The heather blooms purple on every second balcony, which is why this “last attempt” encourages passers-by to yawn rather than look at it happily. Do it differently – unusual but robust and frost-hardy plants, combinations and ideas are available in abundance. And there are even ways to actually use the beautifully planted balcony in winter:
Unusual planting
This doesn't necessarily mean unusual plants, but rather it's about focusing attention on the entire range of what's available:
- The Christmas rose is one of the absolutely frost-hardy winter bloomers that you can use to decorate an entire winter balcony
- Because this plant is eagerly cultivated, it is now available in a whole range of colors
- White, cream, yellow, green, pink, orange, magenta, violet red, (almost) black, everything included
- In plain color and with decorative stripes on the edge of the flower, with dots on the flowers or iridescent colors
- Helleborus niger blooms from November and, depending on the variety, may not finish flowering until May
Other candidates that can replace the classic heather planting:
- Purple bells, Heuchera, only show the colorful flowers of their various varieties in early summer, but decorate the winter balcony with colorful leaves
- Pfaffenhütchen, Euonymus europaeus, also grow in pots and have bright red until late in the year
- Sedum, Sedum, can also contribute varieties with reddish leaves
- Perhaps the leaves of the cork spindle bush Euonymus alatus will be a little more bright red until late into autumn
- The low false berry Gaultheria procumbens also thrives in balcony boxes
- It is called wintergreen, which is correct because the leaves stay on in winter, and incorrect because they have long since turned bronze-red in autumn
- The small red fruits also stay on the plant for a long time and help the birds over the winter
Unusual design
A balcony planting with wintergreen plants offers a wide field for creative decoration:
- A new rhododendron called 'Bloombux' grows so compactly that it also thrives in voluminous balcony boxes
- The “plant breeding answer to boxwood dieback” has very small leaves and can be cut into figures
- With the right fertilizer it has just the right dark green for Christmas decorations in winter
- And in summer you have a surprise on your side with the “boxwood full of pink flowers”
- The good old ivy (Hedera) is a climbing artist that has green leaves all winter long
- It can do a lot with your balcony if you build appropriate trellises in the box
- There are sources of supply for wire figures on the Internet, as well as instructions for bending them yourself
- Mühlenbeckias also stay green in winter, spreading out in the box, over its edge and on gently curved trellises
- They form very soft surfaces
- The Mühlenbeckias can also tolerate decoration, in a very unique way that suits them
Tip:
If you want to live with climbing plants on the winter balcony, they should be planted in spring. This means that the plants can grow in really well and can withstand the cold well, and by winter the greenery has already grown.
Unusual green color games
On the city balcony in front of the classic Wilhelminian style house, a clear, elegant, green version is often best:
- Conifers are evergreen and hardy and are available in dwarf varieties in sizes suitable for balconies
- Occidental tree of life, Thuja 'Little Giant', 'Teddy'
- Mountain pine, Pinus mugo, natural species and variety 'Mops'
- Green creeping juniper, juniperus communis 'Green Carpet'
- Hat spruce, Picea glauca ‘Conica’
- Japanese weeping larch, Larix kaempferi 'Stiff Weeper',
- Japanese creeping juniper, Juniperus procumbens ‘Nana’
- Japanese sickle fir, Cryptomeria japonica 'Dinger'
- Creeping juniper, Juniperus horizontalis ‘Wiltonii’
- Muscle cypress, Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Gracilis'
- Cypress, Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera Sungold'
- Scale juniper, Juniperus squamata, varieties 'Blue Carpet' and 'Blue Star'
- Juniper, Juniperus chinensis ‘Old Gold’
- Dwarf spruce, Picea abies ‘Tompa’
Advantages of “Dwarf Trees”:
- The Dwarves offer every green found on the color palette
- In addition to the wide bush and the narrow column, there are many other expressive growth forms
- From the “messy corner growth” to hanging growth forms to the “rocket-like sky-striker” it’s all there
- Dwarf conifers also work on separate pitches, few plants=lots of green
Unusual combinations
Combinations of various plants work without any additional decoration:
- Various combinations of the plants just mentioned have what it takes to become a decorative star
- Winter-hardy grasses bring higher evergreen growth to the balcony
- Pennisetum alopecuroides, grows in upright green stalks to heights of 1.20 m
- The varieties 'Hameln', 'Moudry' and 'Piglet' remain smaller (50 cm or less) and are suitable for balconies
- It develops yellow-green to dark purple false spikes as inflorescences that remain until late autumn
- Sedges, Carex, are sold in all sorts of varieties, heights and colors, including very unusual colors like rust red or dark blue-green
- Combining them creates very different effects depending on the “combination partner”, from loudly colorful to calm and elegant
- A nice combination suggestion with lots of colors and shapes
- If you like it playful, bring appropriate Christmas decorations into play
Tip:
If you choose Pennisetum grass for winter balcony planting, you should pay attention to the species: On August 2, 2017, 12 new species were added to the Union list of invasive alien species that are not allowed to be introduced into Europe. Among them is the African pennisetum or feather bristle grass with the scientific name Pennisetum setaceum. There will probably be neither controls nor any pen alties for individual pennisetum grasses in private areas because that would hardly be possible given the effort involved. But perhaps you will be happy that the EU and German government are committed to ensuring that we are not overrun by invasive species and are voluntarily refraining from planting the spreading grass (which overgrows native plants in no time, the rarer and more sensitive they are, the sooner).). Your source doesn't list the botanical plant names? Then you can no longer be advised to buy; However, there is usually no great danger - anyone who sells plants "without a name" (only the scientific name guarantees reliable identification) usually doesn't have much knowledge of plant care and delivers plants that do not survive to seed formation.
Unusual features
Planting the balcony only for other people because you don't use it even in winter is a wonderful gesture for the community. The whole thing becomes even more satisfying if you also benefit from the appropriate equipment on the winter balcony:
Heater
If you don't just want to use your balcony in winter to "step outside the door for a moment", you can't avoid a heater (even if you have an outdoor fireplace on the balcony). What a few years ago was only possible for people with their own wind energy farm is now possible for everyone:
The latest technology in infrared heaters ensures a reduction in energy consumption, making it possible to spend a few hours on the beautiful, warm balcony more often without doubling the monthly electricity bill.
Winter accessories
If the balcony is used in winter, the balcony furniture must remain outside, but needs a little cozy additional equipment:
Lots of blankets and pillows really invite you to temporarily turn the balcony into a living room, even in winter. However, cuddling up in the textiles will only be a pleasant experience if they are not cooled down to below zero.
Housing and protection
If the balcony is planted all year round, you will benefit from a garden cupboard on the balcony anyway. It is also available in weatherproof versions. When this garden cupboard is placed on the warm wall of the house, it usually keeps the cuddly accessories ready in pleasant temperatures.
If not, blankets and pillows should find a place inside on the balcony so that they can be taken outside when they are nice and warm. Fleece and/or bubble wrap should also be stored in the garden cupboard so that all outdoor equipment, including balcony plants, can be packed up if there is a bad frost, storm or snow (raining).
Lighting
Light is necessary on the winter balcony because it is often dark when you have time to chill out. No problem with the offer available today:
Outdoor fairy lights, electric and mechanical lanterns, lanterns with candles, etc. put you in a good mood, even on a dark winter balcony. And of course you can also bring Christmas spirit with your decorations.
Outdoor fireplace
The hit for the winter balcony, which is therefore in great demand right now. As nice as the cozy place in front of the roaring fire is - before you get started, the chimney sweep in charge must give his approval.
