The Pigeon Balcony [ Turn into a Garden ]

Location

I live in a multi storey flat that has a balcony with an amazing view.

Visitors

I have a family of pigeons that use it as home. They laid 2 squab eggs in my wooden peg box. The only downside is their excretion.

Gardening

I would like to make more use of my balcony and turn it into a garden of some kind. I've basic knowledge of gardening if any at all. I would like help from yourselves as a community to help on the design of the space as its limited:

i.e:

• Usage of space.
• Deck flooring ?
• BBQ ?
• Choice of plants, pots, vegetables, soil etc.

These are just examples to give you an idea of what I need to do also you shall need to take in consideration that I live in the sky.

Images



These are photographs of different angles of the balcony. I have tried to give you a visual element to work on and to grasp what I need to do.




Much appreciated for your time, interest and knowledge. I look forward to reading replies from yourselves.

Please don't hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards.

Dan.

 

omg you're well high up but as u said the view is great i hope you've got a lift. How big is it?

 

Hello aswell Bob and thank you. Thanks for the insight and looks beautiful and passionate. However, I'm more after the knowledge aspect as the only capability of having a garden area is my balcony. Since I'm 100ft+ in the sky I'm not sure what is best for a balcony and so forth. I'm a complete beginner and don't know where to start and what to use. Do's, dont's, pros, cons for my locality.

 

Yes its very high. I believe 130-150ft. Yes there are two lifts for each floor. One for odds and the other for evens. I live on lucky No13.

 

lol sorry I meant how big is the balcony? I can't picture it and i wondered how much room there was and what could be fitted on it.

 

Would agree, Rosa's balcony should give you a fair few idea's. Its packed with stuff !!

As soon as she comes online I dare say she will be able to give you lots of tips on how to get started

 

Hiya,

That's a bit too high up for me-get a bit nervous near anything too high., but marvellous views. I'm sure it will be a haven when you have done.

 

Hi Dan! Welcome to GC. Which direction does your balcony face? How windy is it typically?? Those panels on the bottom bit are they solid?? Any ideas on what sort of style you would like to achieve?? It really IS an amazing view!!!!

 

The floor surface is 1070mm x 3550mm. The height of the sides is 1090mm.

 

I've not got a compass for exact direction. However, using google maps I've taken a satellite picture and assuming top is classed as north:



If you sit down below the sheltered sides on a windy day I believe this area to be unaffected.

The panels are solid steel.

I'm not sure on style. I want it to feel snug ( when sitting down below the sides. )

I would like to have a rectangular free-standing BBQ.

I believe due to the shape and space narrow troughs would be appropriate for soil. I would love to be able to grow some kind of vegetables and colorful plants. It is possible to drill into concrete for any fixtures.

 

hi blind, just been looking at your balcony space you could definately make that balcony a bit more private, you could get some pretty strong trellis and nail it around fairly high to make it private, wish i was there to show you, might be a bit difficult growing veg ive tried on my balcony with little success, climbers would be fine, clematis and other different ones would be ok, look in my rosas balcony, container gardening.im not as high as you but im on a third floor.
i had a small barby and it blew up in flames on my balcony i wouldnt do it again was frightened in case my trellis caught on fire, i have a arch at front of my kitchen window and just put another one in opposite direction towards front of my balcony.
good luck and iff you want to ask anything else only to happy to advise

 

Hi Dan. Just wondering if you could replace those panels with some perspex or some sturdy wire mesh to let more light in? You would have a better choice of plants that way. You could also firmly fix some planters like in the pic all along the top of the railing. Some herbs would be nice near the BBQ area for cooking. A small square patio set with 2 chairs would fit nicely as well. Hope this helps you out a bit!

 

Many thanks.

Do Clematis give off a nice aroma?

Are tomatoes possible to grow in my location?

Regards.

 

There are 3 panels; 2 are translucent glass and 1 is steel. I wouldn't want to replace them as they are firmly in place also would be abit dangerous at that height.

I do like that decking you provided as it looks warm, comfortable and relaxing.

Regards.

 

hi blind, clematis are lovely cant say ive had one that has an aroma, but i have honeysuckle they do, clematis are the easiest to grow on balconys, tomatoes im not sure in your location but ive tried no success, i even put in a tomato rambling one for hanging baskets and it just wilted and died just recently, on a balcony its trial and error ive lost a lot of flowers but as you will see what i have they are growing very succesfully.
i would just put over trellis and you could even put decking on the floor i have mine tiled and it looks lovely, mind by the time you do floor put trellis up or whatever you decide on clematis will grow quick and flower other climbers your talking at least 3 years for them to secure and establish but its worth it