Turn your grey space green!

How to turn your paved areas into a green oasis

Which would you prefer? Walking down a street that’s bursting with foliage, flowers and wildlife – or one where every front garden is paved over and used as a parking spot? A new report has found that a quarter of all front gardens are now paved over – and according to the Royal Horticultural Society this affects more than the environment on your doorstep.

As well as affecting the natural beauty and wildlife in a neighbourhood, they say laying hard surfaces can contribute to flooding and increase local temperatures.

But don’t worry if you only have a tiny outdoor space with tough growing conditions – or you need to park your car there. Even the smallest spaces can be filled with life – and still leave room for your motor.

Create an oasis amidst concrete

The same goes for industrialised spaces, such as rundown areas outside warehouse office buildings – it’s all about choosing the right plants to thrive in these unlikely spots. There are plants that will survive in the smallest, most inhabitable looking gardens – choose hardy plants for tough spaces.

To address the problem of paved gardens, RHS has launched a campaign, calling on the nation to get Greening Grey Britain with hints and advice on how to turn even the most tough-looking grey space green.

Copyright: RHS/ Jon Enoch

Vertical gardening

If you do really need to park your car in front of your house, work out how much space your car takes up and work around it. RHS suggests using walls and fences for plants to scramble up. We love climbers, such as ivy, clematis, honeysuckle and jasmine.

Secret corners

Most gardens, however small, will have ‘dead space’ in the form of hidden corners, nooks and crannies. Use these spaces for small potted plants – or why not create an aromatic herb garden. Rosemary and mint are easy to grow and can survive in shady spots.

Under-car planting

Believe it or not, certain plants will even tolerate being parked over – particularly if you take your car to work every day so the plants can catch some rays. Create planting pockets in the paving or gravel and opt for low-growing plants, such as creeping jenny and thyme.

Potted plants

Colourful pots, however small, will help you to bring new life to your garden and can be placed anywhere there’s a space. For summer colour, opt for petunias then replace with pansies in autumn. Or if you prefer something that will last for more than one season, choose evergreen shrubs such as lavender.

Attract wildlife

If you really want to bring your garden to life, choose plants that will attract wildlife, such as birds, insects and bees. Read our guide to the best plants for turning your space into a wildlife haven.

Want some inspiration? Check out this amazing ‘green’ street in North Tyneside’s Whitley Bay, where all the residents got together and devised a project to transform this neglected back street into a botanical oasis.

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