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.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 2023 من BBC Gardeners World.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 2023 من BBC Gardeners World.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
We love June
We're cruising towards midsummer: this is a month full of love and abundance. Wherever you look there will be something in your garden that lifts the spirits and makes you glad to be alive. We have colour to cheer us, we have leaves that still have the bounce and freshness of small puppies, we have the first berries fattening up, there are birds frantically parenting very demanding broods of chicks, the bees are all over the place, it's prime barbecue and picnic season, and we have lawns as lush and green as billiard tables. What a month to fall in love.
Your wildlife month
The female will usually lay one clutch of up to eight eggs
An edible garden in pots
Join Lucy Bellamy in creating an edible container garden for all seasons, as she harvests what's ripe now and starts later-season crops
Garden craft with kids
Fill the summer holidays with fun nature makes for kids, including botanical printed t-shirts, seed sowing in upcycled food containers and a hanging home for beneficial insects. Jaime Johnson and family show you how
Secrets of a COLOURFUL GARDEN
Using a colour theme is an easy way to give any garden a strong, unified character - Nick Bailey shows you how
Indoor plants, outdoor treats
Break the rules and give your house plants a summer holiday, with Michael Perry's mixed pot display ideas
YOUR PRUNING MONTH
The first few weeks of summer are a good time to get spring-flowering plants in shape. Follow Frances' guide for best results
Gardening for wellbeing
As the pressures of modern living bear down, our outside spaces can provide soothing respite for our minds and bodies, says Arit Anderson
Your greenhouse guide to A fruitful summer
Get the best from your greenhouse fruit and vegetable crops this summer, with these tried and trusted growing tips from Adam Frost
Stars of the show
Agapanthus is the perfect midsummer plant, flowering with spectacular blooms from June onwards and, as Monty explains, it loves to grow in a pot
