How to Create Your Very Own Urban Oasis

Having a garden, balcony or terrace in London is not a given, but if you are one of the lucky ones with some outdoor space, are you making the most of it?  

During the summer months, having access to a garden, terrace or balcony gives you a little extra living space, somewhere to entertain, somewhere to relax or somewhere to sunbathe if that trip abroad is on hold.

Reap the Rewards

They say if you want to be happy for an hour, get drunk. If you want to be happy for a day, get married.  If you want to be happy for life, take up gardening!

Whether it’s flowers, fruit or vegetables, this is a great opportunity to find out if you have green fingers.

Pot Plants

In a London garden, pots are a great choice and mean you can create a garden to be proud of even in your rented property. If you don’t have outdoor space, you could have pots on your windowsill or hanging pots outside your window.

For a pop of gorgeous colour try Trailing Verbena with Geranium Surcouf (bonus: they don’t succumb to frost), or for a modern, minimalist feel, grasses such as Fountain Grass or Blue Fescue Grass look fantastic. English Lavender does well in a sunny spot, smells amazing and is great for attracting nature like bees and butterflies! Hydrangeas, English Bay and Olive Trees survive amazingly well in both heat waves and very cold conditions!

If you’ve got some patience, think tulips! Order the bulbs now, plant them in November and watch with satisfaction come spring when vibrant colours emerge from your pots.

Low on pots? Why not utilise that old chest of drawers you have no use for? Using the drawers as troughs. Old welly boots, teapots, watering cans or pots and pans will all do the job.

Shady Spaces

Many London gardens will be shady due to the buildings being close together, so it’s important to work out whether your garden is sunny or shady and select appropriate plants.

Hostas, begonias, geraniums and ferns are great options for a shady garden. Many herbs also appreciate the shade so mint, parsley, chives and coriander will do well and save you money at the supermarket!  Top tip – if you purchase the plants from the supermarket and then plant in a larger pot they do surprisingly well.  Parsley, coriander and basil have been thriving in lockdown.

Crops in Pots

If vegetables are more your thing, now is the perfect time to plant up a window box or container. Some vegetables can be planted in late summer as well as in the spring.

Salad grows brilliantly in pots and varieties like rocket, lettuce and spinach can be sown in late summer. Re-sow every two weeks and you will have a long-lasting salad collection running straight through winter.

Top Tip - If you don’t have pots, then off cuts of roof guttering works perfectly.

Come late summer you can sow turnip seeds. They grow well in containers and will be ready in time for those winter roast dinners!

Peas and beans are also possible to plant in late summer. In London we don’t experience as many frosts as other parts of the country so your pulses should survive the winter.

For something a little different… Cucamelons from the James Wong range are amazing and so easy to grow. They look like a tiny watermelon, pop it in your mouth and it tastes of cucumber!

Flowers 

If you are lucky and have a little more space for flower beds, the following are a huge hit with our clients:

• Green and White foliage
• White Hydrangeas
• White Allium
• White Climbing Roses against green foliage or brickwork
• Clematis
• Jasmine

Don’t Forget to Accessorise!

Using mirrors and accessories in a small London garden can create the illusion of more space. Display a large mirror on your back fence or wall, hang some solar-powered festoon lighting and invest in an indoor/outdoor rug and floor cushions to create a cosy additional living room!

Lastly, if you’re able to splash out, then look at a Lutyens bench - they are gorgeous!