How’s the leaf removal going? Not too bad in my neck of the woods, I think I can actually see the end in sight…YESSS! So in celebration of that fact I decided to do something a little more inspiring… sprucing up the patio, which yes involves some boring stuff but also… retail therapy and we all like that.
First in the line of attack sweeping up, next the paving had good scrub using a stiff broom and a solution of jeyes fluid which is fantastic for removing the dirt, algae and moss and also helps prevent it coming back. The Patio is now looking very tidy and sparkly with all the furniture put away (and clean I’ll have you know) reason being windy weather can make it fly around like a possessed broomstick leading to much damage in more ways than you can imagine. I have left out a heavy metal table which I’ll use to make a bit of a display- arranging containers at different heights adds a lot more interest.
Evergreens in containers are also useful as they add depth and create a good back-drop to the more colourful winter bedding. Glazed containers look more “cheery” than terracotta in the winter months but which ever you go with raise them up off of the paving that way they’ll drain properly, you can use bricks or blocks of wood but the terracotta feet look better and aren’t that expensive.
Here’s the best bit, selecting the plants for your winter containers – I love Viola (pansies) they come in a vast range of colours and look like happy smiley faces even in the rain, a tip – the small flowered ones don’t get bashed about so much by the wind. Useful perennials are sedges, ivies- especially variegated ones and ferns that add texture and shape to your containers. Winter heathers are great for flower and foliage and keep going from November through to march, you can’t go wrong. So dodge the rain, wrap up warm and get the patio looking fab!