Garden ideas for small and middlesized backyards from BBC Gardeners World Live 2024.
BBC Gardeners’ World Live has three garden shows a year, featuring experts from the BBC Gardeners World programme, with talks, show gardens and exhibitors selling plants, garden tools and other gardening things. The main BBC GWL show is in June in the Birmingham NEC. Plus there is a spring show in Beaulieu in Hampshire as well as an autumn show at Audley End in Essex.
@BBCGardenerWorldEvents
00:00 BBC Gardeners World Live 2024
00:14 Short list of trends
00:30 Logs and wood
00:32 On Our Wavelength by Kim O’Brien
00:38 Step Into Our Garden by Alexandra Bailey (Thrive & Gardening for Health)
01:09 Little Library (Insects Garden) by Elle Hepburn
01:13 Nature’s Embrace by Becky Sibley
01:23 Bark chip paths
02:08 Magic Moments by Steph Haydon
02:13 Stop and Smell the Flowers by Julie Haylock
02:21 Weather It Costa Cadiz by Anna Helps
02:24 Corten steel
02:39 Eco Oasis by Dan Hartley
02:45 Lunatica by Josh Fenton
02:57 Ponds
02:59 Flora and Flavour by Hannah Reid
03:15 Following in My Footsteps by Leanne Wood
03:24 Mixing ornamental gardens and food growing
03:34 The Chef’s Table by Adam Frost
03:51 A Plot Amongst the Chickens by Ben Shutler
04:28 Seating areas close to the planting
05:22 Outdoor kitchens (The Chef’s Table by Adam Frost)
05:43 My Garden Escape by Kitty Kovacs
06:15 The Viewers Garden by Pip Probert
07:05 Small Garden Design Ideas on a Budget video: https://youtu.be/D19oIwWgj54
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I’ve just come back from BBC Gardeners World Live with some ideas and trends that work particularly well in small gardens – as well as middle-sized Gardens. It’s Alexandra here from The Middle-Sized Garden YouTube channel and blog. And if I was to look at the trends in a list, I would say logs, corten steel, ponds, coloured garden furniture, and much more mixing of veg and flowers. But of course, let’s go into a bit more detail about each. There were logs and wood on many show-gardens and in many borders. They were used as garden ornaments, trellis, edging, for raised beds, pavers, obelisks, as general vertical interest, and as bug hotels. The advantage of using logs or wood is obviously cost – it’s very cheap. I mean the idea is I think that you’re using your own prunings. But of course not all of us have necessarily got those particular trees. But even if you have to buy branches or logs, they’re not likely to cost as much – certainly not compared to say garden ornaments. Willow or log edging isn’t going to last as long as say metal edging, and it will break down ultimately, but it’ll be good for about five years. And just the act of very slowly breaking down is hugely valuable to wildlife, because the bugs eat the wood, and then the birds eat the bugs, and it’s a very happy circle of life. There are also quite a lot of bark chip paths. These are the cheapest form of garden path, and they will need topping up every few years or so, but they do ultimately break down. So they don’t leave anything on the land. And it’s easy for you to decide that you might want to change your garden path – certainly if you haven’t fully decided what your plan is for the garden, I definitely consider bark chip paths. Another good thing about bark chip paths is that they allow rainwater to go through them and drain away. One of the main causes of flash flooding in towns and cities is that there’s a great deal of hard landscaping – pavements, roads, building – and what this means is that all the rain water – particularly in a sudden heavy shower – all pours into the drains at the same time – and that causes flash flooding. So anything you can do in your garden to minimize hard landscaping and to allow permeable surfaces will really help that. Logs and insect hotels also create vertical interest, and they can be quite contemporary even, as you can see in this garden called Costa Cadiz by Anna Helps. So the other big thing was corten steel. Now corten steel has been around in garden design for quite a while, but I think it’s really very much the material of today. And the reason for that is that it works well in both natural and contemporary gardens. The rusting side looks really good naturally and the strong lines are great for contemporary gardens. And you can get corten steel moongates, corten steel screens, corten steel seating, corten steel raised beds, corten steel edging. It just can be used in almost any way, including ponds. And so when we come to ponds – well, the great great thing about ponds is they offer something wonderful for wildlife, they are great to just sit and look at and reflect on at the end of a hard day. And they are better than water features because apparently – and this is what garden designers tell me – water features always go wrong. The very simplest form of pond is just a simple dish, with a few pebbles in it. The only thing to remember with that is you’ll need to keep it topped up in hot weather. Possibly one of the biggest trends of today is the mixing of fruit, vegetables and flowers. In the past, vegetable gardens were hidden away at the bottom of the garden – screened off, very much the practical area – but few of us have big enough gardens to do that now. And anyway vegetables can be beautiful, particularly as we’ve also slightly moved away from the sterner planting them in rows, and planting as much as you can. After all, people now only plant two courgette plants, because that’s going to be enough for a small family over the summer, and use cut and come again salads and chard. So you don’t need a whole row of something and then you get gluts. The other advantage of combining flowers and vegetables is that it can discourage pests and diseases. If you’ve got a monoculture – in other words rows and rows of the same thing planted – it’s very easy for a pest or a disease to travel down the row. But if it’s all mixed up, it can slow that down – which is the principle of companion planting. Adam Frost’s garden A Chef’s Table very much took this onboard, and we had flowers and vegetables planted side by side. And there’s another big trend here, which is to have your living area very close to the planting. In a very small garden it really is difficult to keep a lawn going. So what a lot of people are doing is having just as much hard landscaping as they really need – for say a table to eat at or chairs just to sit at – and then having much bigger planting beds. And the advantage of this is that it really surrounds you with planting – you really feel you’re in the garden. And of course once again there’s more exposed soil, so that when it rains more will drain away, whereas if you cover the whole of your back garden with hard landscaping you add to the problems of flash flooding. Many of the flowers in Adam Frost’s garden are also edible, and quite a few other gardens at the show also combined edible flowers and vegetables – which is a very lovely way of doing it. There are also outdoor kitchens. Now outdoor kitchens are a big investment, but Adam Frost’s shed is a completely standard shed you can get anywhere from any shed store or DIY, and he’s actually going to put it up in his own garden afterwards, he said. The other outdoor kitchens that were there, there was quite strong colour – and actually one of the things about having either a more natural garden or a very small garden, is that strong colour in furniture can really make a big difference. This bright orange kitchen would really create drama in any small garden. And garden furniture has been really quite dreary for quite a long time – there’s been sort of a variation of about six styles, which all can be found at different price points. But now we’re seeing actually much more elegant and different coloured garden furniture. And once again, you just get this little pop of colour. And if your garden is quite green, or quite wild, or there’s not much out at the time, it really makes a difference. The Viewer’s Garden by Pip Probert was created with input from the viewers of the BBC Gardener World Live program. And what’s very nice about this, it’s a great deal about reusing and recycling. It’s reusing pallets to make raised beds. It’s reusing an old agricultural trough for another raised bed. The lean-to potting shed has been made with things like old doors, including an old shower door. But where there’s new material, it’s all very readily available from any DIY store – such as concrete pavers or pieces of wood. And indeed the recycled stuff is not difficult to find – the garden furniture can be found on almost any secondhand site – a very common style of garden furniture. If you’d like more garden design ideas for small gardens, particularly on a budget, then don’t miss this video coming up now. And thank you for watching. Goodbye!
42 Comments
TH🌳NKS‼️
This was so helpful!! Thank you for summarizing and showcasing these lovely spaces. I came away with so many ideas to try in my own middle-sized garden. ❤
Another inspirational vlog, thanks.
Lovely vid. So many great ideas! Thank you.
I purchased a (used) cortensteel dish about 6 weeks ago, and now have it in our small garden as a raised pond, with planting underneath it. Filled with flowering crowfoot and lillies it’s now one of my favorite garden elements.
The only issue with mixing ornamentals and vegetables is that wildlife can easily take the plants. Our vegetables are behind bars, trying to keep the animals out. But I do mix things in where possible and I’d like to do more. I add Swiss chard and herbs to pots, and this year I’m growing ornamental corn in a large pot, set into the ornamental beds. Easy way to get height, even if I don’t get ears (though I’ve heard the ‘hilling method’ does work). Might throw in a few winter squash seeds as an experiment! If they work, they’ll be a great ground cover.
Love your ideas and educational information about gardens & plants .. i got square type of garden, always keen on ideas 💡
Great ideas!
You can also put plain corrugated cardboard under bark to help prevent weeds. I got a 2' wide roll to do my paths. Eight years ago, my yard had a big gravel area, and after several years of putting down bark, and one or two putting down cardboard, there was enough soil to grow lawn there (which grows easily here). And I like the gardens with cordon steel–they remind me of the Riverwalk area of Detroit.
