Problem patches… most people will come across these areas within their garden at some point in time. There are many reasons why your garden or an area of your garden might not succeed. However there is a simple, smart and effective way to liven up your problem patch through low maintenance planting, good soil prep and some lovely design touches to lift the area and give it purpose.
To rejuvenate a problem patch you first have to completely clear it of all weeds and debris, then roughly level the area. Do the hardscaping next, followed by laying pavers for a staggered path, then plant up and add a finishing touch such as a bench. PS, allowing air flow between your plants helps them thrive.
How to lay pavers
Give yourself a break and pop in a garden bench to sit on and enjoy your new lush landscape in the shade. Click here for the step by step tutorial to lay staggered pavers.
Compacted soil solution
Remove weeds, then turn soil over with a pitchfork and pointed shovel to a depth of 20-30cm – the depth of most plant roots.
Drainage solution
Turning over soil goes some way to solving drainage problems. Another factor is soil type. Sandy soils are free-draining, but mineral rich clay soils have poor drainage, so adding organic matter such as compost improves drainage without diminishing its vital water-holding capacity. Mix in organic matter with the turned-over soil, then level with the teeth and flat side of a metal rake.
Plant up your shady spot
You may not think indoor plants and jungles have anything in common, but they do. Jungles consist of tall canopy trees and understorey plants that thrive in the shade. It’s the latter that are commonly used indoors and are also what you can plant in a south-facing bed where natural light is limited. Try the elegant rhapis palm for height, add the entrancing walking iris (Neomarica gracilis ‘Tri-Colour’) and rock it with Philodendron ‘Rojo Congo’. Go low with the pretty native violet, add silver glimmers with Plectranthus ‘Silver Shield’ and soften those edges with Blechnum ‘Silver Lady’.
Tall palms help to block out the street noise and create privacy, while low-growing plants keep out the weeds!
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