Big ideas for small city gardens
Words: Anisa Gress, of The Garden
Urban greening, one of the ‘buzzwords’ of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, can sound scientific and far removed from the real world of gardening. But, in essence, it’s really about growing plants wherever possible and making the most of your outside space - be it a garden, patio or window box. And at this year’s Chelsea there are plenty of examples for gardeners to try at home and make every available space a green paradise.
Growing on a wall
On Miracle-Gro’wers Learning Journey – Fruit & Vegetables, an ingenious wooden shelf allows growing bags to be wall-mounted - providing an easy way to use vertical surfaces.
Green walls
A different take on a green wall can be seen in The Magistrates’ Garden, where tender begonias combine with perennials - and grown in compost panels.
Green roofs
There are several impressive examples of green roofs, but for many this can be too difficult and too expensive to achieve. So why not use a sedum roof-mix on a small toolbox, similar to that shown in the Winds of Change garden?
Between slabs and paving
Planting in-between paving is easy to do at home. In The Bradstone Fusion Garden, gaps in-between stones will, over time, be filled with Geranium ‘Sanne’. This technique has been used to good effect in The Art of Yorkshire garden, where Thymus praecox ‘Albiflorus’ grows between York stone slabs.
Filling in every gaps
Plenty of plants can be grown up a wall, but the RBC New Wild Garden uses Sempervivum and Armeria maritima within a wall of yellow paddlestone.
Stylish garden dividers
If you need to divide up a space, the Doncaster Deaf Trust Garden uses metal posts with grasses and perennials alternately spaced, planted in-between them to make a light, airy and contemporary solution.
Productive container plants
If you have the space but not the soil, The M&G Garden has some fabulous terracotta containers planted with fruit trees and vegetables.
Make the most of all your space
In the Basildon Bond Centenary Garden, a table of Accoya (a mix of soft woods) has been built around a beautiful Prunus serrula.