My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Find tips and tricks to make your garden or allotment flourish on our Gardening forum.

Gardening

anyone got an eye/flair for gardening? Am doing up my yard and I'm lost!

10 replies

bohemianbint · 24/08/2007 12:38

Hello,

Ironinc that I'm posting in the gardening section when I've got the world's smallest yard and no grass in sight, but anyway! We live in a terrace and DP has finally cleared the yard out so I can start thinking about how to make it nice. I'll try to post a pic so you can see what I'm dealing with, just need to find batteries for camera!

so I'm looking for advice on:

  1. PLANTS
    I'm just wondering what sort of plants to go for, was thinking about a window box, so herbs, or plants? There isn't a lot of direct sunlight into the year at any time, you can get some for 5 mins at around 11.45am if you're over 5'9". Also thinking of some sort of tree in a pot, any thoughts?

  2. PAINT
    Going to whitewash the walls, not sure what colour to paint the gate and the back door! One's red and one's black at the mo...

  3. FLOOR
    We've got flags and they're filthy. Can I do anything to smarten them up?

  4. LIGHTS
    Really want some pretty solar powered/candle lanterns to go on the wall. Anyone seen any good ones?

    There's also a brick planter built into the yard, used to have a massive unruly ivy bush growing out of it all up the wall. The ivy's gone adn I'm not sure whether to bash out the box, put planks over teh top and use it as seating, or to just replant omre climbing flowers in it. And if so, what?!

    Any advice much appreciated, I know nowt about gardening but really want to make it a nice place to sit when the sun's out!
OP posts:
Report
AngharadGoldenhand · 24/08/2007 12:45

How about pyramids or balls of box, with busy lizzies (impatiens) for colour?

Report
hermykne · 24/08/2007 12:49

paint - in b & q there an wood one called bluebell i thinks its own brand, looks lovely on sheds and gates, like a faded duck egg colour.

power wash hose the flags that ll smarten them up.

lighting - check out john lewis garden section for lighting

plants ; container gardening on amazon will try and find link for lots of ideas for plant pots, you can real cheap pots and once the plants take over no one will notice they are immation terracota (a fortune)


try crocus.co.uk for their ideas on planting in the conditions you have, shady , and pots

Report
bohemianbint · 24/08/2007 12:51

Pyramids? Sounds interesting, what sort of thing, can you link anything?

I'd like a bit of colour so busy lizzies sound good - will they survive outside?

OP posts:
Report
bohemianbint · 24/08/2007 12:55

Oooh, cheers Hermy, great advice, paint sounds lovely...Will check out links!

OP posts:
Report
tracyk · 24/08/2007 12:57

In a small space - use your walls as well as the ground and hanging baskets.
Use a mirror amongst some climbing plants or on a wall to bounce the light around.
Are you going to have a table and chairs? If not I'd plank the planter and use it as seating. Get nice brightly coloured cushions to comfy it up. Make sure though it's wide enough for bottoms.
I'd recommend Crocus.co.uk as well - but they are pricey - just nick the ideas

Report
AngharadGoldenhand · 24/08/2007 12:57

box pyramid

Busy lizzies are bedding plants - you put them out in spring and frost kills them off.

Report
AngharadGoldenhand · 24/08/2007 13:00

Sorry, that wasn't clear. You put busy lizzies out at the end of May (to avoid frost) and they will die when frosts start again in the autumn.

Report
tracyk · 24/08/2007 13:04

If you like the box - keep an eye out at B&Q esp this bank hol weekend - they are much cheaper and will prob have offers on.

Report
bohemianbint · 24/08/2007 13:06

Ahhh....

Some great advice here, thank you. What sort of flowers would be alright if I put 'em out there now? And do they come again next year or do you have to keep re-planting?

Sorry, am total gardening dimwit.

OP posts:
Report
tracyk · 26/08/2007 20:02

Was in B&Q today - they had pansies on special. I've bought them in the past and they seem to flower all year round - year after year.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.