Balconies are usually greened with flower boxes. However, climbing plants are also common, e.g. for privacy screening. For particularly lush greening, it is preferable to plant in the ground and then guide the stem upwards. Balcony greening can then even extend over several floors.
Classic flower (window) boxesare the most common type of balcony greening. The plants can vary greatly (see link); hanging plants, for example, are also important for the overall effect. They are often combined in boxes with upright flowers and grasses. There are also three options for mounting: the flower boxes can be attached inside, directly to the balcony railing, or outside, in front of the railing.
In the first case, the ambience inside the balcony is improved, but it also takes up a lot of space on balconies, which are usually too small anyway.
For the second option – mounting directly on the railing – there are many pot variants available in stores that can be placed on top. However, this limits the use of the balcony railing, for example when leaning on it or looking down from the balcony.
In the third case, the space for movement is not restricted at all, but the effect of the flower boxes mainly benefits the outside world. The appearance of the façade is drastically improved, but special hangers, additional brackets and fall protection for the boxes are often required. In new buildings, it is best to plan these at an early stage.
Safety is crucial at greater heights! Very bushy or long vegetation can cause even heavy flower pots to be torn down by storms. Back in the 1930s, the Comedian Harmonists sang about the ‘little green cactus’ that fell into Mr Krause's face.
Climbing plants on the balcony also grow well in pots. Balcony annuals (continuous bloomers), like the hardy mandevilla, are ideal, because they require only small pots. For more information, see potted plants.
Existing railings, columns, and pillars are often themselves already fit to serve as climbing support for plants. Wire ropes can be mounted- vertically or horizontally - as an additional support. Easy and medium FassadenGrün wire rope systems are usually sufficient, and with potted plants, also light kits. Stainless steel rods are often combined with the ropes. Be careful not to drill into galvanised metal when mounting wall anchors. The wire ropes can be attached to balcony uprights/posts with special rubber strip (photo below). Simple bamboo stakes can also be put directly into pots.
Bamboo rods with metal clips can create trellises on the balcony.
If you plant in the ground in front of the house/apartment, it will naturally take longer for the plants to climb to balcony level than if you plant them in containers on the balcony itself. But it is truly worth the time and effort, because a plant rooted in the earth (unlimited root growth) will be stronger and more vital than any potted plant, partircularly regarding leaf mass and vigour. Balcony balustrades and railings can become completely greened- thick, lush privacy screen created from nature. Watch as your balcony becomes a green arbour...
With some particularly hearty and vigorous species, one can even green several balconies (that is, stories) of a building with a single plant! Tenants or owners can then individually prune and shape the green on their respective balcony as they wish. Once established, such greenings are stable for many years, or even decades, and form the desired lush foliage annually. If the soil is rather dry or there is a lack of water for whatever reason, avoid choosing plants that will lignify and no longer develop foliage on the lower part of the trunk over time (like honeysuckle); otherwise, the lower balconies will be quite naked and have little to nothing of the greenery. Within a normal climate, virgorous twiners (like wisteria) may require multiple summer trimmings per season.
And don't worry: vertical climbing supports can also be attached to the square tubing of a balcony structure!
Fassadengrün is a commercial supplier of stainless steel wire rope systems in Germany, Europe and overseas. Information about: Which plants are suitable, are climbing aids necessary, should they be made of wood or metal? Here at FassadenGrün you will find all the information you need from a single source.
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