Growing
17 Vivid Flower Garden Ideas And Designs With Tips From Ann-Marie Powell
IN THIS GUIDE Top Design Tips For New Flower Gardens 1) Think Holistically About Flowers & Garden Design 2) Observe Carefully & Choose The Right Plants For The Right Places 3) Choose Flowers For Blooms Over As Much Of The Year As Possible Flowers With Functions: Integrating Flowers Into Garden Design 4) Companion Planting In An Annual Vegetable Plot 5) Perennial Beds Or Borders With Flowers, Vegetables & Herbs 6) Fruit Tree Guilds & Forest Gardens 7) Wildflower Meadows & Other Habitats 8) Rain Gardens, Ponds & Wetland Gardens Choosing A Location For A Flower Garden 9) Tips For Flower Gardens In Full Sun 10) Tips For Flower Gardens in Partial Or Dappled Shade 11) Soil Types & Soil Characteristics 12) Raised Bed Flower Gardens 13) Container Flower Gardens & Vertical Gardens Stylistic Choices In A Flower Garden 14) Design By Garden Type 15) Follow Moods & Themes 16) Consider Your Bed Or Border Shape 17) Embrace Colour & Form Combining Different Flowering Plants References If you are thinking about creating a new flower garden, there are many things to think about. In this article, we cover a range of ideas and designs to help you make decisions that will benefit your space for years to come. All gardens should have flowers, not only for visual appeal but to bring in wildlife, and deliver a range of other benefits. But it can be difficult to know where to begin when considering which flowers to grow, and where to grow them. In this guide, I’ve brought together some key ideas which will help you create a flower garden that you can really be proud of. Read on to find out our top tips, ideas and design suggestions: Top Design Tips For New Flower Gardens First things first, it’s crucial to make sure that you are thinking about your flower garden in the right way. Of course, it’s important that your flower garden looks good, but aesthetics are not the only consideration. No matter what type of flower garden you wish to create, and no matter where it is to be created, here are 3 important things to bear in mind as you make your choices: 1) Think Holistically About Flowers & Garden Design Many gardeners will start with flowers they like, and work from there to create their gardens. But to create a truly abundant and beautiful garden that will stand the test of time, it is important to work from broader patterns to the finer details. Consider specific individual plants but also the bigger picture. Ithink it is a very good idea to learn how flowers will work with other plants and with wildlife, and how flowers can be integrated into a harmonious design for the whole of your garden. “I’m constantly buying new plants, as I think of my garden as a living pinboard to constantly inspire me about what goes well together,” shares Garden Designer Ann-Marie Powell. “I’ve just recently bought lots of new irises, which I’m excited about because I haven’t grown irises for a while. “I also grow tons of annuals, like crocus, linarias and rudbeckias. If you can think of a plant, I’m probably growing it.” By thinking holistically about the process, we can find ways to add flowers in a garden which aid the function and improve the utility – as well as the appearance – of a space. 2) Observe Carefully & Choose The Right Plants For The Right Places New gardeners sometimes fall into the trap of choosing plants based on aesthetic preferences. However, new flowers for a garden should always be chosen with the specific characteristics of the garden in mind, choosing the right plants for the right places is the key component for success in any garden. Before you even begin to think about choosing particular flowers, you should spend some time observing the space, and thinking about the climate, microclimate conditions, soil – and any other characteristics of the garden in question. Matching up plants with the location and its characteristics is one of the most important jobs in a healthy organic garden. Choosing the right places to grow the flowers in your space is also essential. Again, this is often a case of matching up the requirements of the plants with the conditions which can be provided. 3) Choose Flowers For Blooms Over As Much Of The Year As Possible Most flowering plants fulfil key functions in the garden while in bloom. When they flower, they not only look their best, but also attract a range of beneficial wildlife to the space. Whatever other decisions you make about which flowers you grow and how and where you grow them, it is a good idea to make choices that mean you have flowers in bloom in your garden over as long a period as possible. This means thinking carefully about when different flowering plants are in bloom, and also ensuring that you aim for as much diversity as possible, in each month, and over the course of the year. Flowers With Functions: Integrating Flowers Into Garden Design Flowering plants can also have a range of functions in garden design. By considering the functional benefits that different flowering plants can provide, we can find numerous ways to integrate them into our gardens. 4) Companion Planting In An Annual Vegetable Plot One of the first interesting ways to integrate flowers into your garden is as companion plants in an area for annual food production. Both annual and perennial flowering plants can be extremely beneficial as companion plants for annual fruit and vegetable crops. Flowers like calendula, French marigolds, nasturtiums and borage, to name just a few examples, make wonderful companions in a kitchen garden. Flowers can, of course, attract bees and other pollinators. They can also attract predatory species which help keep pest numbers down and can potentially repel, confuse or distract pest species. It is also worthwhile remembering that a number of flowers can be edible in their own right. They can also provide other yields and be used in a range of ways (for beauty products for example) within your home. They might also be beneficial within a composting system, or be dynamic accumulators which help you maintain the fertility in your growing areas.1 5) Perennial Beds Or Borders With Flowers, Vegetables & Herbs When planning a food-producing garden, it is also important to consider the potential of perennial food production. Perennial beds and borders do not need to be flowers alone. Integrating ornamental planting with edible plants is a great way to create diversity and abundance. Flowers can also serve as companion plants within a perennial plant context and the flowers too can benefit from the various other plants included in such as scheme. “I don’t really grow vegetables so at this time of year, so I have a lot of bedding annuals on the go,” shares Sunil Patel, owner of the garden at 13 Broom Acres. “They are for the many patio pots and unexpected gaps in the borders. This year we’re trying to grow Zinnias and Cerinthe as well as our more usual staples of lobelia, calendula, bidens and mimulus. “I’ll also sow various perennials from seed that I’ll then grow on for sale either at Open Days or for the Plant Sale of our local gardening club. “We currently have delphiniums, thalictrum, evening primrose and Sisyrinchium, all from seeds collected in the garden last autumn.” Many herbaceous perennial flowering plants usually thought of as ornamentals can work well alongside interesting perennial vegetables and herbs. Those perennial vegetables and herbs can themselves be ornamental and may also be attractive flowering plants. Creating perennial planting schemes can be a great low-maintenance choice. Perennial schemes sequester more carbon, keep the soil healthy and of course, they’re also great for the wildlife which shares your garden. 6) Fruit Tree Guilds & Forest Gardens Of course, abundant perennial planting schemes need not only include herbaceous perennials, but also a range of trees and shrubs. Fruit trees and fruiting shrubs are excellent choices for many gardens, including my own. In order to achieve the best possible yields from fruit trees and fruit bushes, it is a good idea to create guilds, or diverse polycultures of beneficial plants around them – including plenty of flowers.2 “In my own garden the early flowering apples sometimes failed to be pollinated,” shares RHS-qualified Horticulturist Colin Skelly. “Since introducing more early flowering perennials into the space this has not been an issue as a greater number of pollinators attracted to the area. “The plants used include Pulmonaria cultivars (Lungwort), Erysimum cheiri (Wallflower), Digitialis purpurea (Foxgloves) and Dianthus barbatus (Sweet William).” A fruit tree guild will usually include flowering plants to bring in pollinators early in the season and while the blossoms are out – and to attract wildlife to reduce problems with pests throughout the year. Some other flowers will also work well as companion plants for fruit trees due to their dynamic accumulation, or because they are good at providing ground cover or suppressing competitive grass growth. Extend the idea of a fruit tree guild and you can create a forest garden, or food forest – a syntropic ecosystem with layered planting. Again, flowers play crucial roles within the different layers in a forest garden scheme. 7) Wildflower Meadows & Other Habitats The ways in which flowers are planted together can bring many benefits through the ways in which they bring wildlife into a space, and provide for and protect that wildlife once it arrives. As well as integrating flowers into food-producing systems, as mentioned above, flowers should also serve as the backbone for a wildlife-friendly garden. One of the most common types of flower gardens are wildflower meadows. Both annual and perennial types of wildflower meadow are a great way to protect endangered species and attract wildlife to your space.3 Flower gardens can help fill a number of ecological niches. As well as creating a meadow habitat, a flower garden might also include marginal pond planting, or a bog garden or wetland area, for example. Flowers might also serve as the under-storey in a natural woodland garden setting. 