Small outside space and no idea where to start

[erinaceus]

My house has a small outside space which I just had repaved and repainted. It’s 4m by 2.5m.

I don’t know where to start when it comes to plants though. How does one choose? I need something low-maintenance and green, I’m not fussed about flowers so I thought maybe ferns and perhaps a tree in a pot.

I plan to get a table and chairs too.

Any suggestions appreciated. I went for a wander around the garden centre yesterday and felt clueless.

It’s probably worth working out how sunny or shady the place is. Ferns do better in the shade. I’d also add a tall potted tree for some height and wall mounted pots to break up the brick. I’m quite a fan of built in seating in small spaces as you’ll be able to have more people over.

I would look at wall pots, maybe the Elho ones in a mix of bright colours but with greenery in.

This is the sort of stuff I’m trying to describe but it could be made a lot cuter too.

I'd go for swishy height in the first instance. You could get a lovely tall pittosporum in a pot - the black stems will go well against the white wall and the crinkly leaves will look much better than bamboo. Does it get much sun? You could also go for something dramatic like an ensete, which usually needs protection in winter but because it looks quite sheltered there you'd probably get away with just wrapping some bubble wrap around the pot when it gets cold. If you want a fern maybe a tree fern like Dicksonia but it might cast too much shade.

Then maybe something to climb up the walls - depends what you like but clematis and jasmine are good to look at and the jasmine will smell lovely in summer. You just need to drill some vine eyes into the wall, tie some wire into both ends and the plants can clamber along that. There are lots that are happy in pots.

Finally, I know you say you're not too fussed about flowers but I think a few big pots of colour would actually make you happier when you sit amongst them. Maybe get a bee bomb and sew it in a pot which will give you lots of wildlife friendly and colourful flowers in summer and then in a separate pot layer some bulbs for spring / winter colour.

There are lots of online plant providers if you're struggling to find locally, but you have to know what you want. Crocus is good but expensive, but there's also Ballyrobert Gardens. Lots of others.

Thanks everybody.

I had been thinking to grow something up the wall, jasmine would be nice.

Any other suggestions appreciated! Bee bombs look fun — thanks for suggestion.

We’ve got Jasminoide Trachelospermum in our garden and it’s lovely as it’s evergreen and the scent is fab.

get the biggest pots you can manage to carry - plastic is much lighter & easier to move around. Fill them with a mixture of compost + gravel so that they drain well.

I second the recommendation for Jasminoide Trachelospermum

Herbs are also great - Rosemary or Sage which are evergreen & will give a nice smell.

And there are lots of Salvia's that are drought tolerant and flower all summer if you want come colour.

Is it sunny or shady? If it’s shady, I would invest in a lovely japanese maple. They do well in a large pot and it will make a huge difference.

If it’s very sunny, make sure you have large pts preferably with a reservoir, as they will be prone to drying out quickly in summer.

If you cook at all, pots of herbs would be nice for you, sage, rosemary and oregano perhaps, or even just mint for summer Pimms!

I can recommend this climber - it has such pretty leaves and ive grown it in seni shade in the past - actinidia chinensis (kiwi family)

@bilbodog is that your garden? It's pictures like that that remind me why I want to incorporate a gravelled area at the bottom of our garden. Looks like a great spot for wine/coffee!

Just to echo what was said up thread - go for the biggest pots you can otherwise you are watering constantly.

Think about if you need to create some shade or not.

Lots of small trees do well in pots - and height is really good to have.

Think about building a raised bed or two rather than having containers. OK, they aren't moveable, but so much less watering.

Mary - its our previous house, i love gravel. Weve just gravelled an area in our new garden, see picture.

Nice olives bilbo! Yes, it's the crunch crunch crunch underfoot isn't it? Bliss.