Urban balcony greenery trend offers natural cooling

A new trend in urban landscaping involves transforming balconies into small private forests to combat rising temperatures. Using large trees in pots and lush perennial plants can naturally lower balcony temperatures by 5 to 8 degrees Celsius through transpiration, potentially reducing the need for air conditioning.

However, creating these green oases is becoming increasingly expensive. While young seedlings are affordable, established trees measuring two to four meters in height can cost anywhere from several hundred to several thousand euros, depending on the species, such as olives, maples, bamboo, or conifers.

Additional costs include specialized heavy-duty pots, specific substrates, drainage systems, and the employment of cranes and workers to transport heavy plants to higher floors.