Hello @Peoniesandprimroses, I use stone cleaning products called Patio Magic or Algon which you simply dilute and water on, either using a watering can, a sprayer or just a broom. It kills algae and cleans the stone at the same time. Most GC's will stock them. I love your courtyard, reminds me of one I used to have.
Hi Lizzie. Thank you for this great tip. I’ve looked this product up today and have ordered some from Amazon. So thank you very much for the advice.
That gate is divine and, as such, I would hesitate doing anything to it but might entertain going for a distressed, washed-out sage green look. Alternatively I might consider buffing it with teak oil if you were prepared to attend to it annually.
If it was my garden I would get rid of the ivy and replace it with a clematis or, if the conditions would suit it, a rose over the doorway. I would have Erigeron karvinskianus spilling over some of the low walls and try to get it to grow in the main wall as some other plants are already doing.
Less is more is a philosophy worth considering though I accept that to be at odds with the incipient cottage courtyard garden that is developing. Personally I would avoid almost all ornaments except maybe for one statement piece from somewhere like an architectural salvage yard and which might take a year or three to find. Meanwhile, and demonstrating once again my snobby prejudices, avoid at all costs resin Buddhas and similar from the Range. I like the mirror but be sure to position it in such a way as to cause birds no harm.
I am a big fan of terracotta and like the harmony that comes from having just one style of pot. Step back for a moment and consider what you are accruing. Do you think the range of colours and styles are complementary? I would be a bit ruthless and give away impulse buys (and yes, I am looking at the trough of what are possibly heathers!). Likewise I like to give much consideration to colour combinations but I know others are quite content to pair strong yellow with vibrant pink, for example. I’m not, neither in my garden nor in my wardrobe.
Do nothing and you’ll still have a charming space. Plan some changes and I think it will be the envy of all who see it.
Thank you for your words of encouragement and advice. I agree with you on the green trough, I inherited and it’s going to go! I will give the colour scheme some thought.
I wouldn't touch the door, I think it's perfect. The courtyard doesn't strike me as tired or dull and it is good sized space - enough to be able to have a table. I think yes to mirrors and yes to terracotta. I like the ivy but yes, I would add long season repeat flowering rose (whichever colour most appeals), clematis and a scented climber for the evening.
If it's a bbq under the green cover, check that you use it and love it enough to merit the courtyard space.
Thank you for your advice and ideas. I think terracotta seems the way forward as you and a lot have mentioned it. I’d not thought too much about colour schemes but I will now. Under the cover is my garden furniture. It will come out once the weather is better and I then plan to put some nice pots down the side there. Sadly I don’t have enough room for a bbq and neighbours are so close I don’t think they’d appreciate it. Thanks again for advice
@BenCotto, you beat me to it with the sage green colour on the gate, that was my instinct. This sort of thing I agree with what others have said, it's very pretty and characterful. My neighbour used patio magic and was pleased with it, it's not cheap but l think you will be surprised at what difference it makes.
Thank you. I love that Green. It’s so lovely. Some other people mentioned patio magic and I’ve just ordered some. Thanks for your help.
Before you think about climbing roses I would consider getting a builder to check the wall; in the far left corner looks like it needs repointing. This needs doing before you do much else. Last summer there was someone on here who had a courtyard garden in the North East. He put up lots of photos, I'm not any good at finding old threads but someone else might.
Thank you for replying. Yes unfortunately the wall is very fragile due to an old climber that had grown between the bricks and popped it out. I have had a builder look at it and they said it’s safe but not to climb anything on that part. Ideally it would need to be taken down and rebuilt. Something neither I or my neighbour want for now. But you’re right I couldn’t put a climber on that part.
Thank you for the info about another poster and courtyard. I will try and have a little search on here. Thanks for your help.
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