Windy Balcony in Tower Block – What to Grow?

Hi all, newbie here!

In short, my balcony gets very windy so looking for plants that will thrive in these conditions and ultimately attract birds.

I rent a corner flat that occupies the top two floors of a tower block near Oldham. The top floor - at 140 feet up - has a 1.4 m wide L-shaped balcony over which the roof extends giving two 6 m x 1.5 m open 'windows' atop the 1 m high L-shaped wall. The balcony aspects face directly north and east. The wall is topped with 30 cm wide 4 cm high wooden copings that extend about 3 cm either side of the wall.



Location and attitude dictate that the balcony experiences gusty winds (force 7–8) all throughout the year (mainly from SE and NW) and less frequently very strong gusty winds (force 8–9) from the east and north east. Wind strength is greatest across the corner of the balcony and tamest towards the ends (where I currently store some boxes).

There is a grove at the bottom of tower block that attracts a wide variety of birds and I would like to attract some up to the balcony but I’ve been told I need plants that attract insects first. I’ve tried bird feeders but they don’t seem to work. Funnily enough I am 'plagued' by wasps which sadly puts paid to sitting out on the balcony especially in late summer.

So can you very clever and much more experienced people suggest a solution for the north-facing balcony only that meets the criteria:

• does not include any permanent or 'damaging' fixtures or alterations (as I am renting)
• will brighten up my otherwise very sad and drab balcony
• will attract birds to the balcony
• will thrive in near-constant windy and very windy conditions
• doesn't involve too many items in case I have to move to another flat without a balcony
• relatively cheap – I know gardening is very expensive!

Sorry to ramble on!

 

Honestly, a lot of birds don't tend to head that high up. Seagulls and birds of prey do, of course, but not the smaller ones that you're trying to attract.

The weather conditions are also very much against you too. You've mentioned the wind and lack of sunlight, but severe cold in the winter is also going to be a factor. I think you're mostly looking at seriously hardy evergreens here.

Mahonia would be one option. Amongst evergreens, it has the rare quality of giving us flowers and scent. It could get a bit large, but you can always trim it as needed.

Any kind of cypress will also work. You probably want columnar types to stand in corners. They're not the most interesting thing ever, but they'll add some reliable green to your balcony.

A different evergreen is cryptomeria japonica elegans "Nana". Instead of the normal spiky needles of evergreens, or even the leathery foliage of cypresses, it's got soft rubbery foliage. If you're planning on sitting out there, a plant which doesn't spike you when you accidentally lean on it is a bonus. All the foliage also turns a brilliant orange in winter, which is rather cool.

For a non-evergreen, if you're happy using a planter with a trellis (get one which is all-in-one so you don't have to fasten it to the wall) then a honeysuckle would likely be fine. They're pretty bomb-proof. The downside is that they're only dry branches in winter, just when you want something to liven up your view.

 

Oh, I just looked at dimensions. Forget the honeysuckle - way too big for the space.

 

Hi @Caecius , a nice challenge! And a very nice view

I agree with Graham that sturdy planters with fixed trellis could work very well. They come in different sizes and Argos has very reasonably priced ones.

You could have two shorter ones (or paired back to back for extra sturdiness) around seating area, they would be good wind breaks. Longer versions would go against the walls. If in doubt of the wind tolerance, it's worth asking the landlord if she would mind a couple of screw hoels to fix the tops into the walls. Many landlords are happy when tenants show interest in making the place nice.

Regarding the planting, my vote goes for an evergreen Lonicera as the base planting. Henryi is tough as old boots and will grow well in low light. It does get big, but that's just a bonus with space like that. You could erect a wire between the tops of planter trellis and allow the plant to twine along. Lonicera will not attach to the wall, it twines around the support so no damage to the walls.


Here's an idea how this kind of planters could be used and some links:



Long planter
Short planter
Lonicera Henryi (Morrisons often have this for about £2- it's vigorous and cuttings root easily)

 

Thanks very much Graham & Selleri for your creative ideas! I hadn't considered using a trellis to get some height. Thanks also for the suggestions for plants.

I think I would have to ask to the landlord about fixing the trellis to the wall as the wind across the corner area of the balcony can be viscous.

You mention the lack of light, but to be honest the building is isolated (one reason it's so windy) and the east side gets the full the blast of the morning sun as it rises to noon so it never feels very shady - plants may disagree of course!

My other thought was some sort of planters that would hang from over the wall(s) but I suppose that requires a sturdy frame of just the right size and shape:



What are your thoughts on this re the wind and ready availability of such hangers? What plants would be suited to this?

 

Windowsill box planters are an option, but the brackets would have to be very very sturdy and enclose the planter tightly. Any flimsier hook would risk getting damaged when the winds hit. A sturdy set up could also leave marks on the wood if it is heavy and moves a bit in the winds.

Personally I'd use planters on the floor just in case. Oh, and big, heavy and flat based at that- I had a tall shrub in a 50cm very heavy container and it blew constantly over when it was in an unsheltered spot.

Any planting you put in will help with the winds. Straight, bare walls for a perfect wind tunnel but the planting will break the blast a bit.

Good to hear you do get some sun. That definitely increases the selection of plants that can grow happily in your oasis-to-be

What plants do you like? Showy flowers, muted colours, herbs, scent, lush foliage...?

Oh, and a note from a visit to my back garden paving. Birds are great but they do have accidents. Bird poop is one of the most maddening things to scrub off wooden flooring or furniture.

 

Of course you're quite right about the wall boxes.

I'm a complete blank slate when it comes to gardening unfortunately. I quite like the idea of mainly of green foliage up to around the wall height with perhaps the odd flowering plant nearer the floor (of the type that deter wasps perhaps lol). I should have said that the (living) room has huge 5m wide floor-to-ceiling windows/door looking onto the balcony north and east so it would be nice to look at greenery instead of the white rendered walls.

Something vaguely like this perhaps:

 

Your situation and vision sound amazing.

The upright plants in the photo seem to be bamboo. I have no experience with them at all. The search function on the site will probably bring up useful topics regarding suitable bamboos for containers. There are so many people with hands-on experience on various plants and situations here that if you find a topic where someone is giving good advice, just @ them in your question.

The wasps are something that needs to be sorted out, very likely they have a nest in the roof structure or even under the floor boards. Wasps can be dangerous. First of all, it's good to double check that they are indeed wasps and not another similar looking but different (harmless) species. If you can spot the nest somewhere in the guttering or underside the roof, do not tackle it yourself but make the landlord aware.