What would you do with this...?

[WineWithAView]

Never really gardened, lots of flat living and then a small patio garden with lots of pots. New(ish) garden is all paved/decked with this little patch on the side.

I thought of just having a wild flower patch for ease. But then I bought 4 pretty, colourful perennials the other day for the front garden and am now motivated to do more with this patch. We're hoping to move next year so not wanting to spend too much time or money.

What would you put there?

A wildflower patch actually isn't that easy - unless 'messy tangle of nettles and brambles' is your idea of wildflowers. And even a well-maintained wildflower patch is dull, messy, and not much good for wildlife for a large portion of the year.

Trouble is, a year isn't really enough to do much with a garden unless you chuck a lot of money at it, which you don't want to do if you're moving.

I'd concentrate on weeding everything thoroughly. Completely clear that side strip, (maybe keep the bushes - can't see what they are) cover it in several layers of cardboard and then an inch of bark. top with a few large, attractive pots with perennials that you can take when you move.

And even a well-maintained wildflower patch is dull, messy, and not much good for wildlife for a large portion of the year. That’s because in gardening terms “wildflower patch” means “an assemblage of annuals some of which may even be uk natives”. In other words, not representative of the UK flora.

When are you moving next year, OP? If you’re moving in the first part of the year,there’s not much point planning stuff which will be at its best in august. In your case, I’d be tidying up, and then planting things in containers that I could take with me. Lots of bulbs for next spring, especially things which flower in March-April.

Personally, I'd clear and fill it with cheap fillers so it looks nice for sale next year and you get some enjoyment.

I might be tempted to get some cheap alchemilla mollis - which you can find on eBay as other people's will have self seeded like mad - and sprinkle some foxglove seeds down or (even better) get a load of foxglove plug plants which are also pretty cheap.

Daff bulb are cheap as chips if you buy a big bag of them - so them also.

Foxgloves won’t flower till the second year from seed.

Brilliant. Thanks all.

The spring bulb idea is a great tip. Will definitely do that and have pots of those too. Looking to have house on market as soon after Christmas as possible but will likely take a bit longer to get it ready for sale so could be perfect timing spring bulb-wise.

It's sloped, so placing pots on it isn't so straightforward.

Have just been googling alchemilla mollis and came across bundles of perennials for much cheaper than the local garden centre. I might just get a lucky dip type bundle and see what happens...

Check carefully the size of what you are getting. Very often they are plug plants (ie tiny) or bare root offcuts. In either case it’s expected you’ll cosset them for a season before planting out. The garden centre has already done the cosseting, which is why it’s more expensive

Thanks Mere. Would something like this be ok? It says they're ready to plant out.

You Garden - Pack of 12 Mixed Winter Hardy Perennial Plants in 9cm Pots - Garden Ready Autumn Bedding Plants in 9cm Pots Garden Plants Extremely Hardy Plants

amzn.eu/d/fpfF8Wp

These are the 4 I got from the garden centre recently. They're to go in my front garden when I get round to it but for now I've just placed them by the patio doors to give the impression I have a garden filled with flowers when I look out... 😅 They were £7.99 each or 4 for £30.

9cm pots are smaller than a teacup in diameter. I ‘d be expecting them to be flowering next autumn not this one. Could be good to take to your new garden

Aah! Ok will re-think that one then. 😅

Thanks Mere.

Russian sage is one of my favourite plants and fills a big gap once you've tides that area up.

Brilliant, thanks Busubaba. Just had a look at Russian Sage, very pretty.