Tackling the weather in urban spaces

Gardeners will find room for greenery even in the smallest outside space – whether that’s a patio, balcony or shared garden. But these small parcels of land come with a number of challenges. And the top challenge is the ever changing weather conditions.

If you’ve managed to find a city centre property with some outside space then you’ll have to battle with the weather to get it looking lush and green.

Thanks to the built-up surroundings, a simple plot can face a variety of weather conditions in a single day. Wind can come rushing down streets, while shade from overlooking buildings can quickly transform a sunny spot into a dark corner. And if you’re up high or have a roof garden, you’re again tasked with tackling the wind or trying to get plants that thrive with no natural shade.

James Heron says: “You have to think carefully about aspect and which plant you’re planting. Things like olive trees suffer from wind shearing, so aren’t suitable for exposed spots.”

To help combat the effects of the wind, try and avoid anything tall that could be blown over or broken by strong gusts; or ones that need lots of water that will be dried out in a flash by the constant breeze.

Instead, go for smaller plants with a dome shape. Creepers are a good idea, as are plants used to a bit of British wind – those you’d find on the seaside such as ornamental grasses and hardy geraniums. Other options include Mediterranean hillside plants like juniper, thyme and rosemary.

If you’re tackling varied shade throughout the day, foxgloves are good for a bit of colour as they thrive in dark shade and sunlight.

Try adding wind breaks and other forms of shelter to protect more delicate plants, while an under-plant watering system helps keep them moist better than watering manually as the wind will quickly dry any surface water.

Dealing with the neighbours in suburban gardens

The suburban garden is often viewed as the ideal one – large enough to grow a variety of plants, shrubs and vegetables but not too big that it becomes unmanageable. But it also comes with a number of challenges – none more so than the neighbours.

Good fences make good neighbours, so the saying goes. But even with the best fences, walls or bushes in the world, sometimes you can’t get away from your neighbours – especially when you’re in your garden.

And with suburban gardens, the issue of neighbourly interference can be at its worst. First up is the issue of overhanging trees. These can put your prize verbena into shade, or drop endless leaves onto your perfectly trimmed and spotless lawn. And while you’re well within your right to start hacking away at any branches that reach into your garden, it’s probably best to raise the issue with your neighbour first.

Other issues include infestations from less well-kept gardens.

James says: “You might frown when your neighbour has their thistles growing with their seeds blowing across to your land. But you can’t go and weed their garden. Therefore, you have to weed and seed your own garden. The key is to get the correct measurement and dosage otherwise you risk either not killing the weeds or killing the grass as well.

“Take weeds out by hand at the roots. You can try digging trenches, but many weeds grow too far down, such as couch grass. If your neighbour has couch grass, you’re going to have couch grass.”

Another issue is clashing gardening cultures. For someone who is garden proud, having an unkempt landscape directly next to yours can be a major issue, while having one that is the polar opposite of your taste might even be worse. The trick here is to either create a solid barrier between the two that says ‘this is mine, that is yours’.

Or, use some smart gardening to try blend your garden into theirs. If theirs is a mess, plant some wild grasses and flowers at the border. If they’ve gone for a contrasting and clashing colour scheme, use complimentary coloured flowers to make the transition on the eye easier.

Managing sizeable rural plots

Moving into a country house with acres of land might seem like a gardener’s dream – but the sheer scale of the project can start to overwhelm even the most experienced gardener. We look at some of the key challenges face owners of large rural plots.

Be careful what you wish for as a gardener. That country estate with a walled garden and acres of lawn might seem like a dream come true, but you could soon find yourself struggling to manage your estate.

“The key is to break it up into areas that need different levels of maintenance,” says James. “So introducing a wild garden area is a good idea as you won’t need to spend as much time here, giving you time to focus on your roses.”

Then make sure you have the right equipment – this includes ride on mowers – to make the jobs a lot easier and faster.

Unless you’re channelling Monty Don with a lot of time on your hands, there is nothing wrong with employing a gardener to help you out too, especially with extremely large landscaped designs.

Size can also pose other issues – such as not being able to spot problems when they arise. Large estates’ might have rivers running through that flood, be near fields with cattle that could get onto your land and destroy your carrot crop, or come under attack from invasive species like the dreaded Japanese Knotweed.

If you’re employing a gardener, they’ll help keep an eye on such issues. Other options are taking a daily walk around the estate or going high tech with some remote cameras.

You also need to keep an eye on your trees – especially if you have an orchard or lots of conifers.

James says: “I would worry about buying a home surrounded by conifers. If you’re surrounded by conifers you’re going to get no water in your garden at all as they will drink every drop of water going. And if one dies of a disease, then they all die of that disease. Then you’ve got no privacy.

“If you want to plant a boundary, I suggest a beach hedge. They may take a lot longer to grow, but they’ll be a better feature, longer lasting, provide interest all year round as the leaves change colour and – most importantly - they’re not so susceptible to disease.”