What can I do with ugly tiny paved yard?

[Lucysdiamonds]

I live in rented accommodation so can't make drastic changes like ripping up the paving.

The yard is very small and narrow, the'res a high wall on one side and the kitchen extension on the other. Behind the kitchen extension is a tiny decked area covered with corrogated plastic with a plastic storage bench on the decking.

The paving is old concrete, cracked and ugly.

They're is a buddlea growing out of the wall at the top .. just looks scruffy and takes away light.

At the end of the garden there is a small flower bed, about 1.5 metre by 60 cm I guess. In there there is a crooked christmas tree.

What can I possibly do to make it look nice on a very low budget and with little knowledge or experience?

I thought of putting pebbles or gravel overt the concrete but it's heavy to carry.

I don't know anyone who can give me cuttings really.

What would quickly and cheaply make it look good?

Forgot to say, must be cat and dog friendly.

Please update when it's finished OP!

Nothing exciting will even grow in that light until the Spring is pretty much through, but then herbs and hardy annuals will thrive. Viola and primroses might keep going for a while if oyu put them in planters, now.

A sky blue will lift the dull walls. I did that in a narrow yard and it was lovely. You may need to get the outdoor paint mixed to order to do that, though.

Sorry I haven't read all the responses yet but wanted to add a few ideas from my experiences of living in rented (similar concretesque gardens).

Love the idea of making a feature of the stone wall, it's really different! And the mirrors at the end of the garden

Would your landlord be persuaded to make a contribution? Crazy idea I know Only asking as my last landlord actually volunteered a small amount of funds when I described my plans. I nearly died of shock...

To minimise disappointment make sure you're planting for the right aspect. When I was new to gardening I used to get really dejected when my carefully planted seeds and plugs failed to thrive. Because I'd planted them in a shady position oops. Some things will tolerate more shade than others. Apologies if you are well aware of this People here always provide great advice on planting for awkward spots. If you want something straightforward I find geraniums do pretty well on my north facing windowsills.

I like the idea of repeating large pots at intervals in front of the stone wall. I've done similar and put obelisks in some for height. I'm also a fan of hanging baskets

I do most of my gardening on a budget and visit the following:
Aldi - garden special buys start appearing soon and certain things can be ordered on the website, free delivery
Pound shops, especially the mighty Poundland
Home Bargains/ B&M bargains. The latter do my fave cheapo large plastic planter in black or terracotta for £3.99. it's about 60cm wide (fill the bottom with polystyrene to avoid wasting compost)
Wilko - brilliant for all sorts
Morrisons - surprisingly good little garden centre in our branch. Lots of affordable, reliable specimens
Local ebay auctions - I've probably nabbed more bargains for 99p (local collection) this way than freegle as I'm too slow on the uptake with the latter
B&Q/ Homebase shelf of death - don't bother with the crispy specimens but often due to over-ordering and stock rotation you can get some really good plants this way. I buy most of my trays of annuals from this shelf as long as they're not leggy/ crispy/ only missing a few etc. If you time it right they're marked down to pennies. Get to know the staff

Finally would artificial turf be an option for the concrete in the middle? I've seen it used to good effect in small spaces. You might find someone selling an offcut on eBay in the spring once people start their outdoor projects. I think I've seen it on the Home Bargains website too.

Aldi, Wilko, pound shops, Morrisons, local ebay, freegle, b&m, b&q Homebase cheapshelf
Artificial turf

Oops I managed to post my notes at the bottom too

Thinking about it, I don't think I can add a mirror at the end ... there is a lovely honeysuckle from the garden behind mine growing over the wall there. Also really don't think I can afford a mirror at the moment ... I might just paint it white to match the other wall with the window and bricked up window.

I'm guessing I can't just plant the seeds in the pots and put them outside? Do I need to plant them inside first? If so, any ideas where I can get cheap potting trays or tiny peat pots to plant them in?

I use the plastic fruit tray/ boxes from supermarkets - eg. the type you get grapes and soft fruit in for the compost, stood in the waterproof ones (no holes... That mushrooms etc come in) to keep my windowsills dry.
Actual Potting trays are really too shallow and dry out making them very hard work, and they don't fit on windowsills..a persistence of poor design.
Bigger fast growing plants work well in cardboad toilet roll inners, again stood in plastic trays. Eg sunflowers.

You've had some brilliant advice here, you've got to love the quite evangelism of gardeners

You can make stepping stones really easily and cheaply - you just need a bag of concrete mix and a mould of some sort ( I used a large plant pot saucer). I placed some of the DC's unwanted marbles in the mould and then carefully poured the concrete around them. Once the concrete has set, turn the mould over and gently ease it out.

The stone wall is beautiful; ferns would really complement its texture!

I found this page: au.pinterest.com/explore/narrow-garden/

You could hang pots of flowers on the wall, and have them on the ground. Perhaps you could spread out a (thin) layer of gravel or pebbles on the ugliest part of the concrete, will not hold the rain water. There is some ugly stuff in the foreground of the picture, can't see what it is but maybe it can be removed and replaced, maybe by the cheap IKEA table + folding chairs "ÄPPLARÖ" or similar?

I use bleach in a bucket of water and an old mop on paving to remove algae and lighten it up.
You could try that on the concrete. Might take a few goes to make a difference.
Don't pour bleach water on any plants. And don't walk it into the house with it on your feet.
The supermarkets have fruit and ornamental trees for sale sometimes now. You could put a tree in a pot and it would give a bit of interest and height.
It won't thrive without sun but should survive and be in leaf in a month or two. I don't think your seeds will grow much until May/June (though depends where you are in the country). Ivy and other greenery in pots, such as fatshedra mentioned above, would be v good but not cheap.

Generally speaking, the larger the seed the more likely it is to survive being sown directly into the ground. The problem for your situation with planting indoors are many. Plants grown on windowsills tend to get leggy as they stretch for the light. This makes them weak. Also once the seedlings are planted out into the garden they need light and warmth to thrive, neither of which you have. If you want to do seeds buy large ones in March, but don't plant them until late April. If you were to do an experiment you would see these late sowings catch up with the seeds sown much earlier.

Again beware of offers on. plug plants that you see advertised,your shady garden is not likely to suit. Instead buy Marigolds, Calendula, pansies as tray plants. Usually about £3 for 6. Look out for shops selling bare root wall flowers and sweet William for early spring colour to plant with pansies. They will give you an instant hit. Plant the close together for Impact rather than spread around. They are tolerant of poor soils. Don't dead-head them as they will self seed like crazy saving you money next year.

In the £1 shops you can buy packets of summer bulbs, which are likely to give you more success than seeds. And will come back year after year. Later in the spring I would visit car boot sales as lots of gardeners sell of their excess sowings.

I have some Hado pots if you would like them. They are strong black bags and you could plant them along your wall. PM with your address if you would like them. I have about 12.

There are species of clematis and passion flower that work well in shade, and produce masses of impressive flowers all summer. Google the specialist nurseries and they are set out by flowering time, shade tolerant, colour, pot growing, so you can find something to suit you. They just need wires to grow up, not trellis.

Thanks for all the great advice!

Love the idea of making stepping stones with concrete and marbles

Ok, so I'll sow the seeds I've got in April straight into pots and the flower bed outside.

Thanks for the offer of Hado pots. That's very kind. I'll look through the pots I've got and pm you if I think I need more

I'll look for pansies or similar for some instant colour as it seems nothing else is going to grow early on. I'll have a look for summer bulbs too.