The Balcony Gardener Blog
Essential Balcony Gardening Kit
Wednesday, February 1st, 2012
Continuing our series of blogs in conjunction with the release of Isabelle’s upcoming book “The Balcony Gardener,” we’re featuring our essential guide to setting yourself up as a Balcony Gardener, perfect if you’re a gardening novice.
This week, we’re looking at the essential Balcony Gardening kit which will help you get started. It can be a bit daunting to know where to start and what to invest in, so Isabelle can help you with her top tips!
- WATERING CANS / GARDEN HOSES
To keep your balcony garden healthy and flourishing it will need occasional watering. I would recommend using a couple of smaller watering cans as opposed to one large one which can often get pretty heavy when filled with water. A long spout is also useful to reach plants in a container, I would also suggest buying a rose attachment which gives a softer shower which is ideal when watering seeds and other delicate plants. If you want to use a hose either be sure you have an outdoor tap or you can use a hose attachment for an indoor tap.
- TROWELS AND HAND FORKS
Finding the right tools and the right fit is essential, when you’re shopping try using the tools in the shop. You want to make sure that they’re comfortable and easy to handle. I think stainless steel trowels and hand forks are much more effective and last a lot longer.
- PRUNERS
There can still be wayward plants on a balcony that will need cutting back so you will need a good pair of hand pruners or secateurs. If you decide to grow laurel, bamboo, evergreens or roses they will need a regular tidy-up.
- SEED-SOWING
It’s always best as a matter of course to buy quality organic seeds, produce that is free from chemical interference. As a rule I would recommend coir pots to sow seeds in, they’re much more environmentally friendly that plastic pots or polysterene which can rot down in potting mix.
- BRACKETS FOR WINDOW BOXES
It’s very important when you’re suspending window boxes and troughs on a balcony garden that they are securely fixed. Make sure you hang the box or trough on the inside of the balcony and not over the edge where they could fall and injure a passer-by. You can buy adjustable brackets to match the filled weight of the window box.
- PLANT LABELS AND OTHER USEFUL ITEMS
It’s important to use labels when sowing seeds so that you can recognise seeds after you’ve planted them. Make sure you use an indelible pens on labels and get into the habit of inserting labels as soon as you’ve planted the seeds. Don’t feel that you have to only use plastic labels, there are plenty of more attractive metal, copper and slates. I also think it’s a good idea to use pot feet they help with drainage and deter slugs.
- SPRAY BOTTLES
Use a spray bottle to mist indoor plants, you can also use a spray bottle containing pesticide to tackle pests and diseases. Make sure you label the bottle correctly.
London Gardens – Geffrye Museum
Friday, January 27th, 2012
Summer in the Geffrye Museum Herb Garden. Source: www.geffrye-museum.org.uk
With the cold weather outside, it’s a good opportunity to take time out for some gardening inspiration. We ventured out to look at the beautiful Herb Garden at the Geffrye Museum in Hackney, and recently visited it a wintry afternoon in January. Whilst the gardens were closed we were able to look out from the warmth of the garden reading room and look at the formal layout, the herb garden and different planting styles.
The Geffrye Museum celebrates and explores British living rooms over a period of time from 1600 to current day. The collections of furniture, textiles and paintings are all displayed in period living rooms. The museum is located in old alms houses at the bottom of Kingsland Road, and is surrounded by some lovely gardens.
Summer in the Geffrye Museum Gardens. Source: www.londonholic.blogspot.com
The walled herb garden opened in 1992, and has matured into an oasis of beauty and botanical interest, which is particularly fitting considering its location in the East End – an area with strong tradition of gardening. The nearby parish of Shoreditch was home to a group of extremely influential nurseries in the 17th and 18th centuries. The current herb garden was built on derelict land located next to the Museum, and contains over 170 different herbs stretched out in 12 beds. and also includes a variety of plants traditionally associated with herb gardens such as roses, honeysuckles and lilies. The beds are divided into areas for specific uses – medicinal, cosmetic and household.
Similar to the living rooms, the gardens are then divided into different periods. You can visit the 17th century garden and look at the herbs and vegetables traditionally grown, comparing it to the formal structure of the later 18th century garden featuring gravel paths, geometric beds and clipped evergreen shrubs.
19th Century Garden, Geffrye Museum. Photo: Sunniva Harte
The 19th century garden design can be traced to archive photographs and descriptions of an actual garden Victorian garden in Hackney. It features a greenhouse, a shrubbery and an apple tree. Moving onto the 20th century garden the mixed borders are full of herbaceous and traditional cottage garden plants, this garden shows the influence of the gardening designer Gertrude Jekyll.
If you do happen to visit the gardens, we would recommend a Sunday in Spring the gardens re-open in April, and you can combine a visit with a trip to the nearby Columbia Road flower market.
Atticus and Finch Blog
Thursday, January 26th, 2012
Thank you so much to the talented stylist and writer, Emily Blunden, for giving us such a glowing review on her blog Atticus and Finch.
Saturday Telegraph Magazine
Thursday, January 26th, 2012
The Saturday Telegraph magazine featured our Eco Soda Bottle Bird Feeder Adaptor.
Junior
Thursday, January 26th, 2012
Junior magazine’s February issue featured our Fish Condo in black.
