How to Create your own Mini Garden P.1

Haiku Poetry  

Courtyard small my delight

Pots colour give me peace

Still tranquill, I sit alone

I want to know how you are, 

if you are progressing with 

your 'green' space,

concrete space etc. 

How is it shaping up?

Do you have a balcony at

the top of a high rise block? 

Do you have a few old

window boxes? A sad 

neglected 'space'?

 

Is it a boring, concrete space

which is crying out for some

attention? 

Is it small, rectangular?

Bit like this perhaps?     

                                                            

 

 

Just to say,

I inherited this patio but it

has to stay as it is not a priority. 

We need something soft on the 

eye to make it look attractive. 

That is why I am showing it to 

you first of all.

So let's get growing,

creating something pretty. 

(like this 

beautiful unusual tulip).

 

I have something to share with

you first. 

I recall living in a shared 

flat ages ago and had 

the best outdoor space ever. 

It was a huge balcony.

It was really great and it had lots 

of deep planters all the way along 

its length. Plus it was sheltered

there so I was really lucky. 

Better still, no-one else used it! 

 grew lettuces and herbs and

some huge sunflowers.

But looking back I had so much
and I could have created a lot more.

It was like raised beds ready to go

 and the bonus was they were 

filled with soil!

I have a strange memory of 

planting up small troughs along 

the top of the wall. 

These were planted up with 

bright orange marigolds.

That is a plant I would never grow now. 

This is part of my Garden, 

a neglected patch of grass

   and small flower bed planted 

with a few lonely bulbs. 

But you can do anything with 

a patch of turf, a space you want

to make your own

which is your very own plot.

Hidden and sheltered from

your neighbours, in a large town with back 

to back terrace houses. 

A few essential tools,

some gloves and some
beautiful plants.

 

Here is a small raised bed I have

 in a vegetable patch.

I bought the structure which 

is a bit basic but it does the job.

It is 4 pieces of treated plastic that 

all lock together to form

this square. It serves a purpose.

As my ground is not level I placed 

this raised bedin different areas and 

found  the best site for it.

My Garden is very steep and 

tricky to work with.

So I found the best site, after 

having a few trees reduced

and it now it gets plenty more 

light for growing plants.

We will work on this plot too.

So back to your 'Mini Garden' 

which is what I am here for. 

As I don't yet know what you

personally have I will paint a 

picture here and see if I can

help to guide you.

1. The concrete 'space' 

With a rectangular balcony 

we can't physically lift up the stone.

 

But you can find some real bargains 

from antique shops. 

I bought this really

neat planter which I sanded down

 and painted green.

Let's find four  or five planters 

which can be different shapes and sizes. 

This is your first challenge.      

                                                  

I found this one in
my potting shed.

Let me know how tricky it was please.

Then we can move on.

How you gettting on with 

your search for planters?

Do you prefer wooden planters? 

Barrels? Metalic?

Look in unusual places. 

Look at other peoples

planters to get some ideas. 

2. Materials/Plants

You need to buy some multi purpose 

compost to fill them with.

Buy say two 50 litre bags form a good

 Garden Centre. Let me

know when you have done this.  

Plants

Let's go for seasonal flowers/ plants 

with lots of colour.

1. Wall flowers (red/yellow/orange)

2. Heucheas 

3. Euonymous 

4. Miniature bay trees 

5. Miniature/Patio roses 

6. Herbs - Rosemary, Sage, Mint (many varieties)

7. Lavender (various types to discuss)

8. Cotton Lavender

1. Yellow wallflower

 

2.Heuchera 

(green, copper, dark red)

 

  

3. Euonymous

  

4. Miniature Bay Tree

5. Patio Rose

Please see Mini Gardens P2

 for next step.