Is your terrace or balcony in need of tender loving care ahead of the alfresco months ahead? Creativity and some basic knowledge are all you need to make your outdoor space beautiful.
First things first, bear in mind the physical attributes of your balcony. Note down the main characteristics: the layout, the views, where the sun shines throughout the day and how the wind blows, and how the conditions change from season to season. When planning a flowering terrace, you need to consider how much water each plant requires. Can rainwater be recycled? How can it be managed? Where are the taps? Generally speaking, I’m in favour of automatic irrigation systems to improve plant health and reduce the time spent looking after your outdoor space.
Be realistic about the amount of time you have available to dedicate to your balcony. Grasses are the perfect solution for everyone, roses less so. Research the plants that are likely to do well in the space and how much room they will need as they grow. Lavender and rosemary do not like shade, for example. Think about the overall space and the plants you like the most. After all, plants are not just about the flowers, but the shape and colour of the foliage too, as well as the overall appearance of the plant throughout the seasons. Avoid using big, thorny plants on your terrace that can annoy or even injure! Try to assemble plants that share the same sort of light, watering and soil conditions, as well as putting together a collection of plants that flower at different times throughout the year, such as rhaphiolepis (green leaves in the winter and pink or white flowers in the spring), hibiscus (colourful flowers in the spring and no leaves in the winter), iberis (evergreen in the summer and white flowers in the winter) and hellebores (white, green and pink flowers at the height of winter). Another option is to go all out with one colour and choose tone-on-tone plants. Alternatively, concentrate on a variety of plants with all sorts of leaves. Use the walls and plant some climbers—wisteria in the spring entwined with ampelopsis in the autumn is a winning and showy combination. Or steer clear of flowering plants entirely and focus on herbs and vegetables instead!
Don’t go over the top is my professional advice. Budding gardeners often get carried away in the beginning and plant their outdoor space every which way. Start slowly and build up your bloom over time. Start with two or three annuals and a couple of Italian perennials that are suited to the local climate. Watch what happens and adjust as necessary… To err is human, especially in the gardening world!
How to revive a potted plant
- Lift the plant out of the pot, remove any damaged roots and check the condition of the soil. A lack of water often creates soil with a hard surface that comes away easily from the pot.
- Pop the plant back into the pot and place it into a bath or washbasin, so that it’s totally submerged in the water, which should be at room temperature. You might need to weigh it down with a brick to stop it from floating.
- Keep soaking the plant until bubbles stop appearing on the surface of the water, max. 30. minutes.
- Remove the plant from the water and let any excess water run off.
- Use clean gardening scissors to cut off any dry parts.
- Carefully spray the leaves with water. Use a cloth dipped in demineralized or rain water to clean any dusty or dull leaves. Bear in mind that the more sunlight a plant receives, the more water it needs.
