Photo by Michael Graydon
Condo gardening
A garden retreat in the heart of the city shows what condo-dwellers can achieve with some ingenuity and expert advice
A quick look at the lush garden space that Elaine and Geoffrey Mayo enjoy outside their mid-town Toronto condominium suggests they really got away with something. The windy, 1,400-square-foot, north- and east-facing terrace appears replete with verdant grass, big rocks and solid concrete planters—but they’re all clever fakes. The masters of this grand illusion are landscape designers John Broere and Mark Gomes of Box Design and Build, who specialize in balcony and rooftop gardens.
The designers had to deal with not only a large space but also the myriad safety issues, weight limitations and regulations that come with condo life. Gomes and Broere, together with the Mayos, rethought the space by creating a series of outdoor rooms that played off the adjacent indoor rooms. Effective elements they used include a carpet of faux grass, multi-level decking to hide the watering system’s pipes and make for easier access from indoors, strategic container plantings and, extending from under the window of the master bath, a rill—or small brook—with a fountain at the end.
For the Mayos, creating a garden that didn’t concentrate on a summer scape was important for the simple reason that they aren’t in the city during that season. A garden that held late fall, winter and spring interest was the focus of the terrace’s design. “There had to be structure to it and to the plants as well,” says Elaine. “So we put in things like a corkscrew hazel (*Corylus avellana* ‘Contorta’), which is quite nice contrasted against the snow.”
To allow for some greenery with height, Gomes and Broere incorporated a trellis—a difficult prospect when it couldn’t be attached to the building. They devised a design where the trellis is attached to a bench and the deck but not the wall. “It’s all rather ingenious,” says Geoffrey. “Everything here can be removed. And in a matter of hours, the whole lot can be taken out, including the roll-up grass.”
**Take a look at the elements that made this spacious condo balcony into a quintessential part of urban living**
Sky High Paradise
For garden designs with limited space consider wall fountains to accent your garden.
(continued below)
Be the first to comment on "Condo gardening"
Editor's note: This is a moderated forum, so your comments won't appear until approved by the moderator. Please help us foster a friendly environment by keeping your posts civil and on-point. We reserve the right to delete comments that include foul language, personal attacks on others, sales solicitations or any other inappropriate content. Posted comments reflect the opinions of the poster, not of gardeninglife.ca. Read our privacy policy for more information.