The Courtyard garden

Assess the site
Screening areas
Ground cover
Containers
Scented plants

One characteristic common to most courtyards is a shortage of soil, but with the use of inexpensive containers even the most depressing backyard can be transformed into an attractive garden area.

Assess the site

First of all, assess your site. Start by standing with your back to the house and study the view, trying to decide which features are worth preserving and which should be screened or removed. It may be expensive to replace or repair damaged flooring but walls can be rapidly and cheaply smartened up with the application of a light-coloured exterior paint. This will immediately increase the amount of reflected light and also destroy hibernating pests in the wall crevices.

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Ugly features can be screened by climbing plants. Wooden or plastic trellis fixed in front of walls will support a wide range of plants, including climbing roses, clematis, honeysuckles, climbing nasturtiums, sweet peas, jasmine and runner beans. Try to position the trellis an inch away from the wall to maximise air movement between leaves and facilitate tying. Where a paving stone is lifted to make a small planting area, leave a 10 inch gap between plant roots and nearby walls to prevent plants from drying out too quickly.

Window boxes can be arranged along a wall to give a cheerful display and contrast pleasantly with the shapes of hanging baskets.

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To provide a maintenance-free 'grass' effect between paving slabs or under bushes, grow Helxine ('Mind your own business' or 'Baby's tears') which grows prolifically outdoors, especially in cool, moist situations. It is easy to establish, using very small pieces which root and spread like a weed. Keep a pot full of stock plants of this variety inside during the winter, in case there is a spell of extreme cold which may kill this attractive ground-cover plant.

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Odds and ends of containers and garden furniture can be exploited to show off plants to their best effect. Dark corners can be highlighted with tubs full of flowers, and strawberry pots, horse troughs, sinks and old chimney pots are just some ideas for containers. A large old mirror fixed to a wall behind a colourfully planted container gives an impression of increased size and depth. The frame of the mirror can be softened by a creeper growing up a concealed trellis.

By necessity, courtyards often contain drains, coal bunkers and dustbins. Thoughtfully placed flower boxes with wooden trellis firmly tacked to posts will provide sufficient root hold and support for climbers - perhaps a range of different plants growing together in one box and providing excellent cover.

A small conifer in a container can also be used to break up the regular outline of utility areas behind. Even fairly tall shrubs and trees, up to 10 feet high, can be grown in containers such as wooden boxes, as long as sufficient nutrients and water are made available, and the yard is fully protected from winds. By being adventurous and imaginative the darkest and most depressing area can be transformed into an area full of charm and beauty.

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The value of scented plants in a courtyard setting should not be forgotten ... the warm sheltered environment 'contains' the fragrances, providing a delightful concentration of scents to enjoy, particularly at dusk. Whether you concentrate on scented plants, or cool, relaxing foliage, a riot of red geraniums, or the sophistication of a plantsman's collection, the well-defined boundaries of the courtyard garden guarantee maximum environment and benefit from a limited amount of work.

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