This is the first attempt at windproofing the potted brugmansias which have been kept in the house over winter. Quite a neat effect, and really shouldn’t blow over.

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This pot was buried in the gravel near the garage. Different, but still pleasing, effect.

I’ve often thought about planting something in this gap. Mind-your-own-business, chamomile, succulents or sweet woodruff. As a first step I cleared out the gravel in the narrow section to a depth of 100cm or so when it was dry, cleaned it and topped it up with fresh golden gravel. The drainage is probably still not brilliant.

Looks familiar?!

I want something fastigiate that will grow in a big tub. The site gets the sun for the second half of the day, but is exposed to the occasional strong wind. Unfortunately, the car is nearly always there when I am at home.

15 Dec 17

I chose a plant of Phyllostachys aureosulcata

and planted it in a 50cm cylindrical plastic pot, which will hopefully keep it upright in the wind.

Most of the plants are doing well.

The parthenocissus has already reached a good height. It’ll be interesting to watch for the autumn colour. It probably won’t need cutting back this year.

The white hydrangea I transplanted from the original back garden is very good. Perhaps it needs some sort of support, although it’s not really blocking the neighbours’ gate.

The ivy is not clinging to the wall yet. Perhaps I need to put up a wire and give it some help.

The hydrangea petiolaris is not looking as happy as it was, and the bergenia next to it is much smaller than its siblings that were planted at the same time. Are they in some sort of rain shadow under the clematis?

Could this be the ultimate support for medium sized pots? It’s worked so far for the Brugmansia in the front in quite strong winds. The three stakes are driven through cells in the honeycomb support material in the gravel.

This was inherited from the original garden. It’s always been very good in summer and popular with the bees. It’s got very woody over the years, and last year I tried to prop it up with stakes and cord. This didn’t really work, and this year I’ve let it flop. It seems happy, and I quite like it like this. I’ve struck some cuttings which seem to have taken, and I’ll repeat this in the autumn.

This is a relic from the previous London garden. I started with the pot closer to the house, where the leaves that side got shredded in the wind. Let’s see how they recover in this new position.

The wooden slats round the pot have done a good job of keeping it upright in the wind.

Groups of pots on the gravel are working really well, particularly in the front garden.

The valerian from the original garden flops nicely over the gravel where the car is left near the bay tree. It seeds freely in the gravel, but the seedlings look quite nice and can be pulled up easily. There are quite a few valerian seedlings under the car. They must grow while I’m away, but of course, I very rarely see them. There’s a lot more scope for planting in the gravel, particularly in the front garden.