Come on then you lot.... Help!!!

[Cazzie]

I'm moving to this rented place in 4 weeks time and as you can clearly see... there's not alot of garden (infact no garden at all really ) just a patio area. So I'm looking for helpful hints to make it more interesting and to draw some wildlife in!

I was there on Monday moving some things over from Skipton and doing a bit of weeding round the gravel area (I have a parking space behind the fence along the wall) and I found a Toad!!!! It was under a rubbish sack behind the fence. So I removed the rubbish sack and covered him/her back over at an angle with some wood that was lying about as it had made a nice little hollow to sit in

So here's a couple of pics so ya get the jist...



and from the other way...



and this one...



Now on the right hand side over that very long brick wall is a fairly large area with a very large old delapilated barn/building (roof has fallen in etc.) and it's totally overgrown. There is ivy growing along the brick wall and a few buddlea esacapees etc., but it's quite a big plot and methinks there will be plenty of birds nesting, even mammals etc. mooching about - I'd love to entice them over my way!

So because of my situation (it being a rented property) everything I do will only be temporary, but I may well be there a fair while with my son, so I'm sure looking to make it as wildlife friendly as possible whilst I'm there so...

over to you guys for suggestions!

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

Having lived in rented accommodation for the last nearly 20 years with all sizes of gardens I can tell you that pots and tubs are the way to go. If there are already buddleas near by, I would get at least one or two in pots to extend the line, they will attract bees and flutterbys and provide cover for birds that will use any feeders that you put up.
As we move around every four or five years we keep plants in pots until we get moved, take them with us and plant them in the new garden, which provides an instant garden. Then we buy more plants to fill the empty pots and do so the same again next time we move and so on.

It looks a nice place Cazzie, I hope it's a happy move for you.

BWD

[Jez]

Hehe just noticed this thread after I have pm'd you with some of my ideas, not that you asked me or mention this thread! All top secret I have to say, just between me and you say no more. I want to see how mine turn out before I share them on WAB!

What a spoil sport

[Cazzie]

Originally Posted by Jez

Hehe just noticed this thread after I have pm'd you with some of my ideas, not that you asked me or mention this thread! All top secret I have to say, just between me and you say no more. I want to see how mine turn out before I share them on WAB!

What a spoil sport

Well that's mean! - share!!!!!

[ron1863]

Nice house Cazzie, pots and tubs, wall planters and window boxes look like your best bet. I don't suppose you could lift a slab and plant a shrub or tree.

[Jez]

Originally Posted by Cazzie

Well that's mean! - share!!!!!

Oh okay hate to be meanie!

Perennial Wildflower Hanging Baskets! My first thoughts were to get a couple of half round baskets and place ferns in the top and corydalis with their fern like foilage around the sides with native creeping jenny trailing, but looking into it a bit more I came across ball baskets completely round jobbies, then looked at wildflower plugs a little further which would make nice ball baskets! What I have reckon would do well due to the low growth, would be bloody cranesbill balls with a bright intense red flowers for year after year flowers or red dead nettle for a longer flowering period and early nectar source for bees and then there is kidney vetch and selfheal combi's which attract blue butterflies and bees and flower come midsummer!

http://www.naturescape.co.uk/acatalog/info_1045.html

http://www.naturescape.co.uk/acatalog/info_1058.html

http://www.naturescape.co.uk/acatalog/info_1205.html

Just Ideas at the mo but worth a go if you fancy something native and insect beneficial and perennial and a little different to your typical baskets!

[Cazzie]

Originally Posted by Billy Wobble Dagger

Having lived in rented accommodation for the last nearly 20 years with all sizes of gardens I can tell you that pots and tubs are the way to go. If there are already buddleas near by, I would get at least one or two in pots to extend the line, they will attract bees and flutterbys and provide cover for birds that will use any feeders that you put up.
As we move around every four or five years we keep plants in pots until we get moved, take them with us and plant them in the new garden, which provides an instant garden. Then we buy more plants to fill the empty pots and do so the same again next time we move and so on.

It looks a nice place Cazzie, I hope it's a happy move for you.

BWD

Hi Billy... how's yr dagger wobblin'?

Well as for buddleas there's a row of them planted along the fence by the owners gate behind me (at least 5 bushes) so I'm hoping to spot some butterflies on those pretty soon as they're just about to flower

All I've got so far is a bird bath (thought I'd get that in quick so the birds would find it by the time I get there ) and an acer - yes I know, but it's pretty! I've got 2 more acers here in pots which have been with me for years and they'll be taken over shortly too. However like Jez says I'm wanting to inject some 'wildness' somehow!? Sorely tempted to get a half barrel and make a wee pond like Kayeighs It sure is difficult to do all these things with no soil to plant in and make it user friendly and practicle!!!!

The high back wall to the left has big gap down the back of it. I was tempted to infill it with soil (it's about 3ft deep tho) and plant on top of the wall with something to trail down it but I think the neighbours would be none too impressed if their fence rotted on the other side !!

Thanks for the well-wishes Billy. It's a lovely house and I'm sure it'll be a good move for James and I

[Cazzie]

Originally Posted by ron1863

Nice house Cazzie, pots and tubs, wall planters and window boxes look like your best bet. I don't suppose you could lift a slab and plant a shrub or tree.

Ooooh!!! Now yr talking! I could always speak to the landlord I spose.. he seems nice enough But what would I plant that wouldn't be too big for the size of the patio

[Cazzie]

Originally Posted by Jez

Oh okay hate to be meanie!

Perennial Wildflower Hanging Baskets! My first thoughts were to get a couple of half round baskets and place ferns in the top and corydalis with their fern like foilage around the sides with native creeping jenny trailing, but looking into it a bit more I came across ball baskets completely round jobbies, then looked at wildflower plugs a little further which would make nice ball baskets! What I have reckon would do well due to the low growth, would be bloody cranesbill balls with a bright intense red flowers for year after year flowers or red dead nettle for a longer flowering period and early nectar source for bees and then there is kidney vetch and selfheal combi's which attract blue butterflies and bees and flower come midsummer!

Just Ideas at the mo but worth a go if you fancy something native and insect beneficial and perennial and a little different to your typical baskets!

Just make me some, send em' up and I'll pay ya!

Ok.... I'm being lazy - I'm a busy girlie!!!! Give me a nice list Jez and I'll sort some. Really love yr ideas matey

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

Thanks for asking about the dagger, it's wobblin' fine thanks.

Lifting a slab would be a good idea if only to let rain water seep away rather than washing down the path and beyond. I've never been impressed with barrel ponds, but thats probably just me. We've found you can plant any thing in tubs. Probably 7 years ago we got 6 shrubs fom the daily telegraph. One died but the others were all in pots till we moved to Andover. Yes they were pot bound but once you put them in the ground, do they grow or what. What ever you want to grow to bring some wildness to your patch put it in a container and watch it grow and then take it with you when you move.

keep wobblin'

BWD