8) Rain Gardens, Ponds & Wetland Gardens As well as playing a role in food production and wildlife attraction, flowers in your garden might also be used in schemes designed to manage water more effectively. Rain gardens, for example, often include a range of flowering plants, which can cope with saturation in wet weather, and drier periods in the summer months. More damp-tolerant flowers are placed at the base of a basin dug for a rain garden, with other flowering plants around the sides of the depression, and drought-tolerant wildflowers around the outer sides. A flower garden might also be placed in and around the water to improve the function of a wildlife pond, or used in vegetated swales, for example, which help direct water to where it is needed, away from where it is not wanted, or which keep water around in the plants and soil in your garden. Choosing A Location For A Flower Garden Once you have thought about how flowers can be useful in your garden and how they can be integrated into an overall design, you should be one step closer to choosing your plants. However, before you dive straight in and start making your plant choices, you need to determine the exact characteristics of the area or areas where flowers will be grown. Will you be growing flowers in the ground? Will the site be sunny or shaded? What will the soil be like? Will you be growing in raised beds, or containers? How much space is available? 9) Tips For Flower Gardens In Full Sun Many flowers can thrive in full sun, and you will have an amazing choice of plants, no matter what other characteristics you are dealing with on the site. However, when designing a flower garden for full sun, it is important to remember that areas in full sun can get very warm in summer, and may be more exposed in winter. One of their key characteristics is that they will tend to dry out more quickly, so it is important to bear this in mind. I’d recommend that you choose plants that like the heat and that can cope with the drier conditions that are likely to prevail. Some good suggestions include nepeta, scabiosa, dahlias, agastache and salvia. 10) Tips For Flower Gardens in Partial Or Dappled Shade Not all flowers will enjoy full sun conditions, of course, and there are plenty of excellent flowering plants to consider for a garden in partial or dappled shade. Some can even cope with more deeply shaded conditions. When choosing flowers for shade, be sure to think about what kind of shade you are dealing with. Some plants prefer damp shade, while others are better suited to dry shade conditions. Aesthetically, some of the best choices for flowers to grow in shade include plants with white or pale flowers, which stand out well in lower light conditions. Plants with variegated foliage can also work well, and choosing varied plant form and textures can be important. Hostas, ferns, begonia and coleus are all good choices for shady spots! 11) Soil Types & Soil Characteristics A flower garden for one type of soil (clay soil, for example) will look very different to a flower garden for another (such as free-draining sand). As well as thinking about the sunlight and shade, exposure and water characteristics, it is important to understand your soil when planning a flower garden. Be sure to choose flowers which are appropriate for the soil type and its properties, and for your soil pH. If you have acidic or alkaline soil, it is best to avoid amending it too heavily. Instead, simply choose flowering plants which are suited to the soil conditions where you live. 12) Raised Bed Flower Gardens If you do wish to grow flowers which are not particularly suited to your soil in your garden – rather than amending the soil, it is better to consider creating your flower garden in raised beds or containers. Growing flowers in raised beds can bring a range of benefits. Raised beds can make things easier to tend, and may require less weeding.4 They can bring flowers level with seating height in an outdoors living area, or enhance the view from a window, for example. Raised beds can come in a range of shapes and sizes, and can play an important role in determining the look and feel of a space. 13) Container Flower Gardens & Vertical Gardens Those who are short on space can still create stunning flower gardens. Even if you do not have any space to grow in the ground, growing in containers and in vertical gardens means that you can still have a colourful, abundant, beautiful space. As long as you choose the right containers for the flowers you wish to grow, you can still include a wide range of plants in the smallest of spaces. Growing flowers in pots on shelving, placing them in hanging containers, or in planting pockets within a structure affixed to a wall or fence can help you make the most of your space. Remember, there are plenty of reclaimed materials you could use for such a project. Stylistic Choices In A Flower Garden Once you have considered the practicalities, thinking about flowers, their needs, and the roles they can play in your garden as a whole, there are still a range of decisions to make when creating a flower garden. 14) Design By Garden Type One thing to think about, when it comes to aesthetics and style, is the type of garden you wish to create. Flower gardens can be created to establish a certain type of garden. For example, you might want to create: An English cottage garden. A woodland garden. An alpine garden or rockery. A Mediterranean style garden. Meadow planting. Prairie style planting. A formal cutting flower garden. And these ideas are just the beginning. There are plenty of other garden types to consider, no matter where you live, and no matter how much space you have available. 15) Follow Moods & Themes Stylistically, you may also find it helpful to think about what mood or theme you wish to evoke through your layout and plant choices. For example, you might want your flower garden to be: Rustic and naturalistic. Calming and tranquil. Vibrant and energizing. Classic and traditional. Sleek and contemporary. Think about whether you would like your plant choices to fit within a certain theme or to evoke a certain atmosphere. 16) Consider Your Bed Or Border Shape Another key choice that can make a big difference to the look and feel of a flower garden is the size and shape of any beds or borders. Many gardeners make the mistake of thinking that flower beds and borders need to fit around the edges of the space. But sometimes, it can be useful to think outside the box, and bring flowers out to position them front and centre in the space. Remember, beds and borders can be created in any shape. Think about whether you want to stick to straight lines and hard angles, or make the space more natural and relaxed with curved shapes and flowing lines. Beds can certainly be square or rectangular, but they can also be circular, or have irregular, curving or wavy shapes. A mandala garden is beautiful way to bring artistry to a space – creating circular and flower-shaped designs picked out in different flowers and forms, for example. When thinking about the space used for beds or borders, it can also be helpful to think in three dimensions. You might create a spiral form bed for flowers and herbs, for example, which rises up towards the centre. You might stack raised beds in a range of forms, or, as mentioned above, create vertical gardens in a range of different ways. 17) Embrace Colour & Form Flower colours and the forms of different plants all add together to create the stylistic look and feel you are going for. Even when aesthetics are not the primary consideration, colours can be important. Remember that certain flower types and flower colours will be more attractive to bees and other wildlife than others. For example, bees will tend to be preferentially attracted to purple or blue flowers.5 Think about how colours can create different moods in your garden – cool and calming blues and greens, and hot and vibrant pinks and reds, for example. If you want a calming vibe, stick to a few colours. If you want something more uplifting, don’t be afraid to clash and combine a range of hues. Think about adding colours in drifts rather than placing individual plants and creating too frenetic a polka-dot style scheme. Combining Different Flowering Plants There are of course many things to learn about combining different plants in your garden, both for function and aesthetics. As long as you keep these basics in mind, and consider all the different ideas mentioned above, you should find it easier to create the flower garden you have been dreaming about. References 1. Zarro, G. (2020b, July 20). Breaking Ground with Dynamic Accumulators. Cornell Small Farms. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/2020/07/breaking-ground-with-dynamic-accumulators/ 2. Finney, D. M., & Kaye, J. P. (2017). Functional diversity in cover crop polycultures increases multifunctionality of an agricultural system. Journal of Applied Ecology, 54(2), 509–517. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12765 3. Forest Research. (2022, February 9). Wildflower meadow habitats – Forest Research. Retrieved April 3, 2023, from https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/fthr/urban-regeneration-and-greenspace-partnership/greenspace-in-practice/benefits-of-greenspace/wildflower-meadow-habitats/ 4. Raised Beds vs. In-Ground Gardens. (n.d.). University of Georgia. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C1027-3 5. Reverté, S., Retana, J., Gómez, J. M., & Bosch, J. (2016, August). Pollinators show flower colour preferences but flowers with similar colours do not attract similar pollinators. Oxford Academic. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://academic.oup.com/aob/article/118/2/249/1741474
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We Interviewed Garden Designers For Their 20 Top Wildlife Garden Ideas
