Easy does it
Green-fingered expert and author John Cushnie picks out five tips to help you create a haven in your back yard
Don't worry if you only have a small garden
Don’t worry if you only have a small garden. It can be transformed into a bright, beautiful environment that provides the kind of intimacy which is difficult to achieve in larger gardens.
Balconies, rooftops, courtyards
and containers can also be ideal bases for flowers, shrubs, climbers and vegetables. Coupled with this are the advantages they bring to older, disabled and less fit gardeners – you’ll need to spend fewer hours on it and you won’t spend a fortune.
Know your garden
Are there areas in shade – and if so, for how long? Which part faces the sun in the afternoon? If you have an area that’s exposed to wind being channelled between buildings or fences, planting a tough evergreen such as Viburnum tinus (Eve Price) can act as a windbreak. Test your soil with a kit from a garden centre to determine if it is acid or alkaline. An accurate reading of above seven means it is alkaline which will suit wonderful shrubs such as lilac and ceanothus. Acid soil suits rhododendrons, camellias and pieris.
Back yards
As small areas can often be swathed in shade, one option is to paint the walls white or cream. Use light-coloured tiles or slabs and introduce white gravel. Remember that climbing plants require support and should not be too vigorous. Clematis prefers its roots to be in shade and flowers in full sun. If you have a north-facing garden, you could plant clematis roots in the north and train the plant to run along a west- or east-facing wall. Also, add some shade-loving plants such as hostas, camellias and spring bulbs. If your back yard has a sunny, sheltered wall and the soil is moist, consider planting an Azara dentata, an arching evergreen shrub with glossy, dark leaves; it produces intensely fragrant yellow flowers in
late spring.
Landscaping
In a small garden, the fundamental question is: if the feature has to be truly tiny, is it really worth including? Where the lawn space has to be less than 2m2, will it add anything to the garden? If you feel disappointed that you have to give up a vegetable garden to accommodate a patio, for example, give the problem extra thought. One answer could be to grow vegetables in containers on the patio. They can be very attractive: some, such as herbs, will add fragrance, while Swiss chard is as colourful as many shrubs.
Containers
Pots can be attractive in any garden but are essential where the whole garden is a hard surface. They are available in all shapes and sizes, in materials ranging from timber to stone, slate, earthenware, ceramic, plastic wire mesh and metal. You can use containers for growing climbers against bare walls or for producing fruit, herbs and vegetables. They are the answer when you’re planting a rooftop garden or balcony and they also add height, interest and colour while providing growing space. But ensure there are adequate drainage holes in the pots. Hanging baskets work well on walls and railings, but bear in mind that when watered and fed, the water will drain on to what is below.
Fragrant flowers
A small garden can resemble a perfume factory. In winter, flowering shrubs such as Hamamelis (witch hazel) and Chimonanthus (winter sweet) smell sweetly. The white winter flowers of the evergreen shrub Sarcococca confusa (Christmas box) are tiny, yet the sweet fragrance may be noticed from a distance of four to five metres. In summer, roses, lilies and Philadelphus (mock orange) create an aroma that can be enhanced by herbs such as lavender, thyme and sage. Remember to place aromatic plants close to sitting areas and opening windows.
This article has been adapted from John’s new book, Gardening for Small Spaces. The book is published by Kyle Cathie and priced £16.99. Legion readers can buy the book at the special price of £14.99 including free p&p (UK mainland only). Please quote KC GSS/LM when you order, either by calling 01903 828 503, or by emailing mailorders@lbsltd.co.uk
