Shrubs in Containers on Balcony
martinca_gw sunset zone 24
7 months ago
Location, coastal so. ca.
We have a long balcony off the mbr that’s never used, though it offers a nice view. We use our patio for ourselves and entertaining, so balcony sits unused. Its unadorned and unappealing, and is seen, partially, trhrough mbr french doors, especially since they are often open. I have contemplated adding container shrubs to a) add beauty and b) to partially screen the lower patio’s overhead. After adding a table and umbrella, we might (operative word!) actually use it occasionally.
The shrubs need to survive semi- neglect, be tidy and drought resistent. There is a hose for water, but I may be sometimes forgetful in winter months. They should not attract many flying insects.
Greatly appreciate your thoughts.
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Fori
7 months ago
martinca_gw sunset zone 24
7 months agoRelated Discussions
Balcony evergreen vine zone 6B in container
Comments (13)Terry, here are some thoughts that come to mind... 1. If you can arrange a trip out to the Long Island nurseries you should find the junipers mentioned there. 2. If your purchasing has to be on-line then order only from www.lazyssfarm.com. A top notch nursery that babies its plants and customers. You can send them a e-mail explaining that you plan to train junipers on trellises and you need plants with a number of leaders and they will work with you. I just skimmed through their on-line catalog (drool) and note that they carry Juniperus chinenses 'Blue Alps'. Perfect for your needs. Retains its green color all winter. All container grown plants can be planted at any time of the year. 2. Because the junipers are not fast growers suggest that you intersperse them with pots in which you could grow deciduous shrubs that are attractive in the winter months. The following are available at the same nursery, Salix alba 'Flame', Viburnum carlesii (fantastic bloom fragrance) and Lonicera x Mandarin PP#11,083. The latter is a beautiful all summer blooming vine to be trellised and is considered invasive but you are growing in the concrete jungle so it should not be a problem. This assortment plus five junipers plus pots of annuals should be a good beginning for you. See how this works out. 3. Take some time to study the Winter Sowing Forum. It is an easy method which will allow you to grow annuals inexpensively. 4. Strongly suggest the following. You will need some method of securing branches and vines. The most permanent, easy to use type that I have found is a heavy duty, single-wrap Velcro. Strong, durable, attractive, almost unnoticed, sold in a green color, holds through hurricanes as I can attest. It will probably be easier for you to order it on-line from www.homesew.com. Another customer friendly company....See MoreMy 2017 Balcony | Container garden
Comments (3)very nice setup! shows that even a small area can grow lots of things. i see some miracle gro in the picture. what's that doing there?...See MoreGood Tree for Container on NYC Balcony?
Comments (20)Hi there KP, I have a high floor balcony just across the river in Jersey City and started a similar search around the same time as you last summer! Did you wind up trying the Japanese Maple? From what I've read, I think if it's in a non-ceramic container and wrapped in burlap during the winter months, it would be safe. I think the big concern, besides the roots freezing, is the amount of wind. I thought of different dogwoods too, dwarf river beech, rhododendrons (which I love) or boxwood; what I tried was a smoke bush, at a friend's suggestion. It held on until September or October -- even growing a little from the beginning of summer -- but the leaves didn't change color, just dried out and fell off. Then I neglected to wrap the container as I should have for the cold months (it was pure homicide and I feel terrible about it). My buckthorn are coming back now which is beyond exciting; the rosemary and lavender did well and the lambs ear thrived. I'm beginning the search anew for this year. I live on the south side on the 15th floor of a high-rise built on the tail end of the Palisades cliffs( roughly 130-150 feet above sea level), so pretty high up and windy as hell! I'd like to try a conifer this year and either smoke bush again or a small deciduous tree, like the Japanese maple for instance....See MoreChoosing a Container Tree for NYC Balcony
Comments (4)If you like Japanese maples there are hundreds of kinds of those including dwarf growing ones. So if you have seen one you have not seen them all. However any of these being out on a balcony through a New York winter could backfire some time due to it getting too cold for their roots. A crab would be hardier but I don't know which of those you might find that would fit the space. Even the comparatively small number of dwarf shrubby selections tend to be sold perched on long trunks and looking like a hat rack in nursery sizes. Also any that are selections of Malus sargentii will have stinky flowers. Really as with so many plant selection questions it gets down to what is to your taste. And not just what will take the environmental conditions you have....See Moreken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
7 months agomartinca_gw sunset zone 24 thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5martinca_gw sunset zone 24
7 months agoFori
7 months agomartinca_gw sunset zone 24
7 months ago
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
7 months agomartinca_gw sunset zone 24
7 months agoFori
7 months agomartinca_gw sunset zone 24
7 months ago
socks
7 months agomartinca_gw sunset zone 24
7 months ago
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