Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Mar 31, 2010 4:39 pm I didn't want to hijack JJJ305's screening tree thread, therefore have started this one. I want some quick growing trees/shrubs that I can plant in large pots. It's for my balcony, which leads off the living area with those stackable glass door thingies. It's on the first floor, so people can see straight into my living area from across the street, if I have my roman blinds open. This is a rental property and I'll be here for the next 12 months. Therefore, I don't want something that weighs a tonne when it comes time to move. I'm in Central Vic, so the temperatures can get down to 0C in Winter. The balcony receives morning sun/afternoon shade (which will be excellent for Spring/Summer dining). What do you clever people think would be some good options? Thanks in advance Matilda P.S I'll post some pics of the space a bit later on. Re: Potted screening plants for a balcony. 2Mar 31, 2010 5:43 pm First of all, I'd look for lightweight planters - fibreglass or some sort of plastic....if they're a bit ugly, you can always paint them in a colour or effect you like. Then I'd have a look at what's available at your local nursery. Depending on how big the balcony is, you might be better to buy some reasonably advanced plants - if they're fairly big, you may only need three or four. I've seen some living screens done using yuccas, pittosporums (yawn), various plants labelled "lilly-pilly", bamboo, even Chinese star jasmine trained up supports. The pittos are pretty hardy, even though I don't really like them...and they don't seem to mind light frosts either. Some of the bamboo varieties will tolerate a bit of frost too. If you use taller pots, you could get away with plants with less height. Something a bit bushy but less than 1m tall in a 90cm pot could work well. I suppose anything that's traditionally used to screen boundaries would work, as long as it's not finicky about exposure to wind and frost. Re: Potted screening plants for a balcony. 3Mar 31, 2010 6:30 pm Kek, painting plastic pots is a great idea, thanks! How do you prepare the plastic pots for painting? I've considered potting my plants in those large, ugly black plastic pots and getting my dad to knock up a long planter style box with marine ply, which I could paint. Your idea is much cheaper I'm with you on the Pittos, not my cup of tea, although the James Stirlings don't look too bad. Bamboo is something I WOULD consider, I like the different varieties with different coloured stems and the green foliage. I had thought about planting a lemon and a lime, however I don't think they'd grow at the rate I want! Here's a couple of pics of the area I want to screen.... Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Potted screening plants for a balcony. 4Mar 31, 2010 7:14 pm Bamboo could look awesome (but check which varieties don't mind cool temperatures - I have Alphonse Karr), so could Tiger Grass. Both tend to be a bit expensive though. I got mine at rock-bottom prices, and the Tigers were $25 each for bushy plants about 1.2m high. The bamboo was seriously scary at $45, but they're decent clumps and over 180cm tall. Citrus would be fabulous, but unless you can afford biggish ones, you'll be waiting for that much-needed privacy. Have a look at Chris and Marie's website for some other screening ideas - they have a section on hedging or screening plants.... Re the pots: I bought fibreglass ones from Bunnings and they were cheaper than similar sized glazed ceramic, but still around $40 for big ones. I think you could paint plastic ones - I'd buy one and test it out first. Give it a wash and then a light sand first to rough the surface up a bit, then just use a roller or brush and paint on two coats of your chosen colour. Any exterior paint should do.... I used Wattyl Solarguard (acrylic - just get a litre, it goes a pretty long way) and it's holding up really well after more than 12 months. If it doesn't work, you haven't spent a fortune. These are the ones I painted in March last year: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ This site recommends using a primer first: http://www.ehow.com/how_4923370_paint-plastic-pots.html You could get funky and try a rust effect paint.... (Porter's and Hayme's both make one). I can't find a picture of a pot right now, but this is the effect you get: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Potted screening plants for a balcony. 5Apr 02, 2010 1:09 am Get as big a pot as possible. Make sure what goes in will come out again. Use great soil. It s__ts me when folks spend a fortune on plants and pots and then bugger the whole thing up with junk cheapo potting mix. This will have a direct affect on reducing the final result or preventing it happening at all. Lily pilys are messy! They get disease easy. One that is a bit better is Captain Cook. Murrayas will do well. Durantas will do well. Yeah cool season Bamboos, check out the Bamboo society for that stuff Vibernum tinus will be good. Photinias Citrus Metrosideros Any shrub really. Re: Potted screening plants for a balcony. 6Apr 08, 2010 8:18 pm kek Bamboo could look awesome (but check which varieties don't mind cool temperatures - I have Alphonse Karr), so could Tiger Grass. Both tend to be a bit expensive though. I got mine at rock-bottom prices, and the Tigers were $25 each for bushy plants about 1.2m high. The bamboo was seriously scary at $45, but they're decent clumps and over 180cm tall. Citrus would be fabulous, but unless you can afford biggish ones, you'll be waiting for that much-needed privacy. Have a look at Chris and Marie's website for some other screening ideas - they have a section on hedging or screening plants.... Re the pots: I bought fibreglass ones from Bunnings and they were cheaper than similar sized glazed ceramic, but still around $40 for big ones. I think you could paint plastic ones - I'd buy one and test it out first. Give it a wash and then a light sand first to rough the surface up a bit, then just use a roller or brush and paint on two coats of your chosen colour. Any exterior paint should do.... I used Wattyl Solarguard (acrylic - just get a litre, it goes a pretty long way) and it's holding up really well after more than 12 months. If it doesn't work, you haven't spent a fortune. These are the ones I painted in March last year: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ This site recommends using a primer first: http://www.ehow.com/how_4923370_paint-plastic-pots.html You could get funky and try a rust effect paint.... (Porter's and Hayme's both make one). I can't find a picture of a pot right now, but this is the effect you get: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Kek, Thanks so much for your reply. I'm liking the idea of bamboo more and more! Your pots look bloody excellent! Thanks for the pics and ideas, it's definitely formed an idea or two in my noggin. That rust effect paint I absolutely adore. I've had that filed away in my brain for my future home for a while now. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fu, Thanks for your reply and info as well. I couldn't agree more about getting a pot that you can get a plant and more importantly out of! So many designs of pots seem to be for the life of a plant, due to wide bodies and narrow openings. I don't understand these would be made?!! First time building 2 storey home in NSW. Below Current plan have separate balcony. But thinking to do a multipurpose lounge with balcony (kind of sunroom) in first floor… 0 4780 Well you won't get cooked by the afternoon sun when sitting out on the balcony on a summers afternoon but you won't have much to look at besides the neighbours… 4 3755 Dear all, Requesting your help in relation to a CDC code. We are building a new home in NSW on a corner lot (500m2, 15m wide) following Greenfield CDC code. Our design… 0 4784 |