Botanical Traditions - Spring Street

Balcony gardens are difficult due to a number of factors.

HEAT VARIATION
There are a number of horticultural problems which are created by fluctuations in the temperature of the root zone. One of these is that water evaporates from the surface at a higher rate. However, a much greater problem is disease control and fertiliser regulation. In very general terms fungal problems increase in soil if the soil is warm, especially if the soil becomes water logged or stays moist for any period of time. Plants which have a waterlogging problem actually look wilted so it is easy to think that they are been underwatered and water more compounding the issue.

LACK OF ROOT RUN
In a roof top or balcony situation typically very fast growing and tough plants are chosen. Plants with these traits can generally tolerate the sometimes harsh conditions which can exist in these exposed situations. They also quickly grow if replacement plants are required - for instance in your hedge. However, in general root run is limited so plants happily grow for a number of years but will require replacement as over time the growing media looses air pockets, nutrients and structure. The roots basically run out of new growing media to exploit.