Urban Gardens
Landscape Design
How to Create a Garden on a Balcony or Roof Deck
Experts answer questions about designing a leafy retreat high above the city
If you’re lucky enough to have any outside space in the city, there are plenty of ways to turn it into a cool, green haven even if it’s high in the sky. Have questions before you get started? We have answers from Emma Lyne of The London Gardener, Roberto Silva of Silva Landscapes and Jamie Wyver, spokesman for The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
What Are the Biggest Challenges?
Access to the balcony or roof deck can be one of the greatest challenges and deserves careful assessment, Silva says.
“Lugging plant pots and compost up stairs is not much fun,” agrees Lyne, who advises that you “enlist a strong friend.” She also flags water and light availability as potential issues. “It’s important to check if there’s a [faucet] close by and think about whether you’re going to be up to watering the pots frequently,” she says.
Assess how much sun the balcony or roof deck gets. If your patch is north-facing, for example, this will dictate the planting, she says.
Access to the balcony or roof deck can be one of the greatest challenges and deserves careful assessment, Silva says.
“Lugging plant pots and compost up stairs is not much fun,” agrees Lyne, who advises that you “enlist a strong friend.” She also flags water and light availability as potential issues. “It’s important to check if there’s a [faucet] close by and think about whether you’re going to be up to watering the pots frequently,” she says.
Assess how much sun the balcony or roof deck gets. If your patch is north-facing, for example, this will dictate the planting, she says.
How Do I Connect the Interior With the Exterior?
“Usually, balconies and terraces are very close to the living room, and they should feel like one space,” Silva says. “The best way to design it is to incorporate elements from the interior outside.
“Outdoor rugs and colorful poufs, modern lanterns or candles, sculptural benches and funky cushions can all make the space unique and tailored to the owner’s taste,” he says.
Browse outdoor benches in the Houzz Shop
“Usually, balconies and terraces are very close to the living room, and they should feel like one space,” Silva says. “The best way to design it is to incorporate elements from the interior outside.
“Outdoor rugs and colorful poufs, modern lanterns or candles, sculptural benches and funky cushions can all make the space unique and tailored to the owner’s taste,” he says.
Browse outdoor benches in the Houzz Shop
Which Plants Should I Choose?
“Consider how much time you have to devote to looking after the plants,” Lyne says. Also think about what look you’re after. If you want to create an abundant, lush space, for example, you’ll need to approach it differently from the way you would if you want just a few larger, more structural plants in bigger pots, she says.
Once you have a clear vision, you can work out what to grow, be that lettuce, herbs or flowers.
“Consider how much time you have to devote to looking after the plants,” Lyne says. Also think about what look you’re after. If you want to create an abundant, lush space, for example, you’ll need to approach it differently from the way you would if you want just a few larger, more structural plants in bigger pots, she says.
Once you have a clear vision, you can work out what to grow, be that lettuce, herbs or flowers.
Best plants to grow in pots. “Summer-flowering bedding plants, such as ivy-leaved geraniums (Pelargonium peltatum) are easy, flower well and trail softly,” Lyne 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, Wyver suggests marigolds, verbenas, petunias, fuchsias, heathers, deadnettles, pelargoniums, ivy and nasturtiums. “These wildlife-friendly plants will all thrive in small spaces if fed and watered frequently,” he says.
As for edibles, “plant sun-loving herbs, such as rosemary, thyme and sage,” Lyne says. She adds that arugula is easy to grow from seed and provides cut-and-come-again salad leaves for about six months.
Shop for outdoor pots and planters
For growing in pots, Wyver suggests marigolds, verbenas, petunias, fuchsias, heathers, deadnettles, pelargoniums, ivy and nasturtiums. “These wildlife-friendly plants will all thrive in small spaces if fed and watered frequently,” he says.
As for edibles, “plant sun-loving herbs, such as rosemary, thyme and sage,” Lyne says. She adds that arugula is easy to grow from seed and provides cut-and-come-again salad leaves for about six months.
Shop for outdoor pots and planters
Best plants to create a screen. “Everyone I know thinks bamboo is great for screening, and it is,” Lyne says. “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 colors adds to the design.”
Discover the best bamboos for small gardens
“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 colors adds to the design.”
Discover the best bamboos for small gardens
Can I Create a Wildlife-Friendly Space?
Even a little balcony garden can benefit wildlife. “Hang some bird feeders nice and high away from cats,” Lyne says. “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,” Wyver says. “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,” Lyne says, “as bees have good color 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.”
See how to make your own bee house and bug habitat
Even a little balcony garden can benefit wildlife. “Hang some bird feeders nice and high away from cats,” Lyne says. “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,” Wyver says. “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,” Lyne says, “as bees have good color 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.”
See how to make your own bee house and bug habitat
What Else Should I Know?
Don’t be afraid to make a big statement in a small space, Silva 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,” Lyne adds.
“Last year, I designed a balcony using two large containers on each side and planted them with [birch] trees,” Silva says. “The white bark with the deep blue of the container was a good combination, and the [7½-foot-high trees] were enough to make the balcony on their own.”
Tell us: What are your tips for designing a balcony or roof deck? Let us know in the Comments.
More on Houzz
24 Beautiful City Balconies
Read other stories about urban gardens
Find a local pro for your project
Shop for outdoor products
Don’t be afraid to make a big statement in a small space, Silva 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,” Lyne adds.
“Last year, I designed a balcony using two large containers on each side and planted them with [birch] trees,” Silva says. “The white bark with the deep blue of the container was a good combination, and the [7½-foot-high trees] were enough to make the balcony on their own.”
Tell us: What are your tips for designing a balcony or roof deck? Let us know in the Comments.
More on Houzz
24 Beautiful City Balconies
Read other stories about urban gardens
Find a local pro for your project
Shop for outdoor products
First and most important, ensure that the balcony or roof deck is load-bearing, Lyne says. Next, think about the practical considerations before choosing plants or planters. “Decide whether you want to put furniture on the balcony,” she says, “as that should dictate where the plants might go. Function over form.”
Assessing the views is another key point, 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,” he says.
Find a local landscape architect on Houzz