Nutmegs used to mean certainty. They bloomed all summer, survived the wind, drought and the occasional forgotten watering and were passed down almost from generation to generation on the balconies. But times have changed. Today, we want the balcony to be not just a colorful backdrop, but a place where we can really relax.
Muscats have had their place on Czech balconies for decades. They are durable, known and reliable. But that is precisely why they start to bore many people. If you look at today you will hardly find geraniums in foreign magazines or at home architects. In their place, plants appear that work not only with the flower, but mainly with the shape, structure of the leaves and the overall impression of the space. The balcony should no longer be just a show of colors, but a small design corner where you can sit, breathe and look.
On video fromCese decoration with tips for design balcony gardens, see on YouTube:
Choose all-season plants
They are a big trend in recent years which look good all season long, not just at peak bloom. Therefore, designers reach for species that keep their shape, have interesting leaves and do not look tired even in the hot summer. A typical example is overhanging plants with delicate but dense flowers that fill the box naturally and without the need for constant pinching. The balcony does not look overpriced, but more like a well-thought-out unit.
More and more often, flowering is also combined with greenery. Plants with distinctive leaves get the same space on balconies as flowers, sometimes even more. It is the leaves that create a calm background and make the colors of the flowers stand out. Thanks to this, the balcony does not look chaotic and does not appear overpaid, which is a common problem with classic geranium plantings.
“Geraniums are not bad plants, but they are often not enough for today’s balconies. They need a lot of sun and have a heavy visual effect. In a small space, they easily overpower everything else and instead of a quiet corner, a colorful chaos is created,” garden designer Radek Holub explained to Recipe.
A natural screen against neighbors
Privacy also plays a big role today. Balcony plants are not only chosen according to how they bloom, but also according to how they can optically close the space. Taller species or denser green clumps act as a natural screen against neighbors and the street. At the same time, they look much more pleasant than artificial screens or reed mats. Thanks to them, the balcony gets the feeling of a garden, even if you are several floors above the ground.
Modern plantings also work with contrast. Delicate flowers are combined with bold leaves, fresh greens are mixed with darker shades, and drooping plants are complemented by upright ones. The result does not seem haphazard, but as a well-thought-out whole that changes throughout the season and still has something to offer. This variability is why designers often abandon geraniums.
In terms of care, it is nothing complicated. Most modern balcony plants cope with the normal conditions of urban balconies and do not need more than regular watering and occasional fertilization. What is more important is the correct location. A sunny balcony can tolerate different species than a north-facing one, but that’s the magic, you can customize the plant selection.
If you don’t want your balcony to look like it’s from the last century, you don’t have to completely reject geraniums. Just supplement or replace them with plants that work with shape, height and leaf. The balcony will then cease to be just a place for flowers and become a full-fledged part of living, where you can sit, read and spend summer evenings.