IN THIS GUIDE 1) Create A Wildlife Pond 2) Make A Bog Garden / Wetland Area 3) Make A Rain Garden 4) Landscape To Protect The Soil 5) Plant A Wildflower Meadow 6) Plant Fruit Trees 7) Plant Other Native Trees 8) Establish A Forest Garden 9) Make New No-Dig Garden Beds 10) Companion Plant Annual Crops With Flowers & Herbs 11) Create A Perennial Bed Or Border 12) Plant A Mixed Native Hedgerow 13) Clad Walls Or Fences With Perennial Climbers 14) Choose Living Roofs For Sheds & Other Structures 15) Create A Stump Garden 16) Create A Rockery 17) Leave Some Weeds For Wildlife 18) Make A Log Or Brush Pile (Or Dead Hedge) 19) Add Nesting Boxes & Wildlife ‘Hotels’ 20) Add Feeders In Your Garden References Creating a wildlife garden is a great eco-friendly project for you and your family. There is plenty that you can do to benefit nature and attract and aid wildlife in your garden. And remember, what benefits wildlife also benefits you, as a gardener. The more biodiversity you can bring to your space, the more vibrant and resilient it will be. “There are many ways gardeners can help care for the environment and have the climate in mind,” says Hannah Reid, Garden Writer and Blogger. Wildlife is endangered by human activity. But we humans can also do a lot to reduce biodiversity losses and to help make our environments better places for wildlife to be, and better spaces for us. Here are 20 wildlife garden ideas to benefit nature, help wildlife, and create thriving and productive spaces that provide for you, your family, and all the life which shares your space. 1) Create A Wildlife Pond One of the very best things you can do in a wildlife garden is to create a wildlife pond.1 Wildlife ponds are a year-round source of water for wildlife to drink or bathe in, and also provide a habitat for a range of aquatic and amphibious creatures. Ponds attract and benefit many animals, boosting biodiversity. They are also extremely attractive and can help make your garden a relaxing place to be. “An obvious way to help wildlife is to add water features, even tiny ponds or baths, to your spaces,” shares Dave Goulson, Bee Ecologist & Conservationist. “It’s amazing how much wildlife some water will provide for.” By planting up a wildlife pond with a range of aquatic and marginal plants, you can create a thriving ecosystem that supports a wide variety of life, including slug-eating frogs. “A good balance is for half the surface to be vegetation, and half water,” according to Horticulturist Peter Lickorish. Ponds should ideally be at least two feet deep in the middle, with a shallow beach area at one side to allow wildlife to get in and out easily. But in tiny gardens, even an old washing up bowl or barrel placed in the ground can be better than no pond at all, as Manoj Maldé, award-winning garden designer, explains: “Fill a bowl with water, leave it in your garden and watch how it attracts wildlife. I do this in my garden and it attracts birds, bees, butterflies and other insects. “Using ways of inviting beneficial wildlife into the garden will help to keep control of the bad insects you don’t want. “In turn, you may be able to reduce your use of artificial insecticides which will have a positive knock-on effect of reduction in plastic containers and packaging – and it helps to save a few pennies.” “Very shallow areas of water – even a saucer – can be great for bees and other insects, as well as birds, to drink from…or watch them drink from water droplets on plants like Alchemilla,” adds Peter. “I bought a water bath for the first time this year and I’ve spotted my first frog, which is exciting,” shares Gardener Sally Flatman. 2) Make A Bog Garden / Wetland Area To make a watery area of your garden even better for wildlife, you could also consider creating a bog garden or a small wetland area adjacent to a pond, or in a naturally boggy and waterlogged spot on your property. Wetland ecosystems are one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on earth.2 Even a small area of bog garden or wetland in your garden could boost biodiversity considerably, and be a boon to a range of different wildlife, including bees – if planted with plants such as marsh marigold, Caltha palustris. “By incorporating water into the garden, from a small half-barrel pond to an enormous lake, we can provide a home for so much more wildlife, with the added benefit of attracting slug-hungry predators like frogs, as well as creating opportunities for different types of ornamental planting,” adds Sam Hickmott, a Horticulturist. 3) Make A Rain Garden Staying with the water theme, another great wildlife garden idea involves finding ways to catch rainwater in your garden and keep it around. There are a great many benefits to making a rain garden, which will catch rainfall runoff from a roof or driveway. One of the benefits is that the moist soil and rich planting within it can be great for wildlife.3 The idea is that water from gutters or hard surfaces are directed into a basin or dip created in the soil, which is filled with organic material and planted up with plants that tolerate periods of wet and periods of dry conditions. This feature can be a habitat for a range of species, and if you choose the right plants, can provide wildlife with food and other resources too. Plant up a rain garden with native plants and it can catch and store far more water than a boring lawn, and will also bring much more life to your garden. 4) Landscape To Protect The Soil Another way to catch rainwater and keep it around in your garden is to create on-contour swales (ditches) on a gentle slope. Adding swales and berms on their downward side, and planting up the berms with plenty of useful and attractive plants will keep water around, aiding soil life and a range of other wildlife too.4 Taking care of the soil is very important in a wildlife garden because much of the wildlife we most wish to attract is part of the ecosystem of healthy soil.5 “Stop using chemicals and start letting nature achieve her own balance,” shares Gardener Alan Titchmarsh. When trying to attract wildlife to your garden, do not forget the wildlife which we cannot usually see, which lives and works below the soil surface. Terracing can also work well on steeper slopes to prevent runoff and erosion. 5) Plant A Wildflower Meadow One of the most obvious types of wildlife we wish to attract in a wildlife garden are pollinators. Bees and a range of other insects play crucial roles in plant pollination and we want plenty of them around. One of the wonderful ways to attract pollinators to your garden is to create a wildflower meadow.6 Getting rid of a boring, mowed grass lawn is another of the best things you can do for wildlife in your garden. “Don’t be too tidy. I’m not saying your garden has to look a mess, but endless deadheading, mowing and tidying away is getting rid of a little bit of habitat for wildlife every time,” Dave says. “Leave herbaceous plants up throughout the winter and don’t chop them back until the spring. It’s a really easy thing to do, as loads of insects spend their winters sitting on those dead stalks and flower heads.” Replacing it with an infrequently mowed perennial or annual wildflower meadow is one excellent way to go. “Plant some native wildflowers in a little patch,” adds Dave. “It doesn’t have to be big. We asked members of The Buzz Club to grow a 2x2m patch and then count the insects they saw, and the results were amazing. “There were hundreds of insects from dozens of different species attracted to these patches, so you don’t need lots of space.” Be sure to think about where you live, the microclimate and soil, and choose a wildflower or meadow mix which is suitable for your area and location. “Many meadow plants prefer relatively poor soil, so this is no barrier to starting one,” says Peter Lickorish. “In fact, suppressing lush grass can be a challenge, so consider adding plants which can help achieve this – including Rhinanthus minor, yellow rattle.” 6) Plant Fruit Trees Just a few fruit trees in blossom can provide a huge amount of nectar for bees and other pollinators. The fruit which you do not manage to harvest, and that which falls from the tree, will also be appreciated by butterflies and other wildlife later in the year.7 Fruit trees also provide for wildlife in many other ways too – feeding a whole host of creatures, and giving a range of wildlife shelter or a place to live. “As an example, ladybirds love gobbling up any aphids on fruit trees,” says Peter. And that is before you even begin to consider the benefits they can bring for you and your family. Even in tiny gardens, there is space for a small fruit tree. You can grow cordon varieties up against a fence, or even grow patio fruit trees in pots. Almost anyone can place a fruit tree in their garden. 7) Plant Other Native Trees If you have a larger garden, then of course fruit trees are not the only trees to consider. Planting other trees is another of the best things you can do for wildlife in your area. Choosing native trees means you can benefit a huge range of native wildlife, which has evolved alongside these species and works symbiotically with native plants in a range of different ways.8 Even a single tree can make a big difference to the biodiversity in your garden, and can enrich your own life too, in so many different ways. In somewhat smaller gardens, native trees can be coppiced to keep them small, which also helps create habitat and other benefits for a range of creatures. 8) Establish A Forest Garden If you really want to do as much as you can for wildlife in your garden, then you can think beyond tree planting and think about creating thriving, productive and resilient ecosystems to feed you, and many other creatures with whom you share your space.9 Establish a forest garden, also known as a food forest or edible woodland garden and watch the wildlife arrive. A forest garden is a wildlife-friendly way to grow your own food, and creates a much more low maintenance food-producing system than annual beds. A forest garden has layered planting – with trees, shrubs, climbers, herbaceous perennials, self-seeding annuals/biennials, and more which work together in many ways with each other, and with wildlife in the space. Not all are edible, but all contribute to the system as a whole. “Having a mix of plants is really great,” shares Grass Expert Neil Lucas. “Growing for pollinators is good, but growing for diversity is better because you get such a wide range of plants that appeal to all sorts of wildlife.” 9) Make New No-Dig Garden Beds If you are still interested in annual food production, then in a wildlife-friendly garden, you will want to make sure that your efforts to grow your own do not conflict with the nature in your garden. In a no-dig garden, you will work to protect the soil and the life it contains, and as mentioned above, this is always great for garden biodiversity. “By disengaging from the ground and not hoeing, digging or weeding, you’re allowing all sorts of invertebrates to start making a home there,” shares Neil. When making new no-dig garden beds, the idea is to disturb the existing soil as little as possible. “Many organisms are happy at a particular soil depth and soil disturbance could put them somewhere they don’t want to be,” says Peter. Rather than digging new beds, you will make new beds by layering organic material on top of the soil surface. Weeds can be suppressed under layers of cardboard. No-dig garden beds like lasagna gardens and hugelkultur mounds allow a wide range of soil life to thrive.10 10) Companion Plant Annual Crops With Flowers & Herbs Once you have made your new no-dig beds, you also need to think about what you plant in them. In a wildlife garden, companion planting annual crops is key. Rather than, for example, just growing cabbages in one bed and carrots in another, you should create vibrant and diverse polycultures, with a range of plants growing in each bed which benefit one another. “Have permaculture at the front of your mind and plant a diverse range of plants in the garden,” says Hannah. “This will help to attract pollinators too, which is both great for the environment and vegetable growers, as it’s the pollinators that mean we get to harvest veggies!” As Hannah explains, incorporating plenty of flowers and herbs as companion plants around and between your main crops can bring more beneficial wildlife to your garden: wildlife that will pollinate your crops, and help, through predation, to keep pest numbers down.11 “Plants such as the French marigold, Tagetes patula, can deter whitefly from tomatoes,” adds Peter Lickorish. Remember to garden organically at all times in order to make sure you keep safe the wildlife that you attract. 