Terraces and balconies are ubiquitous in Spain and are becoming more common across cities in England like Leeds, with the advent of more apartments.
Terraces range in size from some quite large with their own pool to small spaces for just a couple of pots or two small chairs. With both my Madrid Garden Design and North Leeds Garden Design hats on I’m going to explore how we can make the most of the areas which have so much potential. To set the scene I’ll just say I’m lucky to live in an apartment which has two terraces, how I’ve dealt with them in the five years since we moved in has helped to clarify my thoughts on both what’s needed and practical on terraces and what’s aesthetically pleasing. Generally your balcony or terrace can largely be seen from inside your flat meaning it needs to be inviting to make you go outside and look good all year round, not so different from a garden.
Pots and planters
Where a terrace differs from a garden is the growing medium for the plants. They all have to be grown in pots and planters, usually the bigger the better. Small pots need watering more frequently as they don’t have the capacity to retain moisture. I prefer to use terracotta or fibreglass pots as they allow the plant the breathe. I have some made of felt which I use for growing edibles as they can be emptied and stored flat. Using large planters you can have different plants almost creating a border. By planting perennials, grasses, small shrubs and climbers you can ensure year round interest as well as differing heights, textures, form, colour and scent. Group the pots together to add interest to a corner, by using different colours and heights you can play with the look. Alternatively by using similar coloured pots you let the plants do the talking. Where you might choose a muted planting palette with the odd pop of colour you might choose to do the same with your pots. I for example have an aloe vera in a fuchsia pink pot, it was on offer and I liked it, the aloe looks great and the colour sings to me in the winter.
Which plants to use
As I’ve touched on, large planters can be treated like a small bed, so for example I’ve planted a Virginia Creeper, 2 Stipa tenuissima, some bulbs (daffodils, tulips and alliums) and a couple of Geraniums in one large planter. You need to make sure you divide the grasses so they don’t take over but generally they’re all living together happily.
Individual pots by their very nature will tend to have one plant in them but you could underplant a small tree or climber with marigolds, nasturtiums or nicotiana. In Spain these three will come back every year but I suspect in England you’ll have to sow them again.
Herbs are great in pots especially mint as this will help to control its invasive tendencies.
Some trees work well in pots provided they are large enough, Japanese maples actually like having their roots relatively constricted and I’ve got a Nispero. It’s yet to fruit but I’m ever hopeful.
Climbing plants grow well in pots and have the added benefit of clothing some of the walls in green, whether you choose a self clinging like a virginia creeper or install wires for non clinging like grape vines, Trachelospermum jasminoides, Wisteria.
Some plants which are semi evergreen in the UK would of course thrive in Spain. I’m thinking of getting an Akebia quinata for one of my walls as I think it’ll work really well here.
Furniture
Flexibility s the key here, especially if you have a small space. Chairs that stack or fold and can be covered or put inside in the worst months of the year. Tables with leaves that can fold and perhaps only have half out are useful. Wood looks great and is comfortable but needs treating annually. Plastic can be colourful but generally fades a lot in hot sun and hardens before becoming brittle and breaking. Metal is very long lasting but cold or hot to sit on. So in short all materials have advantages and disadvantages. Outdoor cushions are a must and small tables for a drink or snack are very useful. There is furniture for all budgets and tastes so just enjoy the process of looking.
Having different types of furniture can help to denote it is a space for relaxing or dining and thus gives a different feel to your terrace. You might also want to consider furniture which acts as storage for their cushions, toys and other outdoor bits and bobs.
Lighting
String lighting is a good option in any garden whether at ground level or a few floors up. You could choose small LEDs or to mimic old style bulbs, or perhaps coloured flowers, snowflakes for a more wintry scene, the choice is virtually endless. Then you need to decide if you’d like plug in, battery or solar powered. I’ve had different options over the year and always come back to plug in, I just find it more reliable and longer lasting. Ideally you don’t have lighting on when you’re not outside as the birds and wildlife prefer dark skies. Warmer colours are gentler on the human eye but then cool bright light is more helpful to see and even read.
Candles or hurricane lamps can give a soft glow with the flame throwing shapes onto the walls. Putting nightlights in jam jars is a great cheap option and you could use some nightlights treated with citronella to deter insects. Again lighting can help to define a space and reinforce the activity for that area.
Irrigation
This year I have renovated a terrace in central Madrid which already had some pots and plants but whilst some were thriving others weren’t so much. So along with repotting and purchasing new plants I installed an irrigation system. My client is a busy mum and I knew that watering the plants consistently would reap the rewards.
She’s a big fan of Jasmine and having repotted two into a wider and importantly deeper pot they are now romping across the trellis. They continued growing during the heat of high summer even though many plants slowed down. I’m sure this is in large part down to the water it consistently receives. I’ve set the timer for 06:40 for 20 minutes and all the plants are doing brilliantly. If you water at the beginning of the day in a place with extreme summer heat it means the plant still has some reserve in late afternoon when it’s hottest (around 17:00-18:00) whereas if you’ve watered in the evening by this time it would be gasping for water. So in short put in a micro drip system with nozzles for each pot and maybe two per planter depending on its size.
How a garden designer can help
We can help to plan your outdoor space and get the most out of it. We can advise on plants which you’ll love and will thrive in your individual space and the pots or planters where they’ll grow.
Suggesting furniture, lighting and the irrigation is also something we can offer.