Container planting – making the most of small spaces.
Spring is here and the lighter, warmer days are drawing in. With the clocks moving forwards on 28th March, our thoughts turn towards the summer. The winter flowers start to retreat and the new buds of life appear during these next few months. During this time we are always reminded of the renewal of life, as we see new plants appearing, leaves and blossoms budding and lambs playing in the field. This year more than ever, with the lockdown roadmap moving along, we start to sense a new life in front of us.
If you have spent much of winter at home, like many of us, you may be keen to get out in your garden and start planning for your late spring and early summer flowers. It is one time of year at Park Home Life where we see the gardens and planted areas of the park start to flourish. All of our properties come with a garden area that you can plant as you wish. Although these gardens may be smaller than your standard family home space, they are better designed for those of retirement age and here are a few ideas for you to make the most of the smaller space.
- Think vertically
Traditionally when it comes to planting our garden spaces we think of the ground that we have available to us, but it is less often that we think about the vertical spaces that we have on walls and fences. You can create some wonderful displays using wall art and hanging baskets in these areas, that will add colour and interest to the space. Trellis is another great way to extend your garden display to the areas above ground level.
- Planting
To make your garden uniquely yours, why not use something other than you standard planters to grow your flowers and home grown produce in. You can use everything from old wheelbarrows and watering cans, through to tea cups and baskets. Recycling old household items into planters and displays has become incredibly popular and there is a trend for using old plastic bottles and guttering to plant vegetables and fruits that only use shallow root space. You can fix these onto walls and fences and they make for a beautiful conversation piece with family and friends.
- Water Features
If you love the sound of running water then why not add a water feature to your garden. Again this could be something as simple as using an old bath and sinking it into the ground to create a wildlife pond, or using some wooden buckets to create a cascade of water. Equally you can buy some great water features at reasonable prices online and in local garden centres. Let your imagination flow with this one.
- Vegetables and fruits
If you love gardening then you might want to think about expanding the items that you plant to include vegetables and fruits that you enjoy. Many of these grow incredibly well in tubs and troughs of all kinds. This means that you can use patio spaces during the spring and summer to grow strawberries and cherry tomatoes in hanging baskets as well as lettuce and potatoes in pots. Other vegetables that grow well in containers are carrots, radish, onions and courgettes and cucumbers.
- Don’t forget the herbs
Gardening is as much about the smells that come from the plants, as well as the colours and flowers they produce. Why not add a selection of smells to you garden and plant yourself a herb area with your favourite herbs, such as mint, rosemary, sage and thyme. You can grow these in a dedicated area of your garden or use tubs and planters on a seating area and you can even grow some of these indoors, helping you to bring some of nature into your home.
What will you be planting in your garden this spring and summer?