How to improve concrete courtyard design?

Question

Hi all, first time posting!

There is an enclosed courtyard completely concreted between our house and the boundary wall (as pictured). There is only one door that accesses it via the interior of the house, and the area only has a small drain. There is one tap as shown. There is an A/C unit. It is south-facing, there is a few hours of direct sunlight along the boundary wall during the summer months.

Issues with this space:

* gets incredibly hot during the day 
* ugly concrete bareness 
* terrible drainage, floods during heavy downpours - we had to use buckets to clear water during cyclone alfred 
* difficult to access as not connected to rest of the garden

My ideas were to use containers and hanging plants to improve the space while not clogging up the drain. One idea was for a star jasmine green wall but I've read there are issues with star jasmine being too invasive/aggressive and finding its way into gutters and drains etc, and that would be problematic with our AC unit there.

Hoping to see what everyone's ideas were!

Jason · Answer

Hi @gardenrookie,

I often point members to How to plan a garden makeover by experienced member @Adam_W. It stresses the importance of having a good think about how you want to use the space and then coming up with a detailled plan that you can break up into manageable projects over time.

Jason

Remarka6le · Answer

@gardenrookie

You’ve already had some great suggestions, but looking at the photo I’d definitely prioritise drainage and heat first before spending money on anything decorative. If that downpipe is feeding straight into the courtyard, it really needs to be connected properly to stormwater. It’s probably one job worth getting a plumber to do so you’re not constantly dealing with flooding every time there’s heavy rain. Once that’s sorted, everything else will actually last and work properly.

To tackle the heat, overhead shade will make the biggest difference. Even a simple shade sail between the house and boundary wall would cool the space dramatically and stop the brick and concrete radiating heat back into the area. Because it’s enclosed, a small amount of shade goes a long way and will also make plants much happier.

Your idea of containers and hanging plants is spot on for a space like this. I’d personally avoid star jasmine near the A/C and drains, as it can get a bit too enthusiastic in tight areas. Instead, look at well-behaved climbers and trailers in pots like mandevilla, hardenbergia, ivy geraniums or pothos. A mix of vertical planters along the wall and hanging baskets from the eaves would soften the space without blocking drainage and help cool it naturally.

My in laws actually put down the wooden deck tiles Eric suggested in a similar concrete courtyard and they worked brilliantly for softening the look and reducing heat. The only thing I’d flag is they do fade fairly quickly in the sun if you don’t keep up with oiling or sealing, so just factor in a bit of maintenance if you go that route.

Once the drainage and shade are sorted, you’ve got the makings of a really nice little private courtyard rather than just a hot concrete gap.

EricL · Answer

Hello @gardenrookie

I strongly recommend having a professional plumber clean out your drain and your storm water pipe along with your down pipe connection. The service will be covered under the plumber's warranty. Should flooding occur again you can call on the plumber to rectify the issue.

In regards to the green wall, I suggest looking at the following kits:

* Holman Pixel Pot GreenWall Vertical Garden
* Maze 4 x Frames - 20 x Pots Standard Five Tier Vertical Garden 
* Holman Vertical GreenWall Garden Kit

For the hanging baskets, I recommend looking at the following:

* All Set 30.5cm Steel Wire Hanