Love your home but a North facing garden Is it difficult to deal with? North facing gardens aren’t a reason not to buy a home, but they do come with their problems – we’re here to help you sort them out with the help of our experts.
Of course, there are also some advantages – there is no direct sunlight, which means that you can fill the space with plants that prefer a little shade.
‘A north-facing garden doesn’t feel bleak or inspiring,’ agrees Julien Palframond, head of plants here. British Garden Centres. ‘In fact, with a few smart tweaks, it can become one of the most atmospheric and useful spaces in your home.’
1. Lighten your surface
(Image credit: Future / Darren Chung)
‘Start by using light-coloured surfaces, think pale paving and use white or pastel-toned containers to bounce the limited sunlight around and make the garden feel more open,’ suggests Julian.
Gravel is also good for this; Choose white for a completely bright look. B&Q sell white 10- 20mm chippings for large bags which will cover 0.3m2 for £10..
Richard Barker, Horticulturist and Commercial Director LBS Horticulture, Agrees, ‘replace dark colored decorations or muddy ones lawn For flooring in lighter shades to naturally brighten the space. Any darker areas will absorb the less light your garden receives.’
For paler paving, check Breadstone Fossil Buff Sandstone Paving Slabs from B&Q, £7 each 30 x 60cm. They are warm in color and will brighten up your dark patio.
2. Add shade loving plants
(Image credit: Getty Images)
If you’ve always wanted a variety like foxgloves but haven’t been able to in the past, now is the time.
‘Plants such as ferns, hostas and hellebores can thrive in low light conditions, making them ideal for inclusion in a north-facing garden,’ says Richard. ‘They can be strategically placed in areas that receive little or no sunlight, making the garden more naturally bright.’
‘This A shade-loving plant You are your best friend and will thrive in these conditions, giving you lush foliage and reliable color without needing full sun,’ adds Julian.
Foxgloves are such attractive plants to grow. Go bold with your color choices like this one Firecracker variety in bright orange, £15.99 for a 2-litre pot, Gardening Express. For a resilient alternative, consider hellebores, these Double Ellen Pink Spotted is a lovely double petaled flower variety, currently £9.74 for a 9cm pot, Crocus.
3. Cover your walls and fences
(Image credit: Future plc/Heather Young)
There are two options when it comes to walls and fences: you can do either color Have them or train climbers up them – or both, of course – both are great ways to brighten up these areas.
There are many great ones Paint colors that will brighten up a shady garden. We love Cuprinol’s Country Cream, a sure win when it comes to brightening up your garden, £4.75 for a tester pot from B&Q.
‘A great way to introduce color and texture is to choose some climbers that thrive in shady spots. This will also provide shelter for wild birds or insects as well as pollen or berries for food,’ advises Lucy Bradley, gardening and greenhouse expert. Easy Garden Irrigation.
Lucy recommends climbing hydrangeas: ‘They have lush, glossy green, heart-shaped leaves in the spring, large, fragrant white flower heads throughout the summer, then the foliage turns bright yellow in the fall, and once fall, they leave red-brown stems through the winter.’
you can buy ‘Hydrangea petiolaris’, a reliable self-clinging climber, currently £17.21 for a 2-litre pot of crocus.
4. Check out low-maintenance perennials
(Image credit: Getty Images)
‘Perennial A great addition to any garden as it provides you with a cost-effective, reliable and low-maintenance backbone to your garden,’ advises Lucy. ‘With the herb Perennial As hardy geraniums, astilbe and lily of the valley die back in winter and re-emerge the following year, bringing with them fresh green foliage and colorful blooms – they are certainly worth considering.’
Crocuses include a beautiful hardy geranium variety called ‘Geranium sanguineum var.’ A striatum or striped bloody cranesbill, currently on offer for £7.49 for a 9cm pot. It has beautiful pale pink flowers and prefers partial shade.
Lucy also suggests evergreen perennials, which will add structure year-round. ‘A good alternative is Heuchera ‘Midnight Rose’ with its glossy dark maroon foliage with deep pink speckles.’ you can buy A 1-litre potted plant of this variety for £19.99 from Dobby’s. It is also an excellent filler for containers.
5. Add splashes of color with annuals
(Image credit: Getty Images/Pakin Songmore)
annually It’s a really good option, but you need to plan your seasons, explains Lucy, ‘You can use annuals to add a splash of color to a north-facing garden throughout the year, as long as you’re careful which plants you choose as they need to be able to withstand shade, cold temperatures and inclement weather.’
For example, in spring, pansies and violas will add light and color. Then in the summer, you will have many choices. ‘Begonias which will provide nonstop blooms of bright colors even when in permanent shade and cool soil, even impatiens, fuchsias and lobelias which can cope in partial shade,’ advises Lucy.
‘When the autumn months come, you can Introduce chrysanthemums, which will provide brilliant bursts of color in low light as well as hardy cyclamen, perfect for shady areas or underplanted by trees or shrubs.’
At this time of year, you can buy begonias; They like bright indirect light and are great for beds, borders and hanging baskets. we like ‘Begonia x tuberhybrida’ variety, which is shades of apricot, from £8.99, Dobby’s.
Early summer is a good time to buy established chrysanthemum plants because they can be planted directly into your borders. Check out Garden Bloom Chrysanthemum Plug Plants from B&Q, 12 for £17.09.
6. Choose bright greenery
(Image credit: Future PLC/Anaick Guitney)
‘In areas where you don’t get natural light, include plants that have bright or variegated foliage,’ suggests Richard. ‘This can add color and interest to shaded areas rather than hiding dark plants in already dark areas of your garden.’
You can choose plants and shrubs that have bright green foliage, such as low maintenance fern, For example. This The shuttlecock/ostrich fern variety is the most common and will work beautifully, £9.95 for a 2-litre pot from Gardening Express.
Or choose varieties with colorful leaves Coprosma ‘Eclipse’, £11.99 from B&Qwhich has attractive, almost neon pink and black foliage and prefers partial shade.
7. Pop on some reflective surfaces
(Image credit: Future plc)
‘To lift the mood, add a few reflective touches: a mirror on a wall or fence, or a small water feature, can catch light and cast it deep into the garden,’ says Julian.
We love Dobby’s Serenity Laurel Green Large Mirror, currently £129.99 And will definitely help bounce light around your north facing garden.
Water features bring tranquility to the garden as well as lift it up visually. Take a look at Amazon’s Primrose 60cm stainless steel waterfall blade cascade, £87.98. It is easy to install and will instantly enhance your garden.
North-facing garden essential purchases
Uandear
Stainless Steel Gazing Balls, Pack of 6
This set of gazing balls will reflect the light your north facing garden receives. They are hollow and easy to move where you want to display them.
Habitat Global 2-Seater Garden Bistro Set, Beige
This beige set with rattan effect finish will brighten up a corner in your north facing garden. It comes with two chairs and a round glass table.
elho Loft Urban Round Large Plant Pot Outdoor, H22, Yellow
Adding color will also elevate your north facing garden. This sturdy pot comes in a variety of sizes and colors, including lavender lilac, theater red and white.
Having a north facing garden is not the end of the world. In fact, some fabulous plants and accessories will instantly lift the space. That’s about it Leveling your planting And thinking ahead so you can get texture and color all year round.
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