Planting a garden cheaply
marknew
Posts: 10
Help! Our back garden is pretty bare as it was an ex-rental...
Have got about 7x7m small back garden with a decking area across the whole back of my house. (decking not included in sizing but is 7mx3m ).
Need some ideas for planting to make the space feel like a bit of a suburban oasis!
Most is laid out to lawn but we are willing to lose some to help break up the space. We have dark brown 7ft fencing on three sides With 1 1/2 foot wide border around the fence line.
Currently have a small Laurel hedge down the left side fence line with a couple of fence mounted planters Above. Back fence line and Right hand fence line are currenty bare with Bark chippings to decorate it. RH fence line is largely in the shade other than in summer months
We are in need of some privacy (despite the 7 foot fencing we are somewhat overlooked) and would also like some recommendations of tall potted plants/grasses that could go on the decked area To liven that up too. Considering climbers along the back fence as we are most overlooked from property behind us.
Any advice for cheap to buy, fast-growing plants or small trees that would be suitable for such a Space? Also a dog to consider so nothing poisonous or too easily damaged!
Posts
Can you take a couple of photos Mark - that'll give us a better idea for suggestions. Click on the camera icon (top right) and if they don't load, resize them smaller
It's bare root season, so you would be able to get plenty of things cheaply that way, but nothing grows instantly - you'll have to be patient! Things like Buddleia will gorw plenty each year though, so if you wnat something to provide a screen fairly speeedily, that will certainly work.
It's often better to create privacy with a pergola or similar, where you want to sit, and to put some climbers there. Strategically placed shrubs nearer your house are often better than putting trees on a boundary too.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
The cheapest way to do it, is learn how to take hard wood cuttings, and then beg a few cuttings off of frnds etc. Placed in position now, they could be rooted by next May, ready to grow on in the summer. If you want instant, however, you will have to fork out for larger plants.
Cheapest, but takes the longest, is by cuttings and seeds.
Otherwise go to a garden Centre and see what they have that is in budget. Small privately run garden centres are usually cheaper than large chains. Some garden centres have a cut price corner.
And before you pay for seeds, have a look at the seed swap thread on this forum. It's courtesy to pay for the postage if you're getting seeds for nothing.
Buy large pots of herbaceous plants and split them into two or three plants.
Supermarkets are a good place to get cheap plants,shrubs,climbers.Many of my shrubs and clematis were £1 specials etc.
Try your friends, relatives, aquaintances, work colleagues, neighbours, the guy in the pub etc. Most folk would be able to give you plants, bits of plants etc. All for nothing. Once you have 'practised' on those for a few years, you will then have some idea of what you like.............