11) Create A Perennial Bed Or Border As well as thinking about annual production when growing your own, it is important to consider perennial production too. Fruit trees, shrubs and other perennial plants can, as mentioned above, be included in a forest garden type area. But perennial beds or borders filled with perennial flowers, vegetables and herbs can also be great for a wildlife garden. With herbaceous perennials, leaving plant stems and seed heads in place over the autumn and winter months can provide a haven for a range of wildlife, with plenty of shelter, and food sources too. “The stems of Turkish sage, Phlomis russeliana, can be very elegant if left over winter,” advises Peter. A herbaceous border is another great feature for a wildlife-friendly garden. 12) Plant A Mixed Native Hedgerow Hedges can also be a place where wildlife can thrive, especially if, instead of creating a neat, single species hedge, you plant a mixed hedgerow with a variety of native or mostly native plants. “Buy plants from UK growers to minimise transportation emissions, don’t use pesticides and don’t buy a plant and expect it to survive without first doing a little bit of research into its care requirements,” says Sarah Gerrard-Jones, when asked about the best ways to help nature. “The most sustainable thing you can do is keep a native plant alive!” There are many great species for a mixed hedgerow – from wild fruits like blackthorn/sloe, bullace/wild plum, bird cherry/gean, and elder, to hazel, hawthorn, hornbeam, holly, native roses, guelder rose and more. Hedgerows can be placed along a garden boundary, but might also be imaginatively used to separate zones of your garden into different garden rooms. Hedgerows can be nesting sites, provide shelter for many creatures, and, of course, can also provide food, for the wildlife and for you. 13) Clad Walls Or Fences With Perennial Climbers Where gardens are surrounded by walls or fences, these will obviously not be as attractive for wildlife, and can in fact block wildlife from your garden. To make your fences or walls more biodiverse (and attractive) consider cladding them with perennial climbers. Ivy, honeysuckle, and other climbers are also great for wildlife throughout the year. In addition, if you have a solid boundary around your garden, think about making holes which can be used as wildlife corridors by hedgehogs and other wonderful garden wildlife. Do not accidentally exclude wildlife from your garden with barriers that certain creatures cannot breach. 14) Choose Living Roofs For Sheds & Other Structures One of the key things in a wildlife garden is to make sure that you include as much plant life, and as varied a selection of plants, as possible. Planting where plants would not typically be found is one great way to cram more plants into your garden. One example of this is choosing living roofs, or green roofs for sheds and other structures in your garden. Sedums, grasses and meadow flowers, and a number of other plants can make great roof covering and are a boon for bees and other pollinators.12 15) Create A Stump Garden Another key concept behind a wildlife garden involves creating as many different ecosystem niches and different habitats as possible. One cool idea for a wildlife garden is a stump garden, or stumpery. This involves creating a garden around dead and decomposing tree stumps, logs and branches. “If a branch has fallen from your tree, don’t discard it,” shares Danny Clarke, a Garden Designer and Horticulturist who is also known as The Black Gardener. “Put it in a bed and make a little stumpery out of it. Plant some ferns or hostas around it. “Wildlife will benefit from these simple ideas. Eventually, that wood will decay and enrich the soil and from that enrichment, new plants will grow.” Stump gardens are wonderful for solitary bees, beetles, woodlice, toads, small mammals and more. They are a wonderful wildlife habitat which can work very well in a shaded or partially shaded spot. “I put log piles with soil in my space and they become hotels in the corners of our gardens” shares Neil. Adding ferns and woodland plants contrasts well with the stumps. 16) Create A Rockery Placing rocks and stones in a garden bed to create a rockery is another way to create different habitats for a range of wildlife. Rockeries can be beautiful garden features, and can attract a range of different creatures to the space. Rockeries will typically have plenty of nooks and crannies for wildlife to hide in, and butterflies and perhaps even lizards will enjoy sunning themselves on flat rock surfaces. Fill your rockery with flowering alpine plants and pollinators will also benefit throughout the year. 17) Leave Some Weeds For Wildlife “Every year I take part in Plantlife’s No Mow May but I also carry it on through Let It Bloom June and Knee High July,” shares Debi Holland. “Our urban front lawn is a dream, filled with ox-eye daisies and the buzz of pollinators. Other than mowing a path around the edge nature is allowed to run wild and the local insects seem very happy.” As explained above, in a wildlife garden, it is never a good idea to be too zealous in weed removal. Campaigns such as No Mow May encourage the unchecked growth of plants commonly considered weeds, which are highly beneficial to garden wildlife.13 “You should listen to your garden and watch what is does, as opposed to trying to make it do what you want it to do,” shares Sally. “I think that comes back to letting plants, even weeds, go to seed when they want to.” Of course, you may not want weeds in your main growing areas, but it is a good idea to leave some wilder corners in your space where weeds and native wildflowers can thrive. “Nature is important and we need to learn to co-exist with it,” shares Danny. “Birds, bees and butterflies are not interested in whether a garden is tidy or not. “They’re just interested in whether they can get food or shelter, so we need to consider them first. “It’s all about being part of this big cycle and working with it, not against it. If we work against it, we do it to our detriment.” Creating a nettle patch, perhaps, or letting plants like dandelions pop up in a lawn or pathways can be great for a range of insects and other wildlife in your garden. And remember, many weeds can actually be very useful for us too, in a range of ways.14 “Don’t see your garden as a battleground,” adds Sally. “Once you relax about that and stop trying to control every element of your garden, more wildlife will creep in.” 18) Make A Log Or Brush Pile (Or Dead Hedge) Not being too tidy in a garden is key to wildlife attraction. “A pile of logs and twigs will provide cover for beetles to live,” shares Georgie Newbery, a Flower Farmer. “Beetles eat slugs. Hedgehogs eat beetles. We need room for the whole foot chain if we are to allow ecosystems to flourish.” As well as leaving some weeds to thrive in wilder corners of the space, you should also make sure that you leave some dead and decaying organic woody material lying around. You can pile branches, leaves and other organic debris in a pile in a corner of your garden, or make a dead hedge by piling such material between two rows of posts stuck in the ground. “Leaving dense twigs and foliage will create nesting and hibernating spaces,” shares Author Naomi Slade. “It is really important to provide insect larvae with food sources, whether it is rotting wood or plant material, as otherwise, there can be no adults.” The materials will provide a home for a range of wildlife, and enrich and improve the soil as they slowly break down.15 “Stacking or laying material in strata – lining it up in layers facing the same direction – can make them appear more ornamental,” according to Peter Lickorish. “The prevailing wind generally blows branches down in the same direction, so you can mimic this.” The USDA suggests that one brush pile every 2-300 feet should provide adequate cover and travel lanes between food sources for most species. 19) Add Nesting Boxes & Wildlife ‘Hotels’ The best ideas for a wildlife garden always involve thinking about the diverse plants that you choose, how they can be combined, and how you can create natural habitats for as many creatures as possible. But in small gardens, you might not have the space to create as many natural habitats as you might wish. This is where nesting boxes and wildlife ‘hotels’ can come in. Adding bird boxes, bat boxes, squirrel boxes, bee hotels and other similar features can ensure you have space for wildlife when you cannot provide more natural accommodation options. Every creature that visits your garden should be able to find a home when you add fun features of this kind to your space. A mixture of materials, including tiles and logs with drilled holes, could be packed into a steel gabion, for example. Just make sure that you understand the best placement for each of the different features of this kind that you add, so the options are suitable for the creatures you wish to attract. 20) Add Feeders In Your Garden Again, remember that adding natural food sources through the right plant choices is most important. Adding plenty of seeding plants and berry-producing trees and bushes, and ensuring plenty of insect life is around, are the best ways to make sure there is food for all in a wildlife garden. But there are still times when it can be helpful to supplement the wild diet of the creatures in your garden with additional food. A range of garden birds, for example, will benefit from additional food in winter, when there is less wild food around. Research from the British Trust for Ornithology in 2019 suggested that bird feeding has helped to support the populations of many bird species in the UK.16 Choosing and positioning the right feeders for different birds and other creatures is one more idea that can be beneficial in a wildlife garden. These are, of course, just some of the things you can do to create a wonderful wildlife garden. But these ideas should provide you with a good idea of where to start. References 1. The value of ponds for wildlife. (n.d.). Flagship Ponds. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/The-value-of-ponds-for-wildlife-NEW.pdf 2. What is biodiversity and why do we need it? (2020, June 13). WWT. