Make the most of your Neutral Bay balcony

There are pros and cons when it comes to apartment living. While the benefits are security and convenience, one of the drawbacks of strata living is missing out on having a backyard.

Fortunately, it is possible to have the best of both worlds by adding some plants, herbs, vegetables and flowers to your balcony or courtyard.

Here are some helpful tips and things to think about as you create a mini urban oasis.

Orientation

To start your balcony garden, you need to understand the environment.

In a standard backyard, you can’t plant whatever you feel like without considering the soil, the local weather patterns and the size of the garden. The same rings true for balconies and courtyards.

The first thing to do when setting up your balcony garden is finding plants that suit the orientation. East-facing versus west-facing balconies can experience quite different weather conditions and therefore suit different plants.

North-facing balconies can be the best for growing a garden because they usually get sun throughout the day. South-facing balconies, on the other hand, tend to spend most of the time in the shade.

Wind and rain conditions can vary greatly, too, especially when you’re near to the harbour in Neutral Bay. If your balcony has water views, you are more likely to have a higher salt content in the air.

All these will factor into your choice of plants so do your research or ask for recommendations at your local nursery. Many balconies, no matter which way they face, are shaded by the balcony above. In general, this means you want to choose hardy plants that are happy in the shade.

Plant choice

As well as coping with an abundance of shade, your balcony plants have to thrive in pots or hanging baskets.

Generally, the hardiest and most successful balcony plants include:

• Agapanthus (if you have large enough pots)
• Agave
• Coastal rosemary
• Cumquat
• Indian hawthorn
• Japanese pittosporum
• Looking glass plant
• Dwarf oleander

It is also worth choosing a few large pots instead of lots of smaller ones. Pots can get messy easily and having fewer makes it easier to tend to your plants and keep the balcony clean, plus they don’t dry out as fast.

Make a kitchen garden

Balcony and courtyard gardens can be more than aesthetically appealing. While some artfully placed pots can make your space feel fresh and cool, balcony gardening ideas definitely include growing herbs and vegetables.

Again, you need to be aware of the orientation of your balcony and what herbs and veggies will grow in what conditions. You also need to have a suitable box or pots for your herbs and veggies. Buy some that are purpose-designed and don’t forget about protecting your balcony vegetable patch from possums and birds.

High-quality soil will keep your kitchen garden healthy… and don’t forget to water it regularly.

Style

Think about the space you have and the style you want. For a smaller balcony, a vertical garden can look fantastic. Use climbers to adorn your wall or shop for a freestanding green wall.

Furniture should be hardy and weather resistant. If your balcony gets lots of sun, avoid materials that will fade. Neutral Bay is home to high-end outdoor furniture stores like Osier Belle and Fanuli, where you will find a few different options to furnish your outdoor area.

Don’t forget about lighting so you can enjoy your outside space after dark.

Thinking of buying or selling in Neutral Bay? Contact us at Home Property Agents today.