Senior Moments - The Campbellford Seniors Club Newsletter Issue #22: April - June 2017 | Page 10

information & news
Weather Conditions
To ensure you are buying and
growing plants that are suited to
your particular weather zone, look
no further than your local plant
shop: they won’t stock anything
that won’t survive in your weather
conditions (or they shouldn’t).
Make sure that you are purchasing
plants that are intended to go
outside.
However, you also need to consider
the micro-climate of your own
outdoor space. In particular, what
kind of light does your space get
and how many hours of it? Is your
balcony windy or sheltered? Is it
perpetually shady? The answers to
these questions will narrow down
the specific types of plants that
will be happiest in your balcony
garden.
Annuals or Perennials
Just as if you were landscaping an
actual plot of soil, you’ll need to
consider whether you want plants
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that survive throughout the seasons
(even if they go dormant) or ones
that will only last a season or two.
Generally, it’s nice to have a mix.
That way you can enjoy annuals
such as more delicate fresh herbs,
like basil, summertime flowers,
and even maybe some veggies.
But including some perennials as
well opens the possibility for some
green even during gloomy winter
months and also allows for larger
plants to fill in your space since
they will continue to grow year
after year.
Containers and Soil
When choosing containers, in
addition to considering appearance,
also take into account what the
containers are made of and their
drainage. Pots made of porous
material, such as terracotta, offer
better drainage than plastic pots,
which don’t allow any water to
escape from the soil itself. Drainage
holes are also a good idea in order
to help guard against root rot and