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://www.wwt.org.uk/news-and-stories/blog/what-is-biodiversity-and-why-do-we-need-it/ 3. Rain Gardens: A Way to Improve Water Quality. (2016, November 28). Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/rain-gardens-way-to-improve-water-quality 4. Engels, J. (2015, August 25). Using Swales to Your Advantage: How to Water Your Garden With the Power of Nature. One Green Planet. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://www.onegreenplanet.org/lifestyle/permaculture-magic-why-swales-are-swell-for-the-garden/ 5. Saving Our Soils. (2021). Soil Association. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://www.soilassociation.org/media/24941/saving-our-soils-report-dec21.pdf 6. Forest Research. (2022b, February 9). Wildflower meadow habitats. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/fthr/urban-regeneration-and-greenspace-partnership/greenspace-in-practice/benefits-of-greenspace/wildflower-meadow-habitats/ 7. Benefits of orchards and fruit growing. (2017, May 22). The Orchard Project. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://www.theorchardproject.org.uk/guides_and_advice/benefits-of-orchards-and-fruit-growing/ 8. Why are Trees Important for Biodiversity? (n.d.). Woodland Trust. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/why-trees-are-important-for-biodiversity/ 9. Key benefits of forest gardens. (n.d.). National Forest Gardening Scheme. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://nationalforestgardening.org/benefits-of-forest-gardens/key-benefits/ 10. The Many Benefits of Hugelkultur. (2023, March 27). Permaculture. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://www.permaculture.co.uk/articles/the-many-benefits-of-hugelkultur/ 11. Riesselman, L. (2010, January 1). Companion Planting: A Method for Sustainable Pest Control. Iowa State University. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://dr.lib.iastate.edu/entities/publication/3958510b-6314-4800-9ded-88cf9d4cbca2 12. Green roofs / RHS Gardening. (n.d.). Royal Horticultural Society. https://www.rhs.org.uk/garden-features/green-roofs 13. Ways to support us. (n.d.-b). National Trust. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/support-us 14. Hillocks, R. (1997). The potential benefits of weeds with reference to small holder agriculture in Africa. Integrated Pest Management. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://www2.hawaii.edu/~theodore/Images/weeds_as_resources_africa.pdf 15. Schalau, J. (2019, June 26). Brush Piles Benefit Wildlife. Backyard Gardener. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://cals.arizona.edu/yavapai/anr/hort/byg/archive/brushpiles.html 16. Boom time at Britain’s bird feeders. (2019, May 21). BTO – British Trust for Ornithology. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://www.bto.org/press-releases/boom-time-britains-bird-feeders
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Grow Herbs In Any Space With These 50+ Ideas From Jonathan Sweet
IN THIS GUIDE 1) Windowsill Selection 2) Self-Watering Gardens 3) Recycled Planters 4) Al Fresco Upcycling 5) Wall-Mounted Herbs 6) Potted Herb Garden 7) Mobile Herb Garden 8) Companion Planting 9) Herb Spirals 10) Hydroponic Herbs References Keep your kitchen cupboards stocked and your culinary creations spiced with these ingenious herb garden ideas. There’s nothing quite like a bunch of freshly chopped herbs to bring a dish to life. Thankfully, growing your own herbs at home is a straightforward enough endeavour for even the most inexperienced of horticulturalists. They’re resilient, require little in the way of maintenance and take up next to no room, meaning that a small (or non-existent!) garden shouldn’t be an impediment to you crafting your very own herb garden with everything you need to concoct wonderful culinary creations in the kitchen. Below is a rundown of ten of the best herb garden ideas to suit all environments and levels of competence. Not so confident in your green-fingered abilities? Choose a self-watering option. Don’t have a whole lot of room to play with? Consider a wall-mounted or window-hanging alternative. Committed to sustainability and doing your bit for the environment? An upcycled garden is the way to go. Whatever your needs and your preferences, there’s an option to suit – 1) Windowsill Selection A windowsill is a perfect location for a herb garden. It’s the ideal compromise between being out of the way but also within easy reach when it’s needed, plus the plants will be ideally positioned to absorb as much of the sun’s rays as possible. Since space is still likely to be an issue in a ledge as narrow as the one bordering a window, it’s a good idea to pick three or four of your most used herbs and plant them here. Those with reduced space could benefit from a hanging planter that fits right into the nook of the window. Not only will this free up space below them for placing kitchen tools and utensils, but it can also create an attractive design feature framed by the window backdrop. 2) Self-Watering Gardens For those with little experience in the garden – or with little time to devote to the activity – there are plenty of new-fangled options on the market which turn horticulture into a cakewalk. Some of the most innovative and convenient of these gizmos include self-watering or hydroponic herb gardens, which remove the need for you to remember to continually keep them hydrated. You can even make your own DIY self-watering planters with a little bit of ingenuity and creative thinking, although these generally aren’t quite so technologically advanced. The beauty of self-watering herb gardens – aside from the obvious convenience they offer – is the sheer range of options available to you. If you want to go the whole hog, you can plump for a sophisticated model which regulates not only irrigation, but light exposure, temperature and humidity, too. Easy self-watering systems are also available to buy – these come in many different styles and can be placed in any planter. The choice is yours. 3) Recycled Planters An upcycled herb garden can be a great way to help save the planet and create a quirky home feature, all in a single stroke. Both wine and soft drink bottles work well here, but the options are virtually endless. Mason jars are particularly effective for a modern aesthetic, while tin cans are great at accentuating an existing shabby chic décor. “Herbs such as thyme, which are happy in dry conditions, are a good choice for a low-maintenance herb hanging basket made from a recycled planter,” shares Master Horticulturist Peter Lickorish. “A trailing rosemary may be just attractive as any typical bedding plant and the display would keep for another year.” You can even repurpose your finest china tea cups by planting herbs in them for an elegant display! Old egg cartons are the perfect size for growing new seedlings. No matter the medium you eventually choose to house your herbs, just remember to create holes in the bottom of the makeshift pot to allow for easy drainage. Otherwise, your herbs will soon become waterlogged and drown, which isn’t conducive to them lasting the test of thyme (sorry!). For climate-conscious gardeners there are also recyclable plant pots available to buy, which are made from recycled materials. These are fully compostable and the materials break down when you re-pot your plant. 4) Al Fresco Upcycling Your sustainability efforts don’t have to be confined to an indoor setting, either. Wooden pallets can be easily transformed into a fantastic impromptu herb garden by flipping them on their side, filling the apertures with soil and planting your favourite herbs in the slats. You might find that your local garden centre is willing to donate a spare one to you free of charge – especially if you’re a valuable customer of theirs – but even a nominal fee is a small price to pay for this ingenious home planting solution. Other ideas for upcycling furniture include turning old ladders, bedside tables or chest of drawers into new and unusual herb gardens, simply by making the most of rung and drawer space to cultivate your creations. Guttering is another excellent material that lends itself well to the purpose; simply chop a drainage chute into manageable sections, drill holes in the bottom and fill with soil. Given that they’re designed to be positioned off the ground anyway, they’re an ideal option for a hanging herb garden outside your back door. 5) Wall-Mounted Herbs If space really is at a premium in your garden, a vertical herb garden is the ideal way to ensure your kitchen never runs out of its essentials whilst still not encroaching on the limited dimensions available to you. You can use bespoke products like the one in the photograph above, while an adapted shoe organiser is the perfect shape and size for repurposing as a planter. The canvas material is strong enough to support the herbs and soil, but porous enough to allow excess water to drain away in times of heavy rainfall. Attaching plant pots to a free wall can make practical use of the space while beautifying it at the same time. Even individual plant pots welded to the wall with metal or iron brackets will function exceptionally well in giving you access to the herbs you need in the space you have to work with. On the other hand, you don’t have to go for a design quite as grand or as ambitious as either of these options. Units like the one pictured above can be filled with soil and allow for easy vertical herb growing. Pallets can also be used in a vertical fashion for growing – supporting the shady requirements of some plants and the full sun needs of others. Whatever type of structure you go for, just make sure it’s fixed securely to the supporting wall – otherwise, your herbs could come crashing down around you. 6) Potted Herb Garden If in doubt, it’s always an idea to keep things simple. The diminutive dimensions and the meagre maintenance requirements of almost all herbs mean that going down the old-fashioned potted route inevitably brings dividends for indoor or outdoor planting. With the herbs contained in individual pots, you can easily move them around to take advantage of plentiful sunshine in the summer months or bring them indoors when the mercury plummets and the heavens open. It should be remembered, of course, that different herbs have different requirements when growing them in pots, so it’s important to tailor your approach to the plant in question. A propagation station for herbs (like the one above) is always good for producing new plants from existing ones and growing your collection. Again, the versatility of potted herbs means that you should be able to accommodate those specifications with a little forward planning. 