Most people in Latvia think about their terraces only with the first warm rays of sunshine. When planning to green up a terrace, the first question to answer clearly is whether it will be used only during the warm season or if the decorative function will be relevant year-round.
This time, about terraces used only in summer.
The most modern solutions for Latvian summers involve combining high-quality artificial plants with live ones. To avoid the feeling that the terrace looks "artificial," the proportion should not exceed half-and-half. Remember that artificial plants vary greatly in quality. When choosing artificial plants, it's essential to examine them in the same or similar lighting conditions as they will have on the terrace—both in sunlight and semi-shade—to properly assess their quality. If possible, select artificial plants where the manufacturer has indicated UV resistance, meaning they won't fade.
Combining artificial plants with real ones opens up much wider style variety options for terraces where weather conditions prevent using only live plants—we can ensure the presence of large green leaves on terraces, create so-called Mediterranean-style terraces using olive trees or banana plants. At the end of the season, such plants can just as easily be used in the darker corners of offices. What's also important with artificial plants for terraces is that since the price of a high-quality artificial plant can even be higher than a real one of the same size, you can build your artificial plant collection gradually—buying individual plants one year and adding to them regularly, like Christmas tree ornaments, until you have a complete set for ideal terrace decoration.
Which live plants are recommended for a summer terrace? The key condition here is sun and wind. Many people know how the sun shines on their terrace, but not everyone can describe the prevailing winds. If the terrace is windy, plants won't bloom as abundantly as in sheltered spots; for such terraces, choose plants where not only the flowers but also the leaves are decorative.
Care
This year's terrace will definitely suit a plant mix—this doesn't mean a crazy rainbow in all five primary colors. It refers to a carefully planned mix of different leaf shapes, sizes, and colors, combined with a couple of colorful flowering plants. The color mix applies more to leaves than flowers. You can safely combine narrow-leaf plants (cordylines, grasses) with broad-leaf ones. This year, it's also worth using small shrubs on summer terraces, which can be overwintered in a sheltered spot in autumn. Using small shrubs on terraces ensures green mass, especially for inner courtyards with little surrounding greenery and limited pot volumes.
For decorative pots on terraces—everything depends on the allocated budget, imagination, and style. Think long-term here too: when buying pots, ensure they are designed for outdoor use, check that they have drainage holes for excess rainwater, and confirm hanging balcony boxes have sufficient volume. The smaller the pot or box volume, the smaller the plant you can afford to grow in it. Even if there's enough space for roots at the start of summer—remember, for a plant to grow and bloom all summer, roots need room. For summer terraces where plants don't need overwintering, you can use stylish barrels, wooden crates, or even potato bags as pots. We confidently predict that the most modern terraces this year will be those using repurposed items as pots, giving them a second life—terraces where some plants are artificial, as they too can have a long lifespan. Be creative and think green.
