garden
<p>A neighbour told me my balcony was where plants go to die. No one likes being accused of being a bad plant parent, so I pulled up my socks and haven’t heard any complaints since.</p>
<p><strong>1. Born to be alive</strong></p>
<p>Pick plants that thrive in your local area and work for your balcony’s microclimate. The best way to do this is snoop on your neighbours’ gardens or ask for advice from your local nursery.</p>
<p>Be realistic about the time and effort you’re going to put into maintaining a garden. Sometimes we don’t take care of ourselves, so a finicky plant doesn’t stand a chance.</p>
<p>Succulents are always a good idea. They are amazingly robust and can be propagated easily. They’ve been known to survive a week in your pocket after a midnight heist.</p>
<p><strong>2. Maximise space</strong></p>
<p>Balconies are generally small, so be clever with the space you have. You can make space with outdoor furniture or use your walls and ceiling for a hanging garden.</p>
<p>Outdoor furniture can double as storage for your potting mix and garden equipment. Win win.</p>
<p><strong>3. Good equipment</strong></p>
<p>Durability is key, as anything you buy will be exposed to the elements. Buying inexpensive items is a good move, as the cost of starting or maintaining a garden can be expensive.</p>
<p>Pick outdoor furniture that is easy to clean and can take a beating from Mother Nature. She is a cruel mistress at times.</p>
<p>Buy a watering can that does not drip. Your carpet will thank you for it.</p>
<p><strong>4. Colour scheme</strong></p>
<p>Your balcony should be an extension of the decorating scheme you have in the rest of your abode. Pick a colour scheme and stick to it.</p>
<p><strong>5. Know when to stop</strong></p>
<p>Cat people cop a lot of slack and leave their plant-crazy cousins hiding in the shade. Having too much of anything is hoarding in my books, and you don’t want the whole neighbourhood to whisper about your “problem”.</p>
<p><em>Written by Cassandra Byrnes. First appeared on</em> <a href="http://www.domain.com.au/" target="_blank"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Domain.com.au</span>.</em></strong></a></p>
<p><strong>Related link:</strong></p>
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