Planting in Tight Spaces

Landscaping on a balcony, terrace, deck or patio can be highly satisfying, but it is definitely different from other forms of landscaping where options for space, water, sun and shade are generally more plentiful. When planting in tight spaces, these critical ingredients are finite – basically what you see is all you get.  And pots are what you will plant in – lots and lots of pots.  Using groups of pots and containers allows you to create gardens where no garden beds exist, which makes them perfect for sprucing up tight spaces.

When planning a terrace garden, start with a critical eye and study your space.  What exactly do you have to work with?  How much floor space? What kinds of structures provide the “bones” of the place, i.e. walls, fences, railings, posts, corners, nooks and crannies? Where do you get the best or worst views? The most privacy? The least wind? The best access to doors, windows and interior spaces? From indoors, which outdoor area is viewed most often?  At what time of day?

Consider where property owners will sit, eat, read and walk. Develop a floor plan – both horizontal and vertical – that works around these real-life patterns of use. The goal is to make the space more enjoyable, not to give over the entire space to plant life.

If the property has a superlative view, take advantage of it. But determine if the sun will be in your eyes. Bring in an umbrella or pots of tall cannas to cut the glare.  If you need to hide less desirable areas, let the choice of your containers and plant heights accomplish this.

And don’t underestimate the role of vertical elements in enhancing a personal “oasis.”  When greenery and colorful flowers climb walls or overhead, the effect can be remarkably cooling and romantic. Secure trellises to walls or railings or set them directly into large pots. Select a mix of climbing plants or vines such as roses, gloriosa lilies, mandevilla vines, morning glories, honeysuckle, Clematis or moon flowers to provide excitement all season along fences, railings, trellises or pergolas.

If the homeowner loves to cook, incorporate herbs and vegetables in and among the ornamental plantings. And, regardless of what you do, consider fragrance.  Among climbing plants, roses, honeysuckle and moonflowers are fragrant. Among summer bulbs, top choices include Amarcrinum, Oriental lilies, tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa), Acidanthera, and Freesia.

The New World of Pots. The “world of pots” has changed dramatically in recent years, as container gardening has surged in popularity. Or was it all the new pots that have made container gardening so much fun? Whichever, new pot options include large, lightweight winter-proof planters that are suited to housing small trees and shrubs year-round; inexpensive lightweight decorative containers of molded resins, fiberglass or plastic that capture the look of prohibitively-expensive and heavy antique containers made of cast iron, lead, stone and cast cement; and colorful glazed containers from China and Malaysia.

Playing with Color & Summer Flowering Bulbs. Then, of course, there are your choices of plants and their particular colors.  As most of what you grow is only for the season, (unless you have containers large enough to over-winter trees, shrubs or perennials) you have the opportunity to create something new every year.

This is where summer flowering bulbs come into play. Consider them to be an addition to the vast assortment of annuals from which you regularly make your balcony or patio plant selections. Summer bulbs thrive in containers. While they need water, they are not easily damaged by the lack of it, so if the property owner is away for the weekend, he or she can rest easy that the flowers won’t be dead by Sunday evening.

If the homeowner’s taste runs to brilliant colors, consider planting pots of colorful dahlias, nerines, begonias and Amaryllis belladonna. For cool and refreshing foliage, try large-leafed Caladium, cannas, elephant ears, calla lilies and Eucomis (pineapple lilies). Intermix these with the colorful leaves of sturdy annuals such as coleus, sweet potato vines, impatiens, cordyline and Persian Shield.

For up-close interest, this summer try planting something new and different. For instance, have you ever grown Tigridia? Also known as Mexican Shellflower, this exotic beauty with pleated leaves and brilliantly multi-colored, triangular blossoms thrives in containers in hot, dry sunny spots. Each blossom sports three broad petals of red, yellow or white fanning from center petals with leopard-spots of contrasting colors. While each Tigridia flower lasts only a day, each plant will bloom heavily over many weeks. A pot full of Tigridia provides a flamboyant color accent in late summer.

If the balcony or terrace is relatively small, you might like to limit your color selections to greens all the way from celadon to chartreuse. Break up the plantings with some white or silver and then, for punch, add a few large pots of plants in bright colors.

Use Brain not Brawn – Get Wheels. Make the most of the tight spaces of a terrace garden by putting heavy potted plants on wheels. Plant dollies are readily available wherever plants are sold. For outdoor use, select ones with sturdy wheels and a pot-platform with open spaces to allow for water drainage.

Why move plants? Why not? It’s fun to rearrange a rolling garden to create different dramatic effects by mixing and matching plant heights and colors throughout the season. And there are practical reasons too. Having a party? Move plants around to create more space. The neighbors too close? Create instant privacy by pushing pots of tall cannas and elephant ear plants in that direction to form a dense screen of huge upright green and striped tropical leaves.

This article was provided by the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center.