Backyard oasis- If in your day to day you cannot go to nature, we present the option for nature to come to you. These plants will completely change the appearance of your backyard oasis at home.
When we talk about the binomial plants and terraces, not everything goes. That, surely you already know, but perhaps what escapes you is why you should decant species if you decide to give a more natural look to your terrace.
And there are plants that, being particularly resistant, are suitable for the city either on a small balcony or in a large attic. In addition, the ones we propose below meet two essential requirements that you will surely value very positively: be easy to take care of and look good all year round.
Backyard oasis trees
With the right plants, a certain color uniformity and a good distribution, your backyard oasis at home, terrace will have nothing to envy to a conventional garden. Choose trees of small size, keeping in mind that, having the roots confined to a limited space, they will never become very large. Place them in the periphery: without disturbing, the vegetation will transmit the pleasant sensation of garden.
Recommended species for the terrace would be the cercis (tree of Judas), olive trees, orange trees or lemon trees -in warm areas-, pomegranates, Lagerstroemia (Jupiter tree), and pines or bushes carved in trees, such as Photinias, oleanders or laurels. The cypress only in areas sheltered from the wind.
The trees need between 60 and 80 cm minimum of land. The ideal: place them in larger pots or in planter boxes. For better stability put anchoring systems inside the planters, especially when the space is not completely sheltered from the wind.
The planters can contain up to 1 ton of soil: keep this in mind when placing the tree on the slab. A good solution is to do it on structural pillars.
The boxwood
Plant resistant, low maintenance and well adapted to our climate . Its characteristic, regular and compact shape, so decorative, makes boxwood a must on terraces and balconies. It grows well in a pot and has to be watered once a week, except in summer, which will need more water.
Combine it with flower species , such as agapanthus, gauras, lavenders or veronicas. Other shrub species, such as yours or teucriums cut out in a ball, can be associated with boxwood, accentuating the play of volumes and color. Ornamental grasses, such as Nassella tenuissima or Pennisetum, will work very well with boxwood.
The bamboo
It is the fashionable species in modern and minimalist environments. It provides tranquility and is ideal as a visual barrier and to separate environments. To look beautiful, bamboo needs coolness and moisture. In fact, in climates too dry and continental, it is advisable to provide a soil rich in humus, well drained and with frequent irrigation – better by sprinkling, which will bring moisture to the air and water to the ground.
Eye because the roots of the bamboo are aggressive. Confined in pots you will control their development, and in garden planters you will have to reinforce their waterproofing.
Ornamental grasses
Of great rusticity and aesthetic value, they are perfect if you are looking for monochromatic and uniform environments, where textures and greens assume the protagonism, according to the minimalist line of the current facades. Little demanding in terms of water and maintenance, complement well with other rustic and resistant species. Root well in small, shallow pots (between 30 and 40 cm). In winter, make a radical pruning, so that they spring back with vitality in spring.
In the image, Viburnum opulus provides a discreet flowery touch and without leaving the dominant chromatic line. The arboreal elements balance and give privacy. The pots in black provide continuity, guaranteeing the protagonism of the vegetation.
Among the multifaceted grasses, the Equisetum (horsetail) stands out for its sharp and elegant appearance. Combined with other species, such as Festuca glauca, Nassella or Carex buchananii, they create light and informal environments. The ears of Pennisetum give lightness and freshness. Mixing them with aromatic species (sage, rosemary, lavender and thyme), rustic carpets (ivy, hypericum, agapanthus), and geraniums, you will obtain a balanced composition for the terrace, complementing each other throughout the seasons.
The vine
The climbers serve to densify the shade and refresh the environment. If you want them to cover a pergola on the terrace, plant them in large pots as if they were trees.
The bougainvillea and jasmine are very decorative options. The first, for the spectacular flowering; the second, for its intense and pleasant aroma. Both require warm climates, resisting frost badly. In more continental areas, decant better by wisteria. An aromatic and rustic alternative is honeysuckle. Expert advice? To give continuity to the whole atmosphere of the terrace, place heather here and there: you will mark a path dyed pink throughout the entire space.
Edible and aromatic
Are you looking for a functional and different terrace? Create in a corner a small orchard with strawberries, tomatoes and other simple crops.
These plants grow well in pots. They need water, a fertile and well-drained soil. If you incorporate a drip irrigation, its maintenance will be very easy. For those who want aromatic, they require partial shade, so they should be conditioned in more shady corners.
The fat
As they do not need regular maintenance, they are perfect for the holiday backyard oasis at home or areas of the terrace that are difficult to access. For our climates, we recommend the Echinocactus, very decorative due to its rounded shape. Combine it with the Sansevieria, some vertical cactus, aloes and agaves.
In general, these plants suffer from frost, so, in cold climates, place them in sunny and sheltered environments.