For you green-fingered people!

Juicy_Tube

Hope you can help..

I have an upstairs terrace and am looking to put out some new pots and plants etc.

It gets a huge amount of sun, so much that even in Winter it can get very warm with the sun out. It was so hot up there yesterday. It does also get some wind which I am sure will dry out plants more quickly and may burn them.

So I need to know your thoughts on plants etc. and how to look after them in the best way..

Any thoughts please?


TIA

JT x

Magentasue

Come over to Moneysaving Old Style! Start here
and here.

Juicy_Tube

Magentasue wrote:

Come over to Moneysaving Old Style! Start here
and here.

Thanks but thought this was more suited to here as already have herbs etc and need some more specific advice to the gardeners out there!

Have read the herb thread, will now wade my way through the other link to see if anything suits.

TIA:D

JT x

kissmekate_2

Hi

going off at a bit of a tangent(hope its helpful?) but be careful what pots you buy as some will dry out the soil too quickly. Try to go for big and deep. Use glazed ones as they retain more water than terracotta. Line the sides with old newspaper wads to also keep the water in. Add vermiculite or such like to the compost, these absorb water and release it slowly into the soil. Water the plants either very early or very late in the summer as getting water on the leaves in full sun is llikely to scorch them and cause brown splodges. I often pad round my garden at dusk watering and smelling the lovely fragances and just chilling out. It's just 'chicken soup' for the soul.

will try to find a list of drought resistant plants for you

Kissmekate

Galtizz

BBC plant search will tell you plants that are good in full sun and you can select your skill level and colours etc. too. Or, try mediteranian plants, they are ment for sunnier climes.

The only advise I can give is, as well as watering in the evening, water from the bottom, so buy pots with saucers and put the water in the saucer, that way no water gets on the plant. I killed off my evergreen box-type plant by planting it in full sun and watering from the top, the leaves have gone brown and died.

rchddap1

A good plant is Rosemary. We have one in our garden and I don't water it at all....even a couple of years back during the heat wave. Not a drop...and it is doing fine. It actually doesn't like too much water.

MrsMW

Lavender is good for sunny spots and there are lots of different varieties and with some herbs and rosemary the smell would be glorious. Geraniums are good in summer and sometimes will even overwinter outside if they have a bit of shelter. Just thought of another, Diascias are wonderful, they don't seem to mind a bit of neglect and although they are called annuals, I have them in the garden and in pots all year round and I live up north.

Mustang

Juicy_Tube wrote:

I have an upstairs terrace and am looking to put out some new pots and plants etc.

It gets a huge amount of sun.... It does also get some wind

Micro/drip irrigation to solve the water issue.

Exotic garden:

Bamboos will provide all year round greenery, height, screening and a lovely rustling sound in the wind. Bananas' large leaves provides some shade. These will need wrapping in the winter. Underplant with grasses - esp some of the more exotic looking black and red ones, to soften the look. Use Palms to really bring the exotic look - Butia yatay is fully hardy and wind tolerant. Large tree ferns are expensive... but what a looker! And Cycads introduce a primative aspect. Fatsia's can be used as a filler between the large plants. Orchids, cannas, gingers and other exotics provide a splash of summer colour and flamboyance. Pop in some running water somewhere to finish it off with some natural teak root or bamboo seating for you to enjoy it all. Oh, and of course, lights embedded in the plants......

Mediterranean garden:

Standard olive trees give fruit, height and interest all year around. Citrus plants - oranges, lemons, etc, will provide a wonderful scent when in flower, and of course, the fruit. Plant a Kiwi up the wall - make sure it's self-pollinating such as 'Jenny'. Figs also do really well in pots .. either a standard or bush - depending on what space you have or what your style is. Herbs such as rosemary and thyme will give that heat-drenched look as well as fragrance. Add a hammock or whitewashed 'worn' seating with some white linen awning and a jug of pimms on the table to finish the look.