A balcony on the north, east, south or west?

There are countless options for brightening up the balcony with plants; play with different heights, hang planters on the railing, let climbing plants grow along the wall and come up with a different planting for each season. Plant the plants in pots with holes so that the water can run out during a downpour and the roots don't rot. It is also smart to remove faded flowers, so that all the energy of the plant goes to the new flowers. And, very important, when choosing the plants, take into account the location of the balcony, because a north-facing balcony requires different plants than a south-facing balcony.

North-facing balcony

There is little sun in the north, so strong shade plants are particularly suitable, such as mountain tea, heart lily, ferns, skimmia and ivy. The bell plant (fuchsia), astilbe, begonia, hydrangea and the diligent lizzie also thrive in the shade.

East-facing balcony

You can catch the first rays of the sun on an east-facing balcony. In the afternoon there is mainly shade. A mix of sun lovers and shade plants is therefore ideal. Plants that grow well on an east-facing balcony include marigold, vervain, palm lily, pansy, immortelle and petunia.

South-facing balcony

Very sunny, so choose plants that grow well in full sun and can withstand drought; carnations, daisies, roses, lavender, grape and pelargonium. Note: give the plants enough moisture to prevent dehydration.

West-facing balcony

A west-facing balcony catches wind quickly because the wind in the Netherlands often blows from the southwest. Therefore, opt for a set of sturdy plants that can take a beating, such as bamboo, boxwood, cyclamen, house garlic, heather and Spanish daisy.

Written by: Lotte Coers