Kyla and her partner Dave have made the most of a small back garden in North London by transforming it into a tropical meets-woodland retreat. Kyla who is a songwriter and musician - expanded on her knowledge of gardening in containers in a rented flat by adding structure and colour and giving the garden a focal point. Tucked at the bottom of the plot lies a secret mini woodland area just waiting to be explored, by insects, animals and humans alike. And right outside the back door is a welcoming colourful spot to relax and enjoy nature.
What was the garden like when you moved in?
There was a massive wodge of ivy and a huge overgrown fig tree. With those two things combined, it didn't feel very light and it was quite damp. There was a big pile of builders' rubbish at the back, but there were some lovely things too, like the fatsia and the climbing roses. The roses don't really go with my tropical theme, but they flower so beautifully that I don't have the heart to change them.
What did you do first?
We replaced all the fences that were rotten and removed the ivy, which was just blocking everything. That was a big job, as was clearing the rubble and pulling up the weed membrane. We spent so long out there just clearing. We dug the pond quite quickly because I knew I wanted to attract birds. I wanted that back bit to be a wildlife haven. It's been a success and we have birds here every morning.
Denne historien er fra June 2023-utgaven av BBC Gardeners World.
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Denne historien er fra June 2023-utgaven av BBC Gardeners World.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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A new plot for tasty crops
Taking on a new allotment needn't be hard work. By simply following a few easy tips you can have bumper crops in no time, just like Alessandro Vitale
We love July
July is an island floating between the joy of June and the slightly fatigued month of August. It's a grown-up month: the year has shrugged off its adolescent exuberances, the weather is (hopefully) warm enough for ice cream to be one of your five a day, the sea should be swimmable without (too much) danger of hypothermia and thoughts will be of holiday shenanigans and family barbecues. School's out this month, the next tranche of glorious summer colour is washing across our borders and it's my birthday. Lots of reasons to give three rousing cheers for July!
YOUR PRUNING MONTH
Now, at the height of summer, Frances Tophill shows how to boost your plants' health and productivity with a timely cut
Hassle-free harvests
Flowers are out in abundance this month and for Jack Wallington, many of these blooms make delicious, low-effort pickings
Bite-sized bounties
Glorious doorstep harvests can easily turn into gluts, so let Rukmini Iyer's recipes help you savour every last bit
Upcycled outdoor living
Create unique and stylish garden features for minimal cost using reclaimed materials and simple DIY skills. Helen Riches shares four step-by-step projects and more inspiring eco tips
Secrets of a COLOURFUL GARDEN
Buildings and landscapes can play a vital role in supercharging your space, as Nick Bailey demonstrates
Greening up a city balcony
Looking for sustainable, small-space gardening ideas? Take inspiration from Oliver Hymans' transformed balcony garden in north-east London - now a lush, green haven for humans and wildlife
The dry and mighty garden
As we adapt our gardens to a more volatile climate, Alan Titchmarsh reveals how to create a drought-tolerant plot and picks his top plant performers
Nature knows best
Carol Klein explains how to choose plants for specific growing conditions, based on what has naturally adapted to thrive there
