Plants for very small gardens

Most new-build houses in the UK are given very small garden plots indeed and ours is no exception at roughly 15 x 21 feet.  To make the plot even more challenging from a gardening perspective, it has a north east orientation and heavy clay soil over a solid chalk pan just a foot or so beneath. Drainage is unsurprisingly poor even though the garden slopes downhill away from the house.  Finally, the house casts shade over the whole plot from late afternoon, making it cool even on a sunny day!

When we bought the house the garden was not high on our list of priorities and the previous owner's simple response to the problems noted above - a three level patio descending to a single gravelled border with a few small shrubs about 5 feet deep - was appealingly neat and low-maintenance in nature.  However, over the years I have developed a keen interest in gardening and have subjected our tiny plot to some significant reworking in order to hone my skills for my dream garden of the future ... with its southerly aspect, crumbly  loam, and extensive, meadow-framed vista!

For the time being, though, I must be content with the space I have, and - with some carefully planned heavy work - it has enabled me to plant a surprisingly wide variety of trees, shrubs, climbers, and perennials without compromising the outdoor relaxing and entertaining space we need for the few warm, sunny days we get each summer in the UK.

It's my intention to share details of a few of my favourite plants, plants that seem - touch wood - to be thriving in the challenging conditions we took on.

The 'upper patio' of the garden outside the back door.

The photo above shows the top patio of the garden. Over the last few months I have had paving slabs removed on lower levels to create more planting space or 'borders' but here pots abound. Antique drain hoppers and chimneys and a varnished French wine crate sit alongside more traditional pots, hopefully providing interest and variety. In the foreground I have grouped a set of containers of similar shapes but different sizes to create a graduated effect which I find pleasing on the eye.The wooden crate has been 'upcycled' into a herb pot and contains oregano, chives, savory and lemon balm. The largest square pot is a new venture into cut flowers and they seem to be doing well. I like to include other objects of interest in the garden so the other items you see are reminders of holidays abroad or just quirky finds when shopping. Visitors usually find something to giggle about or comment on when in the garden so I like these little touches to add a bit of humour.

 

I think a variety of types of 'planters' adds interest.