Very interesting, as always 💚
amazing tips
I was wondering if there is any health risks for wildlife drinking from a rusty corten steel dish? Also, is 'still water' more likely to attract mosquitos? I am hoping to install a small pond inspired by your images. Thank you
Appreciate this very much. Thank you! -Kate from northwestern lower Michigan, USA
What a beautiful presentation! I've watched it 3 times already. I'm in love with the garden that has the curved path and the steel "moon gate" (Julie Haylock's "Stop and Smell the Flowers"). From my local Buy Nothing group, I got a very large wooden "box" with square inner partitions that I hope to turn into a bug hotel. I'm in the process of researching what the ideal position should be so I can make a spot for it before I start collecting filler material. I also adored the chicken runway, but alas, no fowl allowed in my suburban neighborhood!
That opening shot is
THE EXACT PLAN
of my future garden !!!
I'm in my 2nd year,
renovating my garden.
And I must admit,
it IS quite nice
to see a full color picture
of exactly how my ideas
are going to pan out!
I would just like to know
WHO
invaded my brain,
and stole my idea!!!
thank you, excellent video!!!
I loved Adam Frost’s mixing of ornamentals with veg, it’s such a relaxed vibe that really appeals.
Glad to see everyone pushing bug hotels and log piles. What a nice opportunity to be lazy in an eco friendly way – ecolazy?! 🤔👍🏻
A very helpful tips! Thank you
I watch a number of garden channels and Alexandra of the Middle Size Garden is head & shoulders above all others.
Always very informative
Chelsea was beautiful as always this year, but I definitely find more inspiration from Gardeners World Live. The garden designs feels more relatable. Looking forward to Hampton Court, will you be going this year, Alexandra?
Very inspiring to see! Thank you for sharing!
I loved the chicken run as well! What an adorable idea and those chickens were gorgeous! ☺️
great as always and especially beautiful images. Thanks.
What is that on the table? Sorry to say it resembles a deceased animal.
I love your videos. You have a good voice and speak beautifully!
Thank you.
Another enjoyable video Alexandra and made me feel smug as I'm doing lots of those things already..😃 though I have to remember pride comes before a fall. Thank you.
Nice video. Lots of ideas. I really like the low chicken run that ran alongside the row of flowers.
Gorgeous video!! I also have become obsessed with logs
Hi Alexandra. Enjoyed the video. How do you define a small and middle size garden, size wise?
thanks Alexandra cheers
Only thing about corten steel ponds is the sludge the rust leaves. Absolutely awful
Those boxwood plants behind you look lovely and healthy. May I know if they are Japanese boxwood? I have heard they are less prone to diseases compared to other varieties. I would appreciate it if you could let me know. Thank you!
Great video with some very doable garden enhancements. Thank you ☺️
Excellent video! Thank you Alexandra! ❤
Great advice Alexandra! I went too and agreed with your take on the gardens. I think the future proof garden will be growing veg and flowers together, getting rid of grass or leaving it long for nature and growing more drought proof plants. Great show and well informed advice. 🌹🌿
Seating areas surrounded by the garden are so lovely. Thank you for the inspiring design ideas.
Terrific summary! People have asked me, "Why are you saving all those old sticks?" My friend and I always call it 'playing in the garden', when you combine actual chores like deadheading, repotting, or pruning with letting your creativity flow. Moving things around (I have mostly containers in my back garden), adding natural elements, building trellises from sticks, training vines, all of these wonderful things. The more time I spend outside, the more the ideas come to me. Repurposing is a great way to save money!
Great video ❤ Thanks so much!!
Hi, Alexandra. Thanks so much for giving us a peek at the Gardeners World Live event this year. So much to see! I had to watch the video three times before I felt I’d taken it all in. I came away with lots of great ideas. Oh, if I only had the energy to implement them all!
I am a bit dubious when veg and flowers mix too much – the garden looks glorious but when the contents are analysed, there are few edible vegetables in a huge area. Old vege gardeners would turn in their graves
I once invested a very small amount of money in something akin to the bark shreds used to make paths in your video. What I got was sold as mulch, the coarsest grade of “Pine bark nuggets.” It was chunks and sticks, rather than shreds, and that made it easier to rake up before moving it. I used it again and again, for paths, for a patio, and as mulch. It looked to be nearly eternal, and I loved its look.