Hey everyone! My family—me, my wife, and our 2-year-old—just moved into a beautiful Victorian cottage in London. The backyard, however, was paved over by the previous landlord and is looking pretty sad and lifeless right now. I'm eager to bring some nature back into our outdoor space, but I'm a total beginner when it comes to gardening. I've recently lifted some of the slabs in the back corner to see what's underneath (there's sand with soil), and I'm thinking about creating some garden beds. We're open to using pots as well, but they're currently empty. Since the area faces east and is south to the right, I'd love any advice on simple ways to make our patio feel greener and friendlier to nature. Any tips would be super appreciated!
3 Answers
You can really spruce things up by using different containers of various shapes and sizes. Standing them on bricks can add height and interest. The nice thing about containers is that you can easily move them around to find the best light spots or shield them from the wind. Consider even creating a small wildlife pond in a container, like using a buried bucket or a half-barrel to attract little critters! While lifting the slabs is a longer project, you can start by putting some plants in containers now and get ready to plant them in the ground next season. Many garden centers are having sales—perfect time to stock up!
Good point! Maybe consider a color scheme for your plants and start with some evergreens to keep things lively through winter. Those heavy-duty containers with handles would be easy to shift around!
Congrats on your new place! A great idea would be to lift some edge slabs and plant climbers like clematis—train them up the fence or use a trellis. You could do about 6-8 plants. For the back wall, if it’s south-facing, consider wisteria, but just a heads up, those can take ages to bloom. For now, fill pots and troughs with whatever you can find that you like. You might want to add some festoon lighting and seating for a cozy vibe!
Sounds great! Do climbers require a lot of care, especially during winter? And what about lighting? Should I go for solar festoon lights or get an electrician to install wired ones?
Just a quick tip—cleaning the pavers could really brighten up the space! They might be just concrete, but they’ll look way better after a pressure wash. It could be a messy but fun project!
That’s a great suggestion! I’m sure it’ll be a fun day and might lift the mood of the patio regardless!
This sounds like a solid plan! Do you have any suggestions for hardy plants that do well in pots during the UK winter? Also, I love the bucket pond idea!