Hi all,
We live in a rental with a small garden, at the end of the garden there is a massive (relative to the total size of garden) flower bed, in past years we've planted some tomatoes and herbs, but we're not getting much yield and it looks quite messy with just a few plants mainly showcasing brown soil.
So this year I thought I would plant something that covers it up and give the garden a much needed greener and cosier feel, and here is where we need your help to find suitable plants. Unfortunately the garden is squeezed in between other houses, we're in London after all, and not receiving much sun as per my drawing.
A large portion of it receives virtually zero sun. The right part is sunny enough for tomato plants to go ballistic ...
Not super pretty, but let's make the best of the situation!
All ideas are greatly welcomed! Something like a meadow would be a nice but that would only work in the sunny parts I suppose.
Jonas
You may not be getting much yield because the soil is getting tired and needs nutrients...especially with a tree growing in it.
You could give it a good dose of manure and it might help.
If you want to make it meadow like you can buy a meadow flower seed mix...Chuck it on and let them grow! Something like this for example.
That is really useful as I was looking for something like that just earlier today.Originally Posted by village
We have a section at the top end of our garden that doesn’t get much sun, but it does get some. The grass hasn’t well there so was thinking of a couple of trees and some wild flowers to make it nicer to look at and attract some birds, bees etc.
Might be back to get some advice on trees soon...
Meadow mixes need full sun.
You could grow some nice ferns and hostas in the darker corner, but there are plenty of options for shady areas.
https://www.gardenersworld.com/searc...ants+for+shade
And there are climbers that could stand part shade up that fence on the left.
https://www.gardenersworld.com/plant...grow-in-shade/
TBH, I'd be inclined to lose the tree. It doesn't really serve any purpose there and would give everything else more of a fighting chance.
I agree but it’s a rental property so owner might not go for it.
Indeed but you can buy light shade and dark shade tolerant wildflower mixes as well.
Last edited by village; 28th February 2021 at 19:38.
If not meadow mix not suitable, look at woodland mixes.
Eg. https://www.wildflowerlawnsandmeadow...seeds-mixture/
Fertilizer, well rotted horse shit if you can get it, dig it in.
Plant to suit the sun, any good nursery will provide plants that suit the sunlight available.
If not horse shit then good compost. It's all about soil structure.
Veggies at the sunny end, woodland types at the shady end. Hardys good for woodland type herbaceous planting.
You can do a soil test but it is like others said above depleted of nutrients. If you have an agricultural university you can get a soil test by them most likely the kits aren't that accurate.
Compost, manure and some lime and you can do it organically as it will give good yields and not poison yourself eating the veggies.
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