There's nothing quite like sitting outside on your own balcony, but the openness of a railed balcony can sometimes make you feel like you're in a display window. Many people then look for a solution to create more privacy. While a plastic screen or a reed mat is functional, it often lacks the vibrancy and atmosphere you long for on a balcony. A climbing plant balcony screen is the ultimate solution. It combines the practical benefits of privacy and wind protection with the soothing appearance of nature. In this article, we explain how to create a beautiful green screen on a railed balcony and why the right planter is half the battle.
The benefits of a living balcony screen
Choosing a climbing plant balcony screen has countless advantages over 'dead' materials. Firstly, plants improve the air quality around your apartment. They capture particulate matter and produce oxygen, which is a big plus in an urban environment. In addition, a green wall has a sound-absorbing effect; the leaves break the sound waves of city traffic, making your balcony noticeably quieter.
Aesthetically, there's no comparison. Where a standard balcony screen often discolors or gets dirty over time, a screen of climbing plants becomes more beautiful and fuller every year. Moreover, it offers a dynamic view: you see the seasons change in the color of the leaves or the appearance of flowers. On a railed balcony, this effect is even stronger, as the plants can beautifully curl around the metal bars.
Why a railed balcony and climbing plants are a match
A railed balcony is essentially a ready-made climbing frame for your plants. Where in a normal garden you often have to stretch wooden trellises or wires, the balcony railing immediately provides support. The plants can attach themselves to the rails and thus form a dense fabric. This creates a climbing plant balcony screen that is very sturdy and won't just blow away.
However, the problem is often the place where the plant needs to grow. Traditional hanging baskets on the railing are often too small for the roots of a strong climber, and they sometimes cannot handle the weight of a mature climbing plant. This is where the Vercony planter comes in. Our planter stands on the ground and extends through the rails. This gives the plant a stable base and enough space to root deeply, while the tendrils can find their way up the rails directly from the ground.
The best climbing plants for your balcony screen
Not every climber is the same. The choice for your balcony screen with climbing plants depends on the location of your balcony and how much maintenance you want to do:
- Ivy (Hedera Helix): The undisputed champion for privacy. Ivy grows fast, is hardy, and stays green all year round. It attaches effortlessly to the rails and quickly forms an impenetrable screen.
- Clematis: For those who love color. Clematis blooms beautifully with large flowers. It is a 'leaf-stem climber', which means it needs help to hold on; the rails of your balcony are ideal for this. Please note: most species lose their leaves in winter.
- Climbing Hydrangea: A slower grower, but with beautiful results. In summer, you can enjoy large white flower clusters. It is a very strong plant that can withstand wind well.
- Passionflower: For an exotic touch on a sunny balcony. This climber grows rapidly and produces the most unusual flowers, but sometimes needs some protection in winter.
Step-by-step plan: Creating your green screen
Do you want to get started with a climbing plant balcony screen? Follow this simple step-by-step plan for a long-lasting beautiful result:
- Choose the right planter: Use the Vercony through-rail planter. Because it stands on the ground, the roots have more coolness and stability than in a hanging basket.
- Good drainage: Fill the bottom of the planter with a layer of hydro granules. This prevents the roots of your climbing plants from rotting during heavy rain.
- Nutrient-rich soil: Climbers use a lot of energy to grow upwards. Therefore, use high-quality potting soil rich in nutrients.
- Guide the growth: In the beginning, you need to help the young shoots. Gently weave the branches between the rails. Once they have a foothold, they will do the rest themselves.
Privacy without losing contact
The beauty of a climbing plant balcony screen in combination with the Vercony planter is that you have control over its density. Unlike a plastic screen, which is 100% opaque, you can vary with plants. Do you only want to close off the bottom to block views from the street? Then prune the plant at the top. Do you want a complete green wall? Then let the tendrils grow all the way to the top railing.
Because the Vercony planter extends through the rails, you see green both inside and out. This gives your balcony a sense of depth that you will never achieve with a flat screen. You create, as it were, a living painting between the rails.
The Vercony philosophy: Smart green
At Vercony, we understand that a balcony should be a place of tranquility, not a place of worries about rattling screens or scratches on the railing. Our planters are the ideal partner for your climbing plant balcony screen. They are robust, safe, and specifically designed for the unique structure of a railed balcony. By letting the plants start on the ground, we mimic the natural growth habit of climbers, resulting in healthier and stronger plants.
Conclusion
A climbing plant balcony screen is the most stylish and sustainable way to achieve privacy on your balcony. It softens the metal of the rails, brings color to your outdoor space, and provides a wonderful scent and coolness in summer. With the Vercony planter as a base, you have the perfect tool to make this green project a success. Say goodbye to those boring screens and choose a living balcony that you can enjoy every day!
