Our goal was to transform a baron and neglected garden into our dream tropical oasis, right here in the UK. The garden had been neglected for 15 years before we moved in as the property had previously been a rental. We set about building a tropical garden in Autumn 2018 and had to overcome a number of hurdles. The heavy clay soil was badly compacted and needed to be opened up and enriched if any tropical or exotic plants were going to grow in this space. We dug a stream to provide the humidity that the tropical style plants would need and to attract wildlife into our tropical garden. Slowly we added more and more exotic and unusual plants to help bring our dream of a creating tropical garden alive.
With the addition of a puppy, changes has to be made to make our tropical garden safe for the dog. A short while later we added a greenhouse which helped broaden the range of exotic plants I could grow. The greenhouse was the catalyst in the creation of ‘Grow Paradise’, our online shop for tropical and exotic plants.
Growing a tropical garden in the UK can be a bit challenging due to the cooler temperatures and lower light levels compared to tropical regions. However, with the right plants and care, it is possible to create a tropical oasis in the UK. Here are some tips to help you get started:
Choose the right plants: Look for tropical plants that are hardy enough to withstand cooler temperatures, such as banana trees, palms, Fatsias and cordylines.
Choose the right location: Look for a spot in your garden that gets plenty of sunlight, as tropical plants need a lot of light to thrive. South-facing walls or areas protected from strong winds can also help to create a microclimate that is more suitable for tropical plants.
Use a greenhouse or conservatory: A greenhouse or conservatory can help to provide the warm, humid conditions that tropical plants need, especially during the cooler months.
Use insulation and protection: Insulate your plants with fleece or bubble wrap to help protect them from frost. You can also use cloches or grow tents to create a warmer, more protected environment for your tropical plants.
Water regularly: Tropical plants need a lot of water to thrive, so be sure to water them regularly, especially during dry spells. Use a moisture meter to help you gauge when your plants need watering.
By following these tips, you should be able to successfully grow a tropical garden in the UK. Good luck!
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6 Comments
Have loved following your journey the last few years. I feel your pain with the clay I had to excavate a lot and then bring in new top soil as it didn't drain at all for months. Facebook marketplace has been great for materials on a budget. We've also got a small garden and can be quite windy so still finding what works. Also it's north facing so the house puts half of it into deep shadow most of the time. I'd love to grow more from seed. Can it be done in a cold frame or a heated greenhouse needed really? Keep posting the updates on the ever changing garden!
Thx for sharing craig! Ive enjoyed and followed much of it.
My Journey in zone 8b started in 2007 on less than 100 sqm. Meanwhile weve moved, mainly for the yard now measuring 1500 sqm, added greenhouse, 2 ponds, pool, outdoor kitchen, waterstream and over 55 palms covering appr 15 species. I moved over 12 tons of gravel (just walkeays), over 10 tons of granite boulders for elevated beds, and removed almost 1200 sqm of grass…keeps me fit!!
Still going strong enduring our grey and wet cold winters doing whatever seems impossible. Experimenting, failing and succeeding are often very close, but so worth it. Some succes stories are my 35 trachycarpus palms, my 8' Jubaea and Butia, and two pretty chunky 13' Washingtonia palms, next to arrays of ginger, banana and far lesser hardy stuff experimenting.
Keep it up dude! 365 days of vacation in your backyard is so cool in our climate.
Space is becoming limited again as ive filled up this plot in 6 yrs…
Great video and so encouraging to a novice. Thank you
Great video – I've followed your progress since the beginning so it's wonderful to look back on how far the garden has come. I'm moving into the third year of my tropical garden so can't wait to see what it's like when it's as established as yours!
Hoping those farfugiums are going to be on sale come Spring 😉
I've been following you for ages and I think I must have missed a couple of videos at one point, because I knew you took the stream out, but didn't realise why. Now it all makes sense. Thanks for this recap video!
It's a fantastic transformation. My garden still needs so much work, but it will get there. This cold snap has highlighted to me that I need to focus on some hardier plants. We gardeners are forever digging up and moving plants! I do love your idea of plants in pots so you can move them around. I might try that in the coming summer – depending on if my toddler allows! Toddlers and puppies are very similar…