Ideas for transforming a small corner of garden, for next to nothing

[Sharptic]

Hi

Has anyone any ideas for this awful looking corner of my garden. We just removed a trampoline so this is what's left!

I have next to no money spare so my current idea is to sprinkle grass seeds, but would like to be more creative. The fence will be getting a fresh coat of paint and the ivy will be trimmed

[sleepismysuperpower1]

perhaps some outdoor play mats and have a little outdoor games corner? (or reading corner, shady corner depending on the age of your kids.)

[Sharptic]

Thank you 😀, we did have a playmat area like that when the kids were younger. They're approaching teens now so thinking something more tranquil.

A shady reading corner sounds perfect.

[AventaRizon]

If you have an old terracotta plant pot, paint it the same shade as the fence and plant it with some nice cheap summer flowers from the supermarket.

If you have two large old terracotta plant pots the same size, turn them upside down a couple of feet apart and lay a short plank between them to use as a little seat.

Runner beans growing up beanpoles.

[Beebumble2]

Look on freecycle people often advertise pots, benches and plants.
School fetes and summer open gardens can be a good place for cheap plants.

[PotteringAlong]

You could put wildflower seeds down and see what happens?

[PotteringAlong]

these say they cover quite a large area!

[reservoircats]

Wooden arbour with two potted bay trees either side ?

[PostNotInHaste]

Does it get much sun ? If so what about digging out a corner flower bed and growing some sunflowers ?
www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-sunflower-sunburst-seeds/p/0270770 50p Wilkos

This time of year people advertise free top soil on Gumtree , and probably some stone if you wanted to edge the bed. If you’re lucky you could get a free garden bench or if you’re handy you could get some pallets and make one, painted same colour as bench. Or as above suggestion, make one from plant pots and wood - again Gumtree and Facebook your friend for freebies on this.

[Sharptic]

Thank you, appreciate your ideas.
Ideally I would have an arbour covered in cushions and fairy lights, surrounded by flowers or bay trees.

But I can dream...might try doing a makeshift bench, pots and wild flowers while sorting the whole lawn out with grass seed

[Sharptic]

It's really shady there too btw, hardly gets any sun

[SquishySquirmy]

How shady?

I'd look out for some cheap plants, and arrange in a grouping with either some or all in large pots. Turn it into a lush corner with a loose theme, and the plants may get a little more sun if raised off the ground.

I
If it's really shady, I'd go for a jungly vibe... Fatsia Japonica, maybe a couple of ostrich ferns and a hosta (boring by themselves, but together can look interesting imo).

A dwarf acia tree could look lovely there, (a beautiful red or yellow one,) but might be over budget (you might be able to get a smallish one for not too much money though). Could group it with some bamboo (in a pot!) and maybe an interesting fern.

Small Hydrangea in a pot maybe? Or astilbe (bleeding heart) is lovely when in flower, especially the white one but can look a bit scruffy when it's finished.

I've picked up very cheap plants from garden centres before, often reduced because they look slightly past their "best" but perfectly healthy.
Or baby trees/shrubs from supermarkets etc, which would look very underwhelming in the ground, but look elegant when elevated in a pot.

For cheap pots, either paint a plain terracotta one, or pick some second hand ones up.