7) Mobile Herb Garden Speaking of portability, you could always take the idea to the next logical step by planting the herbs directly into a movable receptacle. An old wheelbarrow is perfect for this, since it’s already been designed to cart loads around the garden. Simply drill several drainage holes in the bottom of the barrow and fill it with compost, then arrange your favourite herbs as artfully as you like. Come rain or shine, you’ll be able to ferry your garden to a sheltered or exposed spot as the situation warrants. Other options for creating a mobile herb garden include tool trolleys, small wheelie bins or even an old bicycle, since the basket in front of the handlebars can serve as an excellent and offbeat window garden. Alternatively, you can quite easily fashion your own; all you need are a few pieces of wood, a set of castor wheels and the know-how to put them all together. With this kind of bespoke design, you can be as simple or as sophisticated as your abilities allow. 8) Companion Planting Spring onions and parsley are the best of bedfellows Another idea for how to arrange your herb garden for optimum impact is through companion planting. This is the practice of pairing herbs with one another (or with other plants in the garden) to deliver mutual benefits for both. Certain herbs give off unique aromas which common pests find unpleasant, thus deterring them from desecrating your crops. Others exude scents that attract pollinators or other friendly creepy-crawlies, while there are even a number of herbs that can enrich the soil. Perhaps best of all, some herbs will enhance the flavour of other herbs and crops in their vicinity. Garlic growing with lettuce Basil, chamomile and tarragon are some such options, while garlic gets on amiably with almost all other plants. Tomatoes with a row of basil Mint, chives and coriander are all adept at repelling aphids, while catnip and lavender bring bees and butterflies by the bucketload. Heirloom Tuscan kale with lemon balm, swiss chard and basil Just remember that certain herbs – such as fennel – are not quite so user friendly and will benefit from being cultivated alone, so read up on possible pairings before you plough ahead. 9) Herb Spirals If you don’t have a whole lot of room to work with, a spiral herb garden can be a great option for cultivating your culinary vegetation. The beauty of this arrangement lies not just in its space efficiency, but also in the freedom and flexibility it offers you to cater to the requirements of different plant types. For example, you can position those herbs which prefer full sunlight at the top of the spiral and stagger ones which thrive in partial shade further down the chain, thus satisfying all comers in the same design. The spiral featured above is a mid-sized variation on the theme, but you can play with the dimensions according to the space that’s available to you. Herb spirals are usually very simple structures to build, as you can see from the images below: For really tight spots, you can even dispense with the kind of rockery aesthetic replicated above and instead create a pyramid from different sized pots, planting different herbs in each level. This maximises the space, offers differing levels of shade and even allows for a trickle-down irrigation system, ticking a number of boxes with just one design. 10) Hydroponic Herbs Hydroponics is becoming an increasingly popular method of growing plants among both green-fingered novices and commercial businesses, chiefly due to the fact that it’s a great way to cultivate crops in a smaller space. It also dispenses with the use of soil entirely, meaning it requires one less resource, with all the nutrients dispersed among the water and a continuous airflow ensuring the root network remains oxygenated at all times.1 As with the self-watering avenue outlined above, there are all kinds of store-bought hydroponics kits with varying degrees of capacity and technological capability. There are deep-water systems, drip systems, ebb and flow systems and aeroponic systems, each with its own features and advantages. It’s also more than possible to create your own DIY solutions at home. And best of all, the herbs will grow faster than via a traditional growing medium, there’s no mess from the soil and you don’t have to worry about watering them on a constant basis!2 A weekly or even biweekly check on the nutrient levels in the solution is all that’s needed to keep your chives thriving and your fennel flourishing. References 1. Hydroponics: The power of water to grow food. (2019, October 4). Science in the News: Harvard University. Retrieved March 16, 2023, from https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2019/hydroponics-the-power-of-water-to-grow-food/ 2. Nguyen, N., McInturf, S. A., & Mendoza-Cózatl, D. G. (2016). Hydroponics: A Versatile System to Study Nutrient Allocation and Plant Responses to Nutrient Availability and Exposure to Toxic Elements. Journal of Visualized Experiments, 113. https://doi.org/10.3791/54317
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Six Garden Designers Share Their Low-Cost Garden Design Ideas On A Budget
IN THIS GUIDE 1) Decorate Your Plant Pots 2) Recycle Plastic Bottles 3) Repurpose Old Furniture 4) Plant In Teacups & Jugs 5) Create A Gravel Path 6) Add Borders 7) Plant Pretty, Affordable Flowers 8) Grow Herbs & Veggies 9) Paint Tin Cans 10) Plant A Tree 11) Create A Ladder Garden 12) Make Tyre Planters 13) Repurpose Old Clothes How Do I Change My Garden On A Budget? How Much Money Can You Save By Growing Your Own Vegetables? Not everyone has the time or disposable income to invest in expensive furniture and landscape design for their garden – but that doesn’t mean you can’t create a beautiful and inviting outdoor space, that functions for you and your household. Whether it’s through using recycled materials, repurposing household items, or painting your existing garden accessories to give them a new lease of life, there are lots of DIY and inexpensive ways to turn your garden from ‘drab’ to ‘fab’. If you’re looking to transform your garden on a budget, check out this collection of thirteen cheap and simple garden ideas, to inspire you to make some changes, and create the outdoor oasis you’ve always wanted. 1) Decorate Your Plant Pots Beautiful pink painted plant pot You may already have some plastic or terracotta plant pots lying around, but perhaps you aren’t impressed with their dull green or brown appearance. If this is the case, spray a primer onto your clean, dry pots, and use acrylic or outdoor paint to give them a new lease of life. Look online for inspiration and get creative with your designs, colours and patterns, to create unique plant pots that are personal to you. This can also make a great crafting activity to do with children. 2) Recycle Plastic Bottles Plastic bottles used in a vertical garden In a world where stopping single-use plastics from polluting our land and oceans is of the utmost importance, repurposing used plastic bottles as planters is both a cheap and eco-friendly garden design idea, as acclaimed Garden Designer & TV Presenter Danny Clarke explains: “Reuse the plastics in your home – don’t throw them away as they can have another use. “Plastics don’t decompose so we should try to hold onto them for as long as possible. “You can build all sorts of things with plastic bottles and pots, but if you don’t need them, give them away to other people for them to use.” To make a plastic bottle into a planter, cut a large hole in one side, and puncture a couple of small holes in the other side, for drainage. Fill with potting soil, and your chosen seeds or seedlings. Hang multiple bottles on a wall or wire fence to create the effect shown. 3) Repurpose Old Furniture A repurposed bathtub full of plants “Why not repurpose furniture for the outdoors?” asks Danny. “Give your old furniture a coat of paint instead of taking it down to your local tip. “I’m always amazed at the sort of things people throw away, as there are so many indoor things that you can quite easily repurpose for the outdoors. “Even if it only lasts for 3-4 years, it’s still not going to landfill and you’re saving money instead of spending thousands on new bits and pieces for your patio.” Consider whether you have any old furniture at home which might look better in your garden. An old desk can make an excellent potting table, whilst a chest of drawers can be used as a unique plant stand, and a disused dining or coffee table makes a great garden table. Paint the furniture a bright colour or pattern for a funky look. For the truly daring, an old toilet or bathtub can make a quirky planter, and is sure to get the neighbours talking! 4) Plant In Teacups & Jugs Plants in pink teacups If you have any old chinaware that you don’t use anymore – perhaps it’s got a chip in it, you don’t like the design – instead of throwing it out, repurpose it as quirky plant pots. “Not buying containers is a definite thing, as there are so many things we can use,” says Kate Cotterill, Co-Director of She Grows Veg. “Grow absolutely anywhere and in anything. We plant seeds in all of our toilet rolls and yoghurt pots, even if it just means growing them on a windowsill around the house. “Using what’s around you is such a useful tip, it doesn’t have to cost a fortune.” The small size of teacups and mugs makes them perfect for herbs and succulents – paint mismatched pots in a unifying colour, as above, to create the look of a matching set. “Watch out for over-watering plants in containers without drainage so they don’t become waterlogged!’ shares Roy Nicol, a Horticultural Consultant. “Just keep an eye on them and pour away excess water.” 5) Create A Gravel Path A stunning gravel path winding through a garden lawn If your garden is a boring square or rectangle of grass, consider making a gravel path to break it up, and add depth and interest. Perhaps your path could lead to a seating area or a vegetable garden at the bottom of your garden. Flowering perennials can also be added on the border of paths to add colour year after year. You can purchase gravel from garden centres, builders’ merchants or DIY stores. Creating a path is as simple as marking it out with stones, digging up the turf, laying landscape membrane to prevent weeds from growing through the gravel and filling it in with gravel. 6) Add Borders Garden borders make an ideal area to plant in Borders are a great way to create a professional, landscaped look in your garden. Use them to separate your lawn from a path, or to divide flower beds and veggie gardens. Borders can have the added benefit of stopping plants from spreading to unwanted areas. You can buy cheap wooden or plastic borders from DIY stores, which you can drive into the soil between your flower beds and lawn. Alternatively, make your own borders using rocks and stones or using a proprietary metal edging solution. 