The Best Plants for Patio Gardens
Category Gardening
Having a large garden is a dream for many; however, for some of us who don’t have the space to create a wonderland of flowers, trees, rolling lawns, and shrubs, having a small area to work with such as a patio or a balcony can still provide a great place for a small garden. With a little creativity and knowledge, you can create a wonderful patio or balcony garden and get the peaceful garden dream you’ve always wanted. Here are 5 plants that are great for patio gardening.
Herbs:
Herbs are great to have in your patio garden. They enjoy a lot of sunlight and are easily contained. A herb garden provides you with healthy and organic herbs for cooking. Having a potted herb garden on your patio will help you to protect the plants from harsh elements.
Geraniums:
For a quick and effective splash of colour, place a few potted geraniums on your balcony or patio garden. These plants are hardy and easy to care for while also being relatively water wise. Geraniums come in a variety of colours and are a popular choice among many gardeners.
Ficus:
Having a patio or balcony garden doesn’t mean you can’t have any trees in your haven. The ficus is an air cleaning tree that lives quite happily planted in a pot. The leaves of the ficus come in a variety of colours, from dark green to lime and some even have cream white borders on their foliage. They are easily trainable plants that can be pruned into a lollipop shape with a “braided” trunk or left to grow naturally.
Bromelaid:
A bromeliad is an exotic looking plant with stunning colours. Their flowers grow up the centre of the plant with a petal very similar to their leaves. They cope well with shallow soil, making them perfect for patio or balcony living. They don’t produce fruit or nuts but can be propagated through smaller growths known as “pups”.
Air Plants:
Air plants are unique in that they don’t require soil to grow in and don’t need too much care or attention. They are aesthetically pleasing with long leaves, shaded from grey-green to dark green and even to reddish leaves. Air plants use their roots to cling to a tree or shelf, while their leaves work to absorb water and nutrients from the air. Air plants have become quite fashionable lately being sold with a variety of decorative “potting” options.
Having a smaller space to work with doesn’t mean you need to wait on creating your dream garden. There are many options available for patio and balcony gardens including potted plants, hanging plants and even vertical gardens. Patio gardens are often easier to maintain and require less water, leaving you more time to enjoy your garden and save some money.
Author: Lillian Rencken
