What to plant next to house wall?

Moj86

What do you recommend to plant in this garden next to my house wall? The wall is east face and the soil is more clay. I can improve the soil though.

The width of garden is 750mm.Is it fine to have in ground plant next to the wall or I would better to add a layer of pebble and place pot on top of the area to avoid moisture transfer to wall. 

MitchellMc

Hi @Moj86,

Planting right up against a house wall can be done, but there are a few things to keep in mind so you don’t run into moisture or structural issues. With a narrow garden bed like 750mm, you’ll want to be selective about both the plants and how you manage the soil.

If you’d like to plant directly in the ground, the key is to improve your clay soil with compost and gypsum so that water drains freely rather than pooling near the wall. It’s also a good idea to keep a small buffer, say 100–150mm, clear of planting right next to the brickwork, and use mulch rather than soil build-up against the wall. Choosing plants with non-invasive root systems is important in such a tight space. Good options for an east-facing wall include dwarf varieties of Camellias, Gardenias, Indian Hawthorn, or even clumping decorative grasses like Lomandra and Dianella. These all stay manageable in a narrow bed and handle partial sun well.

If you’d prefer the lowest-maintenance option, laying a pebble strip along the wall and placing pots on top is also a smart solution. It prevents any moisture transfer into the brickwork, gives you flexibility to change plants seasonally, and means you can grow species that might not love your native soil since you’ll be controlling the potting mix.

It really depends on whether you want the look of an established in-ground garden or the flexibility and peace of mind of pots. Both approaches work, but if you’re concerned about dampness against the wall, the pebble-and-pot method is the safest choice. 

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell