Depending on the size of your balcony or terrace, here are some ideas for arrangements and planting to be carried out. For a small corner of greenery in town all year round.
On a balcony balustrade
In the absence of a balcony – when you have a simple balustrade at the window – it is nevertheless possible to put greenery. Of course you need a Sufficient supportpreferably produced by a ferrier if possible, and up to standards. A maximum of precautions must be taken, especially if the balustrade gives side to the street, because an accident has quickly arrived and one is never safe from a gale that would drop the planter on a passer -by.
On the plantation side, depending on the exhibition, we can opt for a climbing plant (Jasmine, Clématite …) which will elegantly dress the window and the balustrade. For a green space all year round, the Plants with persistent foliage are to be preferred. To plant: boxwood, pittosporum (varieties with variegated foliage are of the most beautiful effect), conifers and palm trees of small sizes or even rhododendrons and azaleas for places less exposed to the sun. Finally, aromatics are ideal for pots and planters. Note that the maintenance of a rose is more complicated in a pot.
On a real balcony
You can install real planters there but beware of the weight: the terrace should not be overloaded. A 60 x 60 cm tank filled with earth is already substantial in terms of weight (about 80 kg). Note that for old, relatively solid constructions, balconies and terraces normally support at least 150 kg/m².
In these bins and planters, we will plant for example small shrubs (Arbousier, Nandina, palm, Troène du Texas, Pittosporum …) or bamboosreal vegetation curtains, whose planting is prohibited in the ground on the terraces because of their roots that can infiltrate the smallest interstice of a construction. Other varieties of plants must be planted in a tank, and not in the ground on a terrace: willow, poplar, buckthorn …
Easy plants for balcony and terrace
For some buildings, the planters are directly integrated into the construction, which facilitates the planting of shrubs. For example, on this terrace of approximately 2.50 x 3 meters, are planted directly in lavender soil, Pittosporum Tobira Nana or Photinia with glowing foliage along the palisade.
In planters and pots, we will favor Easy to grow plants : The photonia, precisely, the very trendy olive tree, the orange tree of Mexico, which likes pots as well as in the ground. Finally, at the foot of the shrubs, we will plant eachères whose persistence will bring greenery all year round, or flowers to bring colorful notes.
On a large terrace
When we are lucky to have a urban terrace On the substantial surface, often on the roof, you must avoid locking up by surrounding yourself with plants to make the most of the 360 ° view. Unless there is vis-à-vis, of course! In this case, we will only plant in this axis, without closing the other perspectives. For that, climbing plants, fairly high and claustras shrubs will serve as “curtains”. Beware, however, of the slightly strong gusts which can reverse which, originally, is used to break the “wind effect” that is often found on a terrace.
This urban terrace, with a very graphic look, cypress all in length and boxwood balls play contrast. A game reinforced by the development of the place: the black concrete paving on the terrace contrasts with the white gravel on the ground and at the foot of the cypresses.
A pool on the terrace
On a terrace, it is perfectly possible toInstall a basineven relatively wide. Here, on an 80 m² terrace, a small body of water outcrops, dotted with Japanese cobblestones. You just have to ensure the depth of the basin – not too deep – and the renewal of water to avoid stagnation and therefore the development of microbes and bacteria. The circulation of water is very important for a pool: you have to think about it upstream and put filters. By its structure, a basin is nevertheless more delicate to install than fountain which works in closed circuit and where water is renewed automatically. Next to the water point, pool or fountain, we will plant horsepower with a slender silhouette and we will install gabies Garnis of pebbles of different colors.
(The editorial staff thanks Mr. LETELLIER, Landscaper Expert Jardins in Ile-de-France, for his precious advice.)
