Starting Out
My back yard is in the heart of Cambridge UK,a busy University City with a crowded residential population.Many residents have built extensions to small Victorian houses like mine which has meant cutting down on garden space .In my tiny back yard I have had to adapt to gardening in miniature,work out what will grow in a climate than goes from -8 in winter to +32 in summer and how to grow in containers because there is no access to soil.
Why Bother?
There are three good reasons to bother with your back yard
- Create an extra outdoor room ,an oasis of calm.
- Enjoy a pleasant aspect from your home.
- Be productive.It is fun to grow a few fresh herbs and salads.
Adapting Your Space
I have had to make some adaptations to get the best out of my tiny space and keep maintenance to a minimum. The major considerations have been what base is best,watering in dry weather,containers and what to fill them with.This year I have acquired a tiny green house to up my game a bit.
When we first moved into the house the yard was covered with decking and gravel. It needed constant cleaning and a rat took it over for nest building.The gravel stuck in out shoes and trod into the house.It all had to go.We invested in a company to lay good quality paving stones .They are easy to clean, provide a firm, neutral coloured foundation for containers and garden seats, look tidy and are in keeping with the house.Walls painted white reflect light.
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| Paving Stones |
Containers
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| Large and small pots with dishes underneath to retain water. |
My back yard has no access to soil , every thing must be grown in containers with compost.Some of them must be large enough for smalltrees and contain enough compost to support them for several years. I found that I would get given containers as gifts once friends and relatives knew of my interest in my little garden.Some I inherited and well cleaned containers used for other things can be put to use.. Look in builders' skips when renovation work is being done.
The brilliant thing about containers is that you can move them around so if you do not like your first plan then you can change it in minutes.
Seating
Keep seating simple and sturdy.You want to be able to take your coffee or a glass of wine outside when the sun comes out and you have a minute while dinner is cooking.Dragging furniture in and out of the house or garage is a pain,a small sturdy table can also be used as a work surface.I like old fashioned wrought iron.It does not blow over in the wind and hardly ever needs cleaning.Pads on the seats will give extra comfort.Use plastic glasses outside ,it avoids broken glass if you knock one over.
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| Wrought Iron table and Chairs |
Water
Regular watering especially in the warmer summer months .You can fill can from the house supply but an outside tap and hose are much easier.If the weather turns very hot and sunny you may have to water twice a day.This is pleasant and cooling for the gardener too. A blackbird joins in regularly and takes a shower.
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| Outside tap and hose. |
Greenhouse
This year I have added a tiny green house.I want to grow some salads and a few tomatoes.It was very cheap and I now have plenty of stuff growing well and protected from late frosts that could damage it.I bought some seeds, tomato plants and plastic trays and some peat pots to use inside it.
This is an extra and not essential to a back yard.
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| Mini Greenhouse for back yards and balconies. |
What to Grow
Do not get too hung up about complicated designs in glossy gardening books.Go to a well stocked garden centre and see the plants on offer.Choose some shrubs that will stay green all year round.Bamboo, holly ,winter jasmine and bay do this and will provide structure and background to other plants.
Vary the plants seasonally.Bulbs like daffodils in the spring,hydrangeas, geraniums, lobelia,and patio roses in the summer.Buy summer bedding plants ready grown from a garden centre or store and plant them in late May when danger of frosts has passed.
Some things can be grown from seeds.Nasturtions and sunflowers give value for money.Herbs can be sown in separate pots and will enhance your cooking and salads.Just follow the instructions on the packets.Keep and use the labels provided.
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| Seeds from the Garden Centre |
Some Essentials
A few hand tools and some compost suitable for use in pots will be needed.A trowel and fork for planting,secateurs for pruning,watering can and a stiff broom for cleaning the paving stones will do to start with.Garden centres have these all year .It is very convenient to buy them online and have then delivered. Bags of compost and large pots are heavy.
