The best ideas for balcony design

Reinterpreting everyday objects - ideas for unorthodox planters

In the attic, in the basement or at flea markets, there are countless ideas to discover to showcase balcony plants in a smart and unconventional way. Which everyday objects like to use in their second life Flower box(€ 149.00 at Amazon *) or buckets demonstrate the following suggestions:

• Plant old shoes or boots with colorful succulents
• Fill an upside-down umbrella with substrate to plant flowers, grasses or herbs
• Colored pots with balcony plants hang between the steps of a ladder
• Convert wooden drawers in a shabby look into a planter

Discarded zinc tubs, milk cans, washtubs and wheelbarrows from the farm form a congenial partnership with balcony plants to amaze every observer.

Repurpose annual climbing plants as privacy screens

Those who do not like to sit on the presentation plate on their balcony prefer annual climbing plants as a blooming privacy screen. Moved forward on the windowsill and planted in a box with an integrated trellis in mid-May, the following sky-hikers with dense leaves and flowers ward off curious glances:

• Black-eyed Susan (Thunbergia alata)
• Morning glories (ipomoea)
• Sweet peas (Lathyrus)
• Mandevilla (Dipladenia)

The particular advantages of annual climbing flowers are their low weight and the never-ending flowering period. Since the plants do not lignify, they are also suitable as floral lightweights for the small balcony. In the sunny, warm location, the glowing flowers remain until the first frost.

Convert wooden pallets into herb beds

Inventive balcony gardeners have discovered wooden pallets to make them stylish Flower boxes to conjure up. A single Euro pallet is enough as the starting material for a stylish herb bed. Up to 6 plant compartments are created, which offer the popular balcony herbs ideal framework conditions.

Cheeky and unmistakable - discarded jeans as a flower pot

Are you in the mood for plant pots that will cause a sensation on the balcony? Then don't put your worn-out jeans in the used clothing collection anymore. This is how a pair of jeans turns into a perky flowerpot:

• Stuff a pair of brightly colored rubber boots with newspaper and tuck your pant legs into them
• Fill your jeans up to the buttocks with construction foam and position them on the balcony in the desired position
• Put a matching flower bowl with a heavy stone in the waistband
• Fix the waistband with a tension belt until the construction foam has dried after 48 hours

Stone and lashing strap are removed after the drying time. You can now plant the flower bowl as you wish. As an authentic decoration, pull a belt, colored hemp rope or cloth through the loops on the waistband.