Rented garden ideas - create a stunning garden in pots!

If you can't change your hard landscaping - either because you're renting or your time and budget has to go elsewhere - you can create a beautiful garden in pots. See garden designer Shaun Mooney's stunning rental garden makeover, including a mini wildlife pond, wormeries and lush perennial planting that is just humming with pollinators. With before and after photos.
00:00 Welcome
00:08 Before and after photos of Shaun's garden
00:50 The garden when Shaun moved in
01:53 How Shaun planned the planting
02:20 A container garden uses a lot of pots - how to minimise costs
03:15 Have troughs made to your measurements
04:22 Fill in corners with extra pots to soften the shape and layer the planting
05:03 The British superstition - a horseshoe will keep you safe from accidents
05:20 Planter and sofa made from pallets
05:35 Save money by ordering the initial compost in bulk
06:10 Can you grow any plant in a pot?
06:55 Some garden designers do consultations on an hourly basis. Shaun offers this service.
06:58 Consult local nurseries if they grow their own plants
07:45 A container garden can really help pollinators
07:57 Have a mini wildlife pond in a container garden
08:51 If you can't have a compost bin, you can compost with a wormery
10:06 How often do you have to change the compost in a container garden?
10:56 You need to fertilise pots once a week in the growing season
11:14 Watering a container garden
11:44 Shaun's favourite perennial plants for pots
13:00 Looking into the wildlife pond - can you hear the frog?

Whether you love English garden style, cottage gardens or contemporary urban gardening, The Middlesized Garden has gardening advice and garden ideas for you.

Weekly videos cover gardening advice and garden design - from small space gardens to middle-sized garden landscaping - plus garden tours and tips for container gardening.

The Middlesized Garden practices sustainability, wildlife gardening and no till methods. If your garden backyard is smaller than an acre, join us and enjoy your garden even more!

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[botanicaltreasures]

Amazing the look he’s achieved with the strategic placement of containers! He’s turned an urban desert into a food forest for pollinators. So inspiring!🐝🦋

[fredmckibben]

Planting like this requires constant care; watering, pruning, requires commitment and dedication

[louisewhittle]

This is so lovely to see. I also rent and my tiny yard is full to the brim with everything from tall Camellias and wisteria in large pots to troughs of mind your own business and irish moss. The last time I moved the removal van did one trip with my furniture and second trip with all my plants. Can't live without a garden regardless of renting!

[mythriftedhomeandgarden]

I really love your featuring small gardens and something that can be achieved by average homeowners. This post is very inspiring! Thank you!

[magicalprintmaker]

What a lovely interview. His garden is a testament to his design skills. I’m intrigued by the wormery. I would love to know more about how to create one.

[vickiebrannon]

This has got to be my favorite video. What lovely ideas and so inspirational! Thank you so much for sharing this talented young man's garden. I love your dress, and you look stunning in that color. Best wishes from hot and humid Middle Tennessee!

[janereel]

I've always loved your interviews with gardeners. Again, what a treat to see his work and ideas in a small space. I prefer these videos to the ones from Chelsea or other commercial places. I like seeing the real gardens! Loved the combination of your garden knowledge and asking questions. I, too, must get agastache Black Adder for next year. I'm in U.S. zone 6a.

[wellsfamilylife]

As a Londoner this has to be one of my favourite episodes! So much thought has gone into everything - showcasing how even compromise can result in a beautiful result in an urban environment. And Alexandra - love the dress on you 👌🏽

[aiai-ji]

You have no idea how very happy your videos make me! This one is such a great example of the sense of community one can find among fellow gardeners. I love how much knowledge he was sharing with us. I only have a raised garden container on a balcony but it brings me such great joy to watch insects discovering the plants I installed for them. ❤

[michellechapman]

Beautiful garden.... I just go with wildflowers. Cant go wrong there!!

[joycemorrow]

I just love these videos. Perennials in pots had become one of my best meditation down time.

[wjs]

This was one of my favourites of your many excellent videos. You ask such good and pertinent questions. He is a really talented and inventive designer. Thank you both.

[jacquelinelee]

WOW! This garden is inspiring to me because the ground around my new home on a farm is as dry & hard as a rock. Now I'm going to switch to growing things in pots!

[jeremypearson]

I own my house, but decided a long time ago that containers are better due to several reasons. Firstly, they are portable and plants can be changed if they fall out of favor. Also, it stops a plant from becoming too invasive. I’ve found that out the hard way living in Florida where things can take off quickly. The one downside is when hurricanes come and stuff needs to be moved into the garage. An expat watching in Ft Lauderdale.

[eimeark]

Alexandra, I’ve been watching your videos for a while now, and felt I should tell you how much I enjoy them and look forward to my weekly notification that you’ve uploaded something new. I garden on the west coast of Canada, zone 8, where my front garden gets nightly visits from deer who have not read the lists of plants they’re not supposed to eat.
I learn something new from your videos every week and love all the interesting gardens that you showcase. This week’s garden was a beautiful study in determination and dedication 😀

[gardengatesopen]

It always amazes me how toads just show up in my garden!
I know they hibernate, but I'm still amazed nonetheless.
My Winter yard gets pretty bare, you can see right down to the soil in most places.
All the herbaceous greenery has disappeared.
For a short time I kinda like it bcuz it's such a stark contrast to the Summer jungle.
It's a time in the garden that feels like a clean slate, as if a minimalist gardens here.
(Even tho my garden is far from a minimalist style!)
To see my yard in Winter, you would never think frogs or toads, or ANY fauna live here.
But every Spring there they are!
Little tiny toads just hopping about in all lush new green!!

[josiebridges]

I love Shaun's ideas since I have a tiny yard where I garden in large pots. Thank you for the playlist, Alexandra.

[carmenbailey]

Fantastic job, transforming his patio. It just show when someone has the passion it is possible. Thanks for sharing very inspiring. 👍❤️😊

[AJsGreenThumbLLC]

Such a thrilling and romantic garden he has cultivated! That agastache is a total winner. Thanks for sharing such quality uploads Alexandra!

[clairemcconway]

What a great video, lovely garden and Sean is very talented. I live not far from the Ravensbourne river as well. Would love to visit this garden sometime!