Making a yard into a garden!

Pupnik

For some height you could get dwarf fruit trees to sit in pots, or get one of those wooden troughs that has a trellis on the back and grow a climber.

Yolina

daska wrote: »

at least 3 off that list are either poisonous or skin irritants and I think a couple more are as well, if the OP wants to teach her little one about growing and eating things in a 'small back yard' it might be as well to have safer plants to start off with.

OP - there's some general advice about child safe gardens from the RHS here: http://www.rhs.org.uk/Children/For-families/Safety-tips

The point I was trying to make was that, from personal experience, most plants - even large-ish stuff- will grow fine in (suitable) containers and that the OP could pretty much go for whatever they wanted, rather than saying "plant this or that"

first78

I was just about to post and ask the exact same question...how to turn my concrete space into somewhere more picturesque!! Can't wait to go shopping over the weekend and find some flowers to brighten my space up

Kathy535

This was in the Guardian today and might be useful.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2013/may/24/gardens-perfect-pots

sb44

You could always look for artificial grass to give it colour and it is child friendly.

Here is just one site, not sure if they are the best but it gives you an idea what the grass looks like.

http://www.grass247.co.uk/artificial-grass.html?gclid=CIP37tmbsrcCFUXJtAodkVgArw

PetuliaGristle

My children enjoyed growing sweetcorn in grow bags, and we had a special request for sweetcorn this year as we were told that they taste better than the shops'. You do need to plant in blocks, as they're wind pollinating. We haven't tried dwarf varieties yet, the full size ones add height and you can plant a courgette in the bag to shelter the roots.

I can recommed Patio Produce by Paul Peacock http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1905862288/ref=pd_aw_sim_b_1?pi=SL500_SY115 very practical and readable, with lots of good advice.

We bought a mini greenhouse from Wilkinsons, a four tier one with a plastic cover. I've seen them for £10 in Asda. Replacement covers are fairly cheap from discount stores and supermarkets. Hope this helps.