7) Plant Pretty, Affordable Flowers These colourful pansy flowers are loving garden life! An easy way to improve the appearance of your garden is to plant flowers, which will fill your space with colourful blooms during their flowering season. You can plant them in a container, so you can move them around and indoors during winter, or choose varieties that are hardy to the UK climate and plant them in the ground. “You can grow a mix of annuals, perennials and biennials from seed and see how those plants behave to save some pennies,” shares Garden Designer Kate Gould. “Go back to the basics.” Some good varieties to consider for this includes annuals such as violas, pansies or periwinkles. These ground-covering perennials come with the advantage that they smother weeds, meaning you can save yourself the time and money of having to spray and remove them. “Growing things from seed is a really good way to bulk up on the amount of plants you’re growing,” shares TV Presenter and Garden Designer Flo Headlam. “Taking cuttings and propagating is another way to do this but you do have to have space to do this. “You can get seeds from seed banks or community groups that often do seed swaps or exchanges. You could swap with neighbours too if they’re also planting things.” 8) Grow Herbs & Veggies Herbs can save money from your supermarket expenses Growing your own herbs and vegetables in your garden is not only highly rewarding and adds to the look of your garden, but it can also save you money on your food shopping during the summer months. “Grow your vegetables from seed,” says Kate. “Your plants will be much stronger, even though it’s going to take you longer.” Veggies can be grown in containers, or in the ground. There are a wide variety of vegetables which grow well in the UK, including peas, potatoes, onions, salad greens and runner beans – or if you’re short on space, why not create a herb garden, to provide basil for your pasta, chives for your homemade potato salad, or mint for your Mojitos! “If one of you friends is growing a particular type of vegetable, such as sweet corn, swap with them and give them, say, a tomato plant,” says Kate. “This can save you a lot of money if you bump up your crop this way.” 9) Paint Tin Cans Spotted tin cans painted and used as plant pots There’s really no need to spend money on plant pots – recycled tin cans, such as those used for fizzy drinks and baked beans, can also make excellent plant holders for small flowers and herbs. Paint them bright colours to create an attractive look, and punch holes in the sides for a string, which you can use to hang your new plant pots from a fence post or bracket – perfect for small spaces. “Before you throw anything away, ask yourself: could this have a use in my garden?,” advises Danny. “An empty can of beans could be used for planting seeds in, for example. “Try and avoid discarding things if you can or, if you haven’t got room for it, give it to somebody who can make use of it.” 10) Plant A Tree A crab apple bonsai tree grown outside in the UK “Rather than going for lots of plants, you could try going for a couple of big plants, like trees, so you get a bigger impact,” says Flo. Planting a tree in your garden and watching it grow can be an incredibly rewarding experience – not to mention it will help purify your air, provide a home for wildlife, and offer shade in the summer. You can purchase a sapling from a garden centre for a small cost. Some good types of native trees to grow in the UK include Ash, Hazel, Hawthorn and Silver Birch. For smaller gardens, there are varieties suited to container growth, such as the Malus sylvestris (crab apple bonsai tree) pictured, which provides attractive spring blossom and brightly coloured fruits in the autumn. 11) Create A Ladder Garden Step ladders can be recycled and saved from the tip! A step ladder can make a unique and stylish plant stand and add a focal point to your garden. If you haven’t got an unused one lying around, have a look online for people selling one in your area, or pick up a cheap one from a DIY store. To really make your ladder an attractive feature, paint it a bright colour using weatherproof exterior paint. Place a wooden plank between the corresponding rungs to create a shelf and add a plant pot or container filled with trailing flowers. 12) Make Tyre Planters Old tyres painted and used as planters Used tyres are another widely available and cheap (or free) resource that can be recycled into funky garden planters. Try spray painting them in bright or pastel colours, for a stylish look. Fill the centre with potting soil and plant your favourite shrub or flowering plant. “Try taking waste items and doing something creative with them to upcycle,” says Kim Stoddart, the Climate Change Gardener. “An old sink basin into a pond, a chipped vase into a windowsill planter and, of course, an old tyre – it feels good to take back waste from landfill one item at a time.” 13) Repurpose Old Clothes “If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can upcycle clothes,” shares Danny. “For example, take a pair of jeans that you don’t wear anymore. Tie a knot in the legs and then pack them full of soil. “Where the waist is, you can put some plants in and hang them up, perhaps from a fence.” Old shoes can also be used as planters whilst fabrics could make good ground cover over the winter. How Do I Change My Garden On A Budget? “My biggest tip for the garden is to stop buying stuff,” shares Sara Venn, the Founder of Edible Bristol. “If you have healthy soil, you don’t need to buy fertiliser or chemicals. If you look after your ecosystem, you won’t need to buy much at all.” Having said that, there are lots of ways to change your garden on a budget. Here are some of our top tips: Repaint old furniture with weatherproof exterior paint and use it outside. Make your own plant pots from recycled plastic bottles or tin cans. Source free or cheap wood pallets, to create garden seating or plant stands. Build your own fire pit from old bricks and paving slabs. Look for second-hand garden furniture in charity shops, and on online marketplaces, such as eBay, Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace. Shop around to find the best prices before purchasing plants and compost – check your local garden centre, and online. Choose a few small accessories, such as outdoor cushions or an outdoor rug, to easily and affordably transform your space. “Some seed-saving helps boost wildlife and can save you money,” says Kim. “If you choose to save seeds from plants that have displayed some resilience against extremes of weather, even better.” How Much Money Can You Save By Growing Your Own Vegetables? Growing your own vegetables will undoubtedly save you money – exactly how much will depend on a number of factors, including what vegetables you’re growing, cost of compost, how many seeds you plant, and how good a harvest you enjoy. To give you an example, it is possible to buy a packet of 5 potato seeds for around £1 and expect them to yield up to 45 potatoes. The same quantity of potatoes in a supermarket can cost upwards of £10 – so there are significant savings to be made. “As well as saving money, the taste of home-grown vegetables is like no other,” adds Roy. “Freshly dug new potatoes, sun-warmed tomatoes picked straight from the plant or sweetcorn cooked immediately after picking are all superb!”
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TV Garden Designers Suggest These Ingenious Vertical Ideas For Small Gardens
IN THIS GUIDE 1) Reuse Plastic Bottles 2) Recycle Wooden Pallets 3) Give It Some Welly! 4) Go Freestanding 5) Indulge In Your Creative Side 6) Tie To A Trellis 7) Scale A Ladder 8) Grow Your Own Veggies 9) Hang A Flower Garden 10) Repurpose A Chest Of Drawers 11) Mount Wall Planters 12) Use Modern Mesh 13) Employ Hydroponics 14) Style A Garden #Shelfie 15) Fix A Fabric Pocket 16) Green Up Gutters 17) Make A Green Wall Using Trailing Plants 18) Create An On-Trend Eclectic Look References A vertical garden refers to a popular garden configuration which makes best use of the available space, by positioning plants, hanging pots and containers vertically, along a wall or free-standing structure. This type of garden is a great alternative to a traditional horizontal garden for those lacking in space and can be the perfect solution for patios, balconies and urban terraces. “If you’ve got a smaller space, use the vertical – always go up,” says Garden Designer & TV Personality Ann-Marie Powell. “If a garden is small, people tend to use things that are low on the ground, but you don’t need to. “Make the eye go up into a garden space and it will feel much bigger because you’re using the volume of the garden.” It also makes a fabulous way to cover an unsightly wall or fence and bring more greenery into any garden. A study by researchers at Cairo University even found that growing vertical gardens in homes helped to have a restorative effect on gardeners, improving their overall quality of life.1 You can grow many of the same vegetables, herbs, flowers and ornamental plants in a vertical garden that you can in a regular garden – just make sure your chosen plants are small enough not to outgrow the space and are suited to container growth. If a vertical garden sounds like the perfect solution for you, take a look at this collection of 18 of the most ingenious vertical garden ideas, to inspire you to fill your small garden space with plants, from the ground up. 1) Reuse Plastic Bottles Plants in plastic bottles This eco-friendly vertical garden idea is a great way to re-cycle plastic bottles (just don’t buy them especially for this purpose!) To plant in a plastic bottle, you’ll need to cut a section out of the side, where the plants will go. Make two holes either side of this cut-out section, and pass lengths of garden twine through, tying large knots at the ends inside the bottle to stop them. Make several small holes in the other side of the bottle for drainage. With the bottle on its side, line the base with gravel, and then fill with your chosen soil or compost. Sow your seeds or re-pot seedlings into the soil. Hang your bottles by the strings from any secure points – for example, from fence posts or nails in a wall. You can also create a set up like the one shown, with multiple bottles tied periodically along the same lengths of twine. 2) Recycle Wooden Pallets Two wooden pallets modified to grow vegetables Wooden pallets, such as those used for deliveries, are one of the easiest and most effective bases for a vertical garden. You can often source them for free, or very cheap, from local shops or businesses. Alternatively, find some for sale locally on eBay or Gumtree. Leaned up against a wall or fence, pallets can be an excellent option for renters, and others who don’t want to start drilling holes into their exterior walls (although you may prefer to fix your pallet to something to secure it). Fill your pallet with potted plants, or suspend hanger planters from the planks. Leave the wood untreated for a natural look, use a dark stain for a more rustic feel, or cover with exterior paint to add colour to your garden. 3) Give It Some Welly! Plants grown in recycled wellies Old welly boots nailed to a shed door or fence can make for a fun and unique vertical garden idea. Children’s wellies in particular often come in funky colours and patterns – and are the perfect size to replace small pots. If you don’t happen to have any kids’ wellies lying around, have a look on eBay or in second-hand shops. Make sure to make some drainage holes in the bottom of the wellies, to stop your soil getting waterlogged. 4) Go Freestanding Vegetables grown vertically You don’t need to have a free wall or fence in order to create a vertical garden. If you’ve got the space, a freestanding structure such as a step ladder or plant stand can work just as well. This structure is made from bamboo, with large holes removed from one side, to create space for the plants. Bamboo is a great alternative to plastic piping, as it’s natural and biodegradable, and will blend into your garden. 5) Indulge In Your Creative Side Flowers and plants hung in plastic pots This quirky design provides inspiration on how to make a vertical garden into a feature wall. Geometric wooden plant boxes have been nailed to a dark grey wall, which itself is decorated with pictures of colourful flowers. To recreate the look, choose an ideally south-facing wall in your garden, and use exterior paint to first cover it with the background colour. Then, paint your chosen designs on top in white and bright colours – you could draw flowers, insects, or even your favourite inspirational quote! Make your plant shelves by screwing together pieces of wood from pallets, or 2×4 timber – no need to measure, as they don’t need to be symmetrical! Attach them to the wall, and fill with brightly coloured flowers. 6) Tie To A Trellis Metal plant plots tied to a trellis If you don’t have a wall or fence on which to mount your vertical garden, a trellis is a great alternative. Even if you do have a wall, you may prefer to use a trellis, to keep moisture away from it, and prevent mould. Trellises have crisscrossed shapes which are perfect for supporting climbing plants, pots or hanging baskets. To recreate this look, search out colourful plant buckets with handles from your local DIY or garden centre. These pots are perfect for growing single flowering plants. They can easily be hooked onto the trellis and moved around to follow the sun and create your ideal look. 7) Scale A Ladder A ladder used as shelving for plant pots Got an old ladder you never use lying around in the shed? Give it a new lease of life by transforming it into a funky plant stand! Lean your ladder up against a wall or fence, and place potted plants on – or hanging from – each rung. “If you have a small courtyard then create a level change, even if it is just that one single step up,” shares garden Designer Manoj Maldé. “This will create a journey and give the feeling of your garden being bigger.” If the rungs of a normal ladder aren’t deep enough for your pots, use a double-sided step ladder, and place planks of wood through the middle, creating shelves between the opposite rungs. For the even more design-savvy gardener, try using an exterior paint to brighten up your ladder. Turquoise or mustard will make a style statement, whilst white or grey provides a neutral base on which to make your plants stand out. 8) Grow Your Own Veggies Vegetables grown vertically using wooden boxes These natural wooden boxes blend in perfectly with the fence behind and are a stylish way to start your own veggie garden. Use pallets or old planks of wood to make your own, or purchase pre-made timber veg planters from a garden centre. Suspend the boxes from your fence with rope to complete the rustic look. This solution is perfect for those who want something that blends in with the environment, and won’t compromise the natural appearance of their garden. 9) Hang A Flower Garden Hanging plant pots This has to be one of the prettiest vertical gardens we’ve seen, with multiple rows of hanging baskets and pots, filled with colourful flowers. Recreate it by hanging pots from wall brackets or rails, and use wire or garden twine to position them at different heights. Many types of flowers work well in hanging baskets, including fuchsias, petunias and geraniums. Choose ones with coordinating colours for a well-styled look, or grow a variety of colours for a rainbow effect. 10) Repurpose A Chest Of Drawers Plants grown in an old chest of drawers An old chest of drawers can make a fabulous garden plant stand. If you haven’t got one you’re getting rid of, have a look on Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace for people selling one in your local area. You’ll probably need to treat the wood with exterior paint or stain first, to protect it from the elements. Once it’s in position, open the drawers to varying depths, and fill them with soil, or potted plants. Use ferns to copy this natural look. 11) Mount Wall Planters Pallets used as wall planters Much like pallets, planting crates offer plenty of space to hold a variety of plants, whilst also adding a rustic feel to your garden. They can be fixed to your wall using metal brackets and screws. The colour scheme shown here of green, white and purple, along with the combination of flowers and ferns, creates a dreamy look that’s perfect for adding a whimsical touch to your garden. 12) Use Modern Mesh Modern mesh with attached metal plant pots If wooden pallets and the rustic look isn’t really your thing, try mounting a wire mesh or grid to create a more modern, minimalist look. Tie climbing plants directly to the mesh, or affix pots using Velcro or clips. In place of plant pots, painted metal tins like those shown will add a cool industrial edge. Stick to monochrome shades with a splash of colour, for a really contemporary vertical garden. 13) Employ Hydroponics Vertical hydroponics on bamboo fencing Hydroponics is a method of growing plants in water, without soil. This eliminates the mess and weeds that accompany soil growth and allows you to use water more efficiently. It can even lead to bigger, healthier plants – a nutrient solution is added to the water to ensure your plants are getting everything they need. To set up a simple hydroponic vertical garden, make holes along some PVC pipe, to place your plants in. Connect and mount the pipes along your wall or fence, in a similar configuration as shown. Then, place a submersible pump in a bucket of water with your nutrient solution, and connect it to the end of the highest pipe with a tube. The pump will send water to the start of the vertical garden, and gravity will ensure it travels through the system, watering the plants as it goes. Set up another tube at the end of the lowest pipe to channel any water not absorbed by the plants back into the bucket. 14) Style A Garden #Shelfie Garden shelving with metal frame and wooden planters Move an old shelving unit or bookcase outside and fill its shelves with potted plants and containers. A metal one like this is perfect, as you can also hang baskets from the rails. Use a protective stain on wood units, or a corrosion-resistant finisher on metal shelves, to protect indoor furniture from moisture and adverse weather conditions. 15) Fix A Fabric Pocket Fabric pockets fixed vertically Fabric pockets, such as those sold for clothing or shoe storage in homeware stores, can make an easy and inexpensive base for covering a vertical space with plants. You can also buy specialised plant pouches. Secure them on your surface using screws, then line the pouches with gravel and add your chosen compost and plants. Position plants with similar-coloured foliage alongside each other to create a cohesive look. 16) Green Up Gutters Old red gutters arranged at slight angles Another alternative to conventional plant pots is using old gutters (not the ones still attached to your house!) Gutters can be fixed to a wall using guttering brackets, or placed on a freestanding unit, as long as they have solid supports. Position them at a slight angle to increase irrigation through the garden, and make sure to punch drainage holes in the bottom of the gutters, so the lower rows receive plenty of water. Attach end stops to the ends of the guttering. Gutters can be used to hold potted plants, or rows of veggies, such as lettuces. White gutters will reflect heat, and help prevent your crops overheating in the sun – but if you don’t fancy more white gutters on your walls, you could also paint them using exterior paint. 17) Make A Green Wall Using Trailing Plants A green wall using trailing plants If you want more plant coverage than that afforded by sporadic pots of herbs, to cover an unsightly wall perhaps, then trailing plants make an excellent choice. Plant trailing vines or evergreen perennials in containers fixed to the wall, or a trellis placed in front of it, and watch as their cascading foliage turns the wall lush and green. 18) Create An On-Trend Eclectic Look Plants arranged stylishly in a trendy garden Finally, you can combine multiple looks in your vertical garden to create a designer feel in your outside space. This vertical garden employs a variety of pot styles and materials to create an on-trend, eclectic look. Hanging planters are hugely popular right now, and the use of metal containers gives it an industrial edge. The key to re-creating this look is a mix of materials, shapes and structures. Incorporate multiple contrasting display methods, such as a wooden plant ladder, metal buckets, macramé plant hangers, glass terrariums and terracotta pots. If you can, position your plant holders in-front of a fence, brick wall or window, to add a further industrial element. Grasses, herbs and succulents work best in this kind of vertical garden, as flowers will soften the aesthetic. References 1. Lotfi, Y. A., Refaat, M., Attar, M., & Salam, A. A. (2020). Vertical gardens as a restorative tool in urban spaces of New Cairo. Ain Shams Engineering Journal, 11(3), 839–848. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2019.12.004
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