How To Make Raised Planters and Add Meditteranean Style

Garden planters with tulips

Garden planters with tulips

This spring we have been making the most of our outdoor spaces especially since the gradual lifting of the regulations has allowed for us to walk and meet outside together once again. Inspired by wonderful Mediterranean design we have created a new ceramic stone coloured patio where some old decking used to be.

We have chosen an area of the garden in a mid century terrace in Hampshire, England which faces west and enjoys lots of sunshine. This design could be scaled up by adding more panels and planters or scaled down by just building one planter with a single trellis panel. This method is suitable for a large property or a small balcony. Alternatively installing a trellis planter of this type at the side or front of a property might make a pretty focal point so a tiny outdoor space can still look special.

How to make the raised planters with trellis back panels

1. Firstly to create both impact and privacy in the garden we have built a high fence at least 2.3 metres high using thick wooden posts to make a large frame. The hardest part of this project was connecting the large OSB panels onto an existing rendered brick wall standing around 1.2 metres high.

2. Using timber posts and a masonry drill we screwed right angled brackets at regular intervals onto both the existing wall and the posts. Then once the structure was ready we screwed the vertical OSB panels closely butted together into place.

Detail of tulip planters

Detail of tulip planters

3. The outdoor treated timber lengths now support the orientated strand board (OSB) panels to form a large flat wall. We then painted the new textured wooden surface with dark green fence paint from B&Q’s own brand range. It is a good idea to save time by not cutting the OSB boards and securing them in a portrait orientation gives us the height we wanted.

4. The supports for the planters were constructed using thick finished spruce timber from B&Q left over from building our studio cabin. It is important to raise the planters up off the patio to help make the space feel as spacious as possible and allow for drainage when watering. Another benefit is being closer to the flowers to make the most of their beauty and plus it makes watering the plants easier. The durable black plastic containers are from B&Q and are a bargain at £6.30 each.

5. It was easy to fill the planters with fresh soil and pop in the tulip bulbs ready for the warmer weather. We have already grown some climbing clematis and there are more wallflowers planned to continue the vertical planting theme.

6. We attached eight vertical pieces of trellis from Covers to add interest and support climbing plants. We painted the trellis with Cuprinol from B&Q in the country cream colourway to match our new design studio.

Clematis and palms in raised bed

Clematis and palms in raised bed

Introducing Meditteranean elements throughout the garden

In another area of the garden a simple bamboo lattice is easy to create using twine and bamboo sticks. The bamboo arches from Hillier work really well for supporting growing plants like tomatoes.

When we laid the new patio we also added a curving raised bed to soften the edges of the space an provide an area for growing lots of different shrubs and flowers. So far the jasmine has done well and some small palms add texture and interest too. We are adding lots of circular shapes to this otherwise rectangular residential plot to give a much more attractive 'relaxing on holiday' terrace feel to what was previously a bland backyard.
Pink roses in terracotta pot

Pink roses in terracotta pot

No Mediterranean garden would be complete without terracotta pots of flowers. This outdoor haven features pink roses in a large glazed terracotta urn from our local Hillier garden center. The ceramic container sits on top of a circular brick raised bed with rounded grey stones that used to be an old water feature. Now the planted circle is a pretty botanical focal point that looks great all year round through the patio windows in the kitchen.

In the summer months get ready for guests by adding outdoor furniture and textiles in natural materials. Hang up colourful floral wreaths like these handmade pieces from Create Display to decorate the walls of your continental style entertaining area and compliment the colours of your foliage. Enjoy the delights of al fresco dining with friends in a fresh and neat open air oasis or just some well earned time relaxing outside on the patio.

More posts to follow about this project as the different sections of the space are completed. Check out our Etsy shop for lots of ideas for brightening up your home and garden. Enjoy the sunshine and the joy of working outdoors again this season. Keep well and keep creative!
Thanks to Tina C for her contribution to the construction of the planters for this project.
 
Create Display Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/CreateDisplay
B&Q home improvement superstore https://www.diy.com
Hillier garden centers https://www.hillier.co.uk/
Covers building merchants https://www.coversmerchants.co.uk/