Brightening up breezeblock
amandatowers52
Posts: 17
Hi,
There is a small space at the back of the rental home I share. It's breezeblock walls and mossy cracked concrete. I'm trying to create a space that looks nice and I can grow more vegetables in (conservatory is getting crowded!).
I've picked all the dead roots off the breeze blocks and have been treating the weeds out there. I've spoken to a painter who said not to waste money painting the wall but to plant climbing flowers. I've ordered boxes a metre in length and 50cm deep. Does anyone have any suggestion as to what will grow quickly throughout summer? I'd like to put clematis and honeysuckle but flowers aren't my forte. I've attached some pics. The shaded wall is north facing but does get some sun throughout the day. As I'm in North Wales the weather is pretty warm, if that makes any difference regarding what to grow?
Any inspiration would be gratefully received!
Posts
Blimey - I won't repeat what I said when I saw that!
I'm with Pansyface on this. A pot of masonry paint isn't that expensive. I would say a creamy colour too as it works with everything and will be cheerier on a dull day. I used one for the rendered part of my new extension last summer. It's just B&Q's own brand and it's done the job. The colour of butter.
You can then paint your containers a contrasting or toning colour - whatever takes your fancy.
The garden centres and DIY stores will still have things like sweet peas which you could plant to give you a bit of summer colour. You'd need to attach a few wires or trellis for them, but if you don't want to do that, some 6 foot canes in the boxes will suffice. I wouldn't go for honeysuckle in your boxes as they would probably struggle a bit. Clemtais will be fine, but again, you'll need some support for those on the wall, or a decent sturdy structure in the containers.
If you're handy with a few power tools, you could attach some wall baskets to grow stuff in too. That will break the area up. I'm doing something similar with the above mentioned wall as there's quite an expanse below my windows. I have three wall baskets which will have dark nasturtiums in them, to work with the hot colours in the bed below. Eventually there will be clematis as well. There's still plenty of time to do something similar with plants that prefer a bit more shade. Even lettuce will be happy in those if you fancy it
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Are there limits to what you can do under your rental contract? If you're not allowed to fix trellis to the wall, for example, you could fix it to wooden trough planters standing in front of the wall, as long as it's not too high. For this year you could plant runner beans - pretty flowers and then you get the beans to eat too. They'll cover that in a season, as will sweet peas although it may be a bit too shady for them on the north face - presumably the other wall faces either west or east, so they may be OK there.
Hopefully your perennial climbers will have bulked up for next year.
Last edited: 16 April 2017 09:44:28
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
We had a breeze block retaining wall built but we painted it with similar to this,
http://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-water-repellent-seal-clear-5ltr/57474#product_additional_details_container
can't think of the exact name, got it at the local builders merchants, upv sealer or something, it will stop your masonary paint soaking it and using up too much, it's started to peel a bit now, but has been painted for five or six years.
Thanks for all the advice, it's appreciated.
We finally had a break from the rain today so had a good few hours outside. Weeds were monstrous but I have managed to cut them back and scraped the dreaded moss off a large section (couple pics below). I've been given some paint by a friend and everyone is on lookout for accessories etc. I haven't spoken to my landlord about painting it yet but half of me just wants to do it and let him see the difference!
Raisingirl, I will get some beans when I get paid next week and see how they fare.
Fairygirl, the paint colour I was given is magnolia but love the butter colour idea.
Cheap white PVC plastic trellis will go a long way to brightening the place, if you're not allowed to paint. I'm with the others though, paint is the ideal solution. Maybe a flowing starry night style with the yellow and magnolia colors swirled around together?
Last edited: 18 April 2017 01:43:06
Blue Onion...what a lovely idea! I will definitely look into that. Been on a mission today and bothered everyone I could. Am getting free pallets, paint and scaffolding boards. My friend dropped me off a super sturdy little stage her kid used to dance on (will flip and drill it for courgettes) and ordered more boxes off a local woman on Facebook. Lots of my older customers from work are bringing me bulbs in. Amazing what you can source just asking around.
It's been tough going and the budget is gone for this month but progress is happening! If anyone plans to paint breezeblock then buy paint in bulk and don't skimp...it drinks it!?
Bought planters for £7 each and painting them all different colours. Ive been collecting glass jars to fill with candles and thinking about decking over some of the concrete. Plant buying spree next month. Any suggestions welcome!
Hi Amanda, we have a breeze block wall too, not all of it is on show but this is what i did last june ?
You have made a huge difference already and i am sure you are on the right track. If money is tight ask for free plants and decking on freecycle or gumtree.
I would have asked the landlord to pay for the paint and materials. Being a landlord myself, i would never refuse reasonable a request to improve things.