Balconies and terraces in cities are substitutes for gardens. Recently, it has become more and more fashionable to plant conifers in containers or pots and place them on balconies or terraces. It is not surprising, because evergreen conifers on balconies and terraces look attractive and elegant, being a year-round decoration. Find out which conifers for the balcony and terrace are the best and how to care for them.
Conifers for balcony and terrace
What conifers are the best for a balcony and terrace
Conifers on balconies and terracesare prone to rapid drying of the substrate, and on hot days the temperature conditions become even extreme.Conifer species and varieties should be resistant to frost, drought and frequent temperature fluctuations. Conifers with a compact, well-developed root system, which will allow them to make maximum use of nutrients and water, are especially valuable.
It is also worth paying attention tochoose conifers on the balcony or terraceslow-growing or dwarf, with a diverse habit and color of needles. Thanks to this, the potted composition of conifers on the balcony or terrace will be colorful and attractive for many years. It will be a durable and requiring little maintenance miniature garden on the balcony.
Here isthe best conifers for the balcony and terrace :
Creeping, hanging varieties of blue color:
- Creeping juniper Glauca
- Creeping juniper of Wiltonii
- Juniper creeping Douglasii
Creeping, hanging, yellow varieties:
- Common juniper Depressa Aurea
- Creeping Juniper Plumosa (turns reddish brown red in autumn)
Low, compact, blue varieties:
- Blue Star juniper
Low, hemispherical and spherical green varieties:
- Balsam Fir Nana
- Mountain Pine Pug (looks nice in a stem form)
- Humpy mountain pine (also looks nice in a stem form)
- Winter Gold Mountain Pine (turns yellow in winter)
- Ophir Mountain Pine (also turns yellow in winter)
- Bosnian Schmidtii pine (also available as a stalk)
- Alberta Globe White Spruce
- Norway spruce Echiniformis
- Norway spruce Little Gem
- Norway spruce Pumila Nigra
- Western Thuja (thuja) Danica
- Western Thuja (thuja) Hoserii
Low, hemispherical and spherical, blue varieties:
- White Spruce Echiniformis
Low, conical, green varieties:
- Conica white spruce
- Laurin white spruce
Note!Larch varieties grafted on a trunk in the form of trees have also become fashionable on balconies. Remember, however, that larch drops its needles for the winter and is only a seasonal decoration.
How to plant conifers on the balcony and terrace
The shape and color of the containers is a matter of individual preferences. However, it is worth remembering that pots in bright colors will heat up slower. The size is very important and should be adapted to the size of the plants, the volume of the root system and the number of conifers planted.The limited area of the pot exposesconifers on balconies and terracesto drying out in summer and freezing in winter. Containers should have drainage holes for drainage of excess water and adequate drainage. For this purpose, the bottom of the container should be covered with a fairly thick layer of gravel, expanded clay or broken clay pots.The best substrate for planting conifers on balconies and terraces is high peat mixed with pine bark, in a 1: 1 ratio, the whole thing is also good enrich with multi-component fertilizers. The pH of the soil and the amount of fertilizers should be adjusted to the preferences of the selected conifer variety. Remember that the substrate should reach 3-4 cm below the rim of the container so that the water does not leak out of the pot immediately after watering. The substrate should be mulched with pine bark, peat or gravel to reduce water evaporation from the soil.
How to care for conifers on the balcony and terrace
In spring, we use low-concentration multi-component liquid fertilizers or one-time slow-release fertilizers.It is important to systematically water the conifers in containers, which will prevent the roots from drying out. Annual increments ofconifers on balconies and terracesin container conditions are usually small. However, if they grow excessively, they can be trimmed and shaped. Conifers that grow longer than 3-5 years should be absolutely transplanted into new and larger containers, and if we already have a garden, they can also be planted directly into the ground.
How to secure conifers on a balcony for the winter
In late autumn, we protect conifers in containers against frost, as well as other year-round balcony plants. Water them generously and cover them with jute, corrugated paper or white fleece against drying winds. If possible, the container with the conifer should be placed in a larger cardboard box. And the space between the pot and the cardboard box is filled with polystyrene, straw or sawdust. More sensitive species and varieties of conifers should be pitted with the container in the ground.
Katarzyna Matuszak
