Every Nook & Cranny

Down the garden path...

So you still have a little space in your life but you're not sure the best way to fill it with green life? Read on and we'll take a look at some ways you can fill the void.

Let's face it, we are all starting to feel the squeeze! I'm not just talking about our hip pockets, I mean the space around us seems to be getting smaller every year. As the development machine rolls on and the population flocks to the cities, the urban density is continually stretched, leaving the space to cultivate plants diminished.

Narrow Minded:

Unfortunately narrow spaces can be tricky spots to garden, there's limited space obviously, but these spaces can also be very shaded areas due to neighbouring walls or fencing. All this means that traditional landscaping options might not be as practical.

Narrow situations will mean the more carefully selected plant palette, but don't let this limit your creativity. With the correct plant selection, you can make a small space look big by planting spreading ground covers or taller grass like plants to add depth and height.

If you're looking to cover a drab wall or fence, using a screen of Camellia sasanqua will add a lineal splash of green while also giving you bright blooms of red, white and pink (depending on which one of  the dozens of varieties on the market you go with) in Autumn and Winter when some things are just not flowering.

A Camellia sasanqua hedge, flushing with new growth

Camellia sasanqua like a part sun/part shade, preferably morning sun spot. They respond really well to light pruning after flowering, but in cooler areas wait until the frosts have passed. Camellia sp. like an organic rich, moderately acidic soil. They have a relatively shallow root system, so mulch well when planting (an re-mulch annually) and try to keep watering consistent - not too much and not too little.

Lattice In:

In narrow spaces framed by wall or fences you need to think linear. Walls and fences are usually in need of dressing up but what if you don't have the space to put in a hedge? Installing frames, be it timber lattice or wiring can broaden your plant horizons.

A trellis (a structure, usually made from an open framework of interwoven or intersecting pieces of wood, bamboo or metal that is designed to support and display climbing plants and shrubs) can help you garden vertically where space is a premium. 

Generally climbers are more suited to this system as they'll tend to find their way in and around the structure, attaching themselves as they go of course they may a little training and support from you. There is a plethora of options when it comes to climbing plants to train on a trellis.

A classic climber, fragrant white flowers in spring and
glossy green leaves year round.

There's fragrant options such as climbing roses, Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides see photo above) - a personal favourite. Some more exotic options such as Clematis, Orange Trumpet Vine (Pyrostegia venusta) Brazilian Jasmine and Banksia Rose. The hardy options such as Bougainvillea which thrives on neglect and natives such as Hardenbergia, Pandorea and Hibbertia are vigourous with pretty blooms from late Winter through to late Spring.

Most climbers are fairly vigorous and can put a lot of growth in restricted spaces. It is important to keep them tamed though as climbers can lose their 'bulk' and you may find their leaves are mostly in the top third of the plant, leaving woody vines below.

Don't limit your trellis structure to climbers though, many shrubs are just as good to give you a narrow green screen. The secret is a little bit more training and keeping on top of it while the plant is young and producing new, soft, pliable shoots & stems. Once you have filled the void, regular maintenance (pruning and feeding) will help keep it full.

Another productive way to use a trellis system is for fruiting shrubs. Known as espalier (the ancient practise of controlling woody plant growth for the production of fruit) with poplar species being citrus, olives and dwarf stone fruit and apples being great selections for this application.

If you have the time and patience you can start from young plant stock and train it the way you want, if not there are specialist growers that have specimens many years old for those who can't wait - but be prepared to pay, for others or yourself, it's a labour of love.

Remember it is worth sacrificing fruit born on young plants early on while you're establishing your fruiting trellis, this will allow the plant to concentrate on growing big and strong and will help it bare better fruit in the long run. Also keep in mind the specific soil and food requirements of fruiting plants - they generally like more acidic, organic rich soils and higher potassium fertilizers for strong flower and fruit set.

Espaliered Olives - production, functional and give
great colour contrast.

Hangin' in there:

You may have noticed a lot more vertical gardening happening, from your local cafe adding some functional garden decor to whole buildings such as One Central Park at Chippendale Sydney, the trend encourages passes by to engage with this type of 'landscaping'.

Growing more vertical than usual.... A Green Wall
panel at the One Central Park building in Sydney.

Although green walls are not a new thing, different types of Ivy have been covering stone walls for centuries, it is certainly gaining momentum in our cities where we are all a bit over the 'greyscape'. A fairly standard practise around Europe, Australia is now coming to the party by installing these living breathing gardens to buildings (inside & out) and literally bringing 'dead' spaces to life.

This new wave of gardening has also brought it to the home gardening market. Gone are the days of having to use wire hangers and baskets (although they still have there place), now you can install modular systems from the basic DIY kits to the fully automated systems you may need a hand installing - again it all depends on your budget.

A basic modular system like this can be installed easy and
be a productive garden in smaller spaces.

Vertical gardening can be both functional and productive. Love to cook? Have fresh herbs and vegetables handy, fresh and ready to use for your next salad. Or just need a splash of colour brighten up a drab wall? How about using some seasonal colour like Pansy's, Petunia's or native options like Brachyscome, Rhodanthe, Ajuga sp. and Chrysocephalum. These will give great floral colour for long periods through the year and even year round with foliage colour.

Need a bit more overage? How about trying trailing plants like Scaevola, Lobelia, Verbena, Callibrachoa, Bacopa, Viola hederacea, Dichondra repens & Dicondra 'Silver Falls'. These guys will spill over the pots an fall towards the ground, covering walls and adding colour and contrast through flower and foliage.

Off the Wall - brightening UP a vertical space.

Use a good quality potting mix, specifically for potted plants, keep an eye on watering, especially as the temperature rises. Trim lightly as flowering finished or slows down to encourage new growth and more flowers. Seasonal plants will need replacing withing 6 months (they tend to last Autumn - Winter & Spring - Summer depending on species), they can usually be fairly inexpensive especially if you start from seeds or seedlings.

Low, low, low:

Narrow spaces don't always mean lineal or vertical. Paths and walkways can be softened by adding spreading and sprawling ground covers, to take the edge of so to speak. Don't get me wrong there are some fantastic looking outdoor tiles and pavers around but that is a bit formal for my liking.

Leaving gaps or patches for planting can turn a straight path in for a stepping stones or a winding serpentine track, adding an extra dimension.

The native Dichondra repens works well as a lawn substitute,
better suited to partly shaded positions.

Mondo Grass - a old favourite can add borders along and
through pathways

Some ground covers can even add colour to your thoroughfares, the Native Violet (Viola hederacea) with it's pretty purple and white flower standing above it's leaves and Dichondra "Silver Falls" with it's eye catching grey foliage. Previously mentioned as trailing plants, these work just as well in a pathway situation as they'll mound and spread, softening edges.

Hi Ho Silver! A slightly more upright shrub, the
Convolvulus cneorum still works well on edges of paths.

If you are going for more of an Asian theme, the use of Zoysia tenuifolia (see photo above) - another great lawn substitute in more temperate area of Australia or Scleranthus biflorus (better suited to cooler, less humid spots) coupled with a Bamboo hedge, can really add to that oriental feel.

So if you have a narrow space, don't despair, theRe are options out there that will fit your situation, remember gardening doesn't always have to be straight lines, we can colour outside the lines and still come up with a work of art. Happy gardening!