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Alternative ideas

DeterminedNoviceDeterminedNovice Posts: 13
in Plants
Hi everyone, this is my first post, so please be gentle!

I live in a rented Victorian terrace house on the Yorkshire coast. The rear of my house faces NNE and is bordered by double-storey buildings to each side, and the house itself which is three storeys. As a result, I have a postage-stamp sized area that receives direct sunlight near the outer boundary, moving to partial shade (open to the sky) and an area close to the house that is always shady, although open to the sky as well.

I particularly like Lavender, Salvia nemorosa and Nepata type plants, but everything I read says these fellows need full-sun, which I can't give them. I've stubbornly bought various lavenders and a few salvias as the gardening bug bit me, which has seen me moving pots around the yard, onto chairs etc...chasing the sunlight.

I know this is not the way, and it's obviously hindering any permanence for my yard.

Are there any alternatives to these plants that will prosper in less than full sun? I like the movement in the breeze and flower shapes/style that they provide.

Apologies if this is as daft as I feel it may be, and thanks for any help you might have.

DJM

Posts

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @djmancrief Welcome I garden on clay and have learnt over the years that you need to plant for your conditions. Who wants a garden full of unhappy plants? Moving pots is not a good idea either.
    If you are able to post a photo of the area that would be helpful.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • DeterminedNoviceDeterminedNovice Posts: 13
    Thanks for the reply! I'll try and post a few pictures as soon as I can. It is mainly old red bricks and concrete - with semi-homeless pots positioned hopefully! Very early days. But I agree, I need to stop purchasing based on "I like that".
  • robairdmacraignilrobairdmacraignil Posts: 782
    I lived in a rented house a few years back with a fairly shaded back yard rather than a garden and having got used to having fresh cooking herbs to use in the kitchen I decided to do something to give myself an area to grow these herbs with more light. I found a section of kitchen counter and a square post in a skip and set up the counter top with a small ledge that was on the most sun lit wall holding up the side opposite the post that I cut a notch in so I could dovetail the old counter top into the support. The old ledge on the wall would not have been wide enough to support any reasonable sized pots but the system I put in gave me enough area to have plants growing that needed the extra light. You could use shelf brackets if you wanted to build something similar from materials you could buy rather than just recycling materials like I did but even the amateur type set up I put in was sturdy enough that it was easier to leave standing when I moved elsewhere with my window boxes of healthy cooking herbs. I guess hanging baskets on the sunnier wall of your garden might work in a similar way to give things in the baskets a bit more time free of the shade from the buildings.

    Happy gardening!
    https://www.youtube.com/user/sustainableveg/videos
  • DeterminedNoviceDeterminedNovice Posts: 13
    edited May 2022
    Here are some pictures. I'm quite alarmed how mossy the concrete looks, time for another jet-wash clearly...

    The strip across the back of the garden (where the pots are) gets the most sun. I recently bought a 'Wollerton Old Hall' Rose to climb the house wall at the foot of the steps, and a Star Jasmine to try and get some coverage on the sunny wall behind the rosemary - although I'm unsure how much one plant will be effective. These are the only two plants I've bought with a purpose in mind, rather than simply because I like them.

    Other plants in the pictures are: Various Lavenders (Munstead, Edelweiss, Rosea, Hidcote), Salvias (Amethyst lips, Hot lips, Ignition purple, Sky blue marvel, and a White flowered nemorosa of some variety), 2 Jasmine polyanthums, 2 Olives (1 gifted tree, 1 bush), Rosemarys (Tuscan blue, Green ginger), Kitchen herbs (on the steps), A Willow wand that I was gifted, and some Agapanthus Midnight Cascade that I'm attempting to raise from bare roots.

    My jobs list includes: Repotting and positioning the rose against some trellis/wire, ditto with the star jasmine, Painting/staining the bench and gate (and chairs eventually), cleaning the concrete...

    But mainly, deciding what to actually do with the yard (Gravel possibly, wall coverage, scent, movement are all important). I realise my initial hopes of Provence/Mediterranean inspiration are looking unlikely.

    Thanks for reading, apologies for rambling!

    DJM








  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @DeterminedNovice That is absolutely charming as it is in my opinion, don't over do it , a lovely space. You have some lovely ideas.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I agree … that is absolutely lovely … I could sit there with a book and a glass of something and be blissfully happy 😊

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @DeterminedNovice I am sure that the gardener in you is saying ' I would like to try one of these and one of those'. Skiilful gardening is knowing when to stop and when to add more, especially in a small space. I can see why you move your pots, having the plants in season take centre stage is a good idea, it also gives you a chance to check the health of your plants.

    Your ambition was for a Mediterranean look. The look you have achieved is much more in keeping with where you live, always far more important. I live near a wood and love plants with a more wild look.

    I worked for a lady for over twenty years she had a small courtyard garden. Parthenocissus Henryana and White Rose Iceberg looked good together on her red brick wall.

    Wollerton Old Hall is my favourite garden in the country and a beautiful Rose.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • DeterminedNoviceDeterminedNovice Posts: 13
    @GardenerSuze I am an impulsive plant buyer at heart, but I'm working on it! 

    I'm conscious of the planting being young - and that height and movement will hopefully arrive/increase in time. 

    Thanks for those suggestions, the Parthenocissus looks particularly ideal - not only to hide some wall area, but to grow well in the shade...I had never heard of it before you mentioned it. 

    DJM
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @DeterminedNovice One thing I did think of is the mortar between the bricks. You have to be careful if it is old lime motar I believe when using climbers. I am no expert on this one!
    Your garden will evolve in time which is the best way to garden.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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