Gardeners inspiration for this patch of grass

[Steve Campbell]

Hi folks, this sorry bit of grass at the front of the house is in need of some inspiration. It’s due South facing and is baked in the summer (not helped be the wall trapping and releasing heat) so it’s a constant struggle to keep it as a lawn (I’m not one to water the grass). My neighbour just layer new turf after some build work (on the left) so it is now time to sort it…..but with what ? I could extend the flower bed on the right side out to the left…but what to put in it that would survive ? Exposed, very hot and dry in summer etc. alternative is just to extend the green marble stones and maybe put something in a planter on top near the wall (easier to water, it again what ?). Open to the gardeners of PH for inspiration please !

[Harpoon]

If you want something productive, how about a fig tree? Could be in a large pot or the ground (in which case restrict the roots) but they like the warmth. Fan training it with wires or trellis would help cover the wall, though the downside is the wall would be bare in winter

https://www.rhs.org.uk/fruit/figs/grow-your-own

[Simpo Two]

Fig's a good idea, or else perhaps some shrub honeysuckle. I have one that faces south in poor soil and once established it's quite robust. Lovely smell and attracts bees too.

[Mobile Chicane]

A smaller version of this:

https://www.bethchatto.co.uk/garden-nursery/galler...

[Huzzah]

Definitely a shrubbery, take advice from local nursery re what will work on that site.

[The Three D Mucketeer]

South facing wall would be ideal to train a fan fruit tree like a Peach, Cherry or Pear and tie it into the wall.

[Gary29]

[Harpoon]

Another option to compliment something fan trained on the wall would be lavender (English varieties) which love full sun. We have several bushes in our front border and we don't water them at all during the summer. Even last summer when everything was baked solid, we just left them and they were superb. A good haircut in the autumn and that's it. Very popular with the bees as well.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/lavender/growing-gui...

[Ste-EVo]

A rose fan trained against the wall (David Austin Roses), something like Gertrude Jekyll. Then underplant with English lavender (as mentioned above) or box/yew.

Edited by Ste-EVo on Wednesday 18th March 16:36

[Steve Campbell]

Some good ideas....I like them all ! Fig tree appeals....we do get deer wandering around the close sometimes so I wonder if they'd just see that as a free supper and easy to get at ! I'm not the best green fingered gardener but with retirement looming, perhaps I will dedicate more time to not killing green things in the garden !

Roses....love the AI picture....but SWMBO isn't a great fan of roses, even though it would look good.

Gravel garden......that could be interesting with the right plants. Be nice to have some summer colour but also something evergreen for the winter months.

Keep the idea's coming if you have them (and the AI pictures :-))

[OutInTheShed]

Combine with the thread above, fit a house battery and a solar inverter to the wall...

[sherman]

A few hardy banana plants would love that area. Maybe an Agave too.
Get rid of the lawn and gravel it for sure with plants growing through the gravel.

[jimmytheone]

Huzzah said:

Definitely a shrubbery, take advice from local nursery re what will work on that site.