If you have a patio or a terrace, it can seem quite cold and uninviting at
times and this is why many people break up the hard lines by
introducing plants into the space. There are some plants that compliment
a patio or terrace because of their suitability for use in patio pots
or hanging baskets. By using just some of these pretty and aromatic
plants, any terrace area can have some life injected into it.

How to Decide on Patio Planting

There are some basic steps to creating the feel of a garden on a hard surface
like a terrace or patio. Colour, smell and the amount of foliage all
need to be considered before planting begins. There is also the
frequency that you want to water your plants and how often you want to
maintain their leaves or even sweep them up.

A nice smelling garden will always be a pleasant place to sit on a sunny afternoon, so
plants like Lavender and Bay Laurel which are easy to grow and add
colour, but they are also low maintenance plants. Summer gardens are
lovely, but don’t forget to include plants that will also look good in
winter time. There is nothing worse than having a patio full of plants
that look as though they have died. This will give a terrace area an
unkempt appearance that is not easy on the eye.

A good idea is to choose a colour scheme rather than plant anything that will grow in a
pot or basket. This can be an excellent way of adding style to any
outdoor area. Yucca flowers are a lovely white and they can be mixed
well with purple lavender. The Yucca will also flower slightly later
than lavender so there is colour in the garden for longer.

Arranging Your Terrace Garden

A lot of thought should go in to the layout of your garden. People often
make a mistake by placing hanging baskets wither side of a doorway with
lots of flowers draped over the sides. This can become annoying when you
need to swerve the plants every time you pass through a door. They can
also attract bees and other flying insects which will make their way
indoors. Using plant pots either side of your doorway is a better option
and you can reserve hanging baskets for more suitable areas. Planting
in areas that please the eye, but allow you to retain the functionality
of your space is always the best route to take.