Depressing little yard makeover

[knittingbat]

We have a tiny yard created by the kitchen return of our very small terrace. We've had the cracked concrete replaced with paving and I am just waiting for the rain to pass before finishing repainting the brickwork naice white and the gate a sort of sage. I need some plants! Back of the yard where the window is gets sun all afternoon - was thinking Camelia or rose? Would be in large pot. Also have been given Belfast sink - what herbs are easiest (in cooler rainy climate - Northern Ireland). Finally, the wall the gate is in has room for a pot but quite shady - is there a climber that would tolerate this? Really need low maintenance as not always here all year round (but eh - watering not usually a problem round here ) but desperate for it to look like somewhere you'd actually want to let your child into or have a coffee in.

[Mendeleyev]

I'm not sure on colourful plants for pots, but easy herbs are the more woody ones like thyme, sage, rosemary. They will need a good regular cutting back though. Mint is supposed to spread like mad, but I've never had much luck with it in pots! Fennel is nice too, but it grows quite tall so I'm not sure it would be right for in a sink.

[knittingbat]

Thanks Mendel. Do you know, I think i might give fennel a go since some height would be good!

[wowfudge]

With sun all afternoon, try honeysuckle and jasmine in large pots against the wall - you'll be able to smell them through the open window as well as them looking pretty.

[aircooled]

Trachelospermum jasminoides is evergreen and scented for the sunny wall. Fennel would be great - bronze-leaved version is lovely - but give it a deep pot, it has long roots. Hydrangea petiolaris would grow in your shady corner. Fewer, big pots look better than lots of smaller ones and won't dry out as quickly.

[alicemalice]

I love shady side returns for creating a garden - mine became a favourite spot.

You can put in jasmine nudiflorium, has lovely yellow flowers in winter.

Also pyracantha is a good bet.

Hostas, fatsia japonica, ferns and lilies give a jungle feel - big dark green leaves.

All these plants thrive in the shade.

[funnyperson]

Camellias and roses flower at different times and would need to go in different pots. You could get a climbing rose!

[knittingbat]

All brilliant recommendations, thank you. Really love climbing hydrangea so might try that plus a climbing rose. Ta!

[ancientbuchanan]

Lemon balm gives a lively scent when crushed and is hardy. Lavender should be ok too.

As it is n Ireland you should be able to get a fuschia, standard, that will grow like anything for you. They grow wild all down Sligo and Clare. And if you want to grow some veg, artichokes and guess what, potatoes, love your climate. Marie Antoinette ( I think, need to check my sources) used to wear the flowers in her hair. They are pretty, do well in grow bags and pots. As do strawberries. Have a hanging basket of strawberries. Grow mint under your rose, keeps aphids away.

[Notgrumpyjustquiet]

Grow mint in a separate pot to other plants, if it gets going it will take over. Also (in my house) you can never have too much oregano/ marjoram, great for Tomatoey sauces and for marinating olives with some oil and chilli flakes. How much sun does the garden get?

[Notgrumpyjustquiet]

Also, google 'vertical gardening', you'll get loads of ideas about how to maximise your planting space by going up (the walls/ fences) if you can't go out.

[knittingbat]

Higher on the east facing wall gets some in the morning, then the south facing one (back of the main house, sitting room window) gets quite a few in the afternoon.

[Notgrumpyjustquiet]

In that case I'd definitely recommend containers of some sort attached to the wall where they will get the most sun.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

The front of my house is north facing and in shade from about 9 am, but I have had great success with geraniums (pelargoniums) which are considered sun lovers. Also grow a climbing rose really successfully on a nothing facing fence.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

North facing.

[funnyperson]

Yes scented roses are amazing in a closed space, as is honeysuckle!
Hostas love damp shade and the variegated varieties have lighter leaves. Alpines or sedums would be nice in your belfast sink with little spring bulbs such as iris reticulata and tete a tete daffodils as well.
Ferns can be planted with hostas in the sadier areas in pots.
Box balls or cones needs trimming at least twice a year but can look great
Some people grow espaliered or cordoned fruit trees in tiny spaces! If on dwarf rootstock they can do well!