New to this

[gardeninggoon]

I live in a block of six flats, with a large garden which we all own individual areas of, plus a shared space at the rear.

This is my fourth summer here, and I’ve never used my individual space, which is made up of a patio and an adjacent area of grass the same size.

I’ve attached a photo of the patio. I’ve made a feeble attempt at weeding today, but after half an hour, I’m thinking I might get someone in to sort it and clean up the paving stones.

Having a look, can you advise how long that might take a gardener to do?

Once it’s a blank canvas and sorted, I’ll perhaps get some planters and hopefully get some colour into it next summer.

Would it look okay to put some trellis panels up to screen off the space a little? Just round the bottom edge? Or would that a bit odd?

Any ideas or suggestions for the space would be really welcome as I’m a complete novice.

What have other people done around theirs? I’d like to have some sort of fence to edge it off, even a really short one.

Not sure on how long the weeding/clearing would take but it’s not a huge space so shouldn’t be too long!
What I would do this summer is plant something in a pot now that will hopefully start to look nice in winter (I’m trying for winter flowering jasmine this year), just so you don’t have to wait until next summer.

Have you posted that photo before? It looks familiar.

This heatwave is not the time to be trying to pull up weeds from between paving slabs. Wait until it has rained & the area is damp, and they will come up much easier. I wouldn't spend any money paying someone else to do it, you just need the application of some elbow grease and a few gardening tools.

One of the most important things in gardening is the direction of the sun. The other is: what do you want from your garden?

If your trellis is to support plants then you want it so that the plants are in the sun (trellis at south end). If your trellis is to provide shade then you want it so that it is between your seating and the sun (trellis at north end).

Be careful of putting up wooden walls and just creating the effect of a wooden box. Your floor plan is already rectangular, don't over do the squareness; soften things a little.

Thanks for the replies.

Yes, I posted the year I moved in, but didn’t do anything. And I can’t find the post now. And now I’ve left it late in the year agin!

The aim of the trellis would be to provide a little privacy, but I was thinking of ones with planters attached, then having my seating in front of them. I wouldn’t have them the whole way round. Just round the bottom edge and coming round the corners slightly.

Sorry, to answer the question about others spaces - they have left them open, with no fencing, etc. Two of them are directly outside their patio doors, so they aren’t as overlooked as the rest of us.

I wouldn’t have them the whole way round. Just round the bottom edge and coming round the corners slightly.
Sounds good. Have the 'coming round the corners' slightly different from each other, to avoid that rigid, wooden-box feeling.
Have you checked with the management company that trellising (or whatever) is OK - you'd hate to splash out and then be told to take it down.

We don’t have a management company/factor. Should I ask my neighbours if they would object? Nothing would be directly outside their windows, etc.

We don’t have a management company/factor.
You sort-of do, all flats do (assuming you are under English law). You will have a lease: what does that say?

I’m in Scotland

Ah, OK. Don't know about Scottish law.
You could "ask my neighbours if they would object". You know them best: would they be cool or is there a troublemaker? It might be best to firm up your ideas first because people are more amenable if they know what they are agreeing to!

I would put up two pieces of trellis to make a secluded seating area. Buy trellis with planters to green up the space.

Or you can buy a seat that comes with trellis attached and planters either side, so it's all one unit. That might be easier (and more moveable) than actual trellis in the ground if anyone is going to kick up about it.

ETA: Like this https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-e&q=bench+with+trellis+and+planters#oshopproduct=pid:14393526618612928036,oid:14393526618612928036,iid:16115400787121735561,pvt:hg,pvo:3&oshop=apv&pvs=0

I would try to get trellis with attached planters in September. Hopefully you'll find one in a sale and anything you plant in it will have a chance to establish and grow a bit before next summer. Or sweet peas will romp up it and you could start them on the windowsill early spring.

I would also get a couple of nice big pots and plant them up with spring bulbs. It's an easy win and lovely when you spot the flowers on a grey morning. Maybe a couple of rectangular ones so you get a bit of a border. I'd also put crocus bulbs in the grass.
Then in May I would cheat and pot up some geraniums for instant colour.

Just remember to water your pots, even if it's been raining it doesn't necessarily get into them so it's worth checking.

Usually those trellis planters are placed against a wall. Looks like your plot is very open? If you do decide on trellis I’d personally go for something anchored to the ground that will withstand winter storms.

Personally I’d just create a shrub screening border with flowering bushes - abelia, weigela, spiraea, pittosporum… these are pretty bomb proof low maintenance shrubs and will all grow up to about 2 metres and can be pruned/shaped to your required size. Bees love them - go have a google!

Add some pots for instant colour now and think about what you want to achieve looks wise for next year.

Good weeding tool attached below… wouldn’t pay someone for that size job. Rain, the right tool and some elbow grease 😀

A few things to consider:

Is the area safe from vandals or thefts?
What do your deeds or lease say about the plots?

Who mows the plots? If it's an outside contractor, don't plant anything there - they'll mow over it or bypass it leaving you to mow it.

Is there an outside tap nearby? Lugging water from an upper floor flat for young plants or in dry spells will be no fun.

Here's what I'd do -
Spruce up the patio area. In autumn, fertilise the grass and make sure it's an even surface. Seed any patches or replace patches of unruly tough grass.

Take some inspiration from campers -
Buy some lightweight easy-pack camping windbreakers (not the seaside type), and some comfy camping chairs which can be packed away in their own carry bags; a pop-up gazebo and/or a quick pitch tent - a lightweight tepee with a central pole is the quickest to put up and pack away and can easily be done by one person with minimal effort in a few minutes; a large flask, and insulated lunch bag. It will provide some privacy and comfort on days you are able to sit out, but easily be packed away and stored safely inside.

If you're able to plant something which won't get stolen, not disrupt the mowing, and have water available nearby, I would plant one or two dwarf trees near the patio area. As you're likely to only use the plot in summer, I would choose a tree with a light canopy and interesting leaf rather than for its spring blossom (something like a rowan, smaller variety silver birch, or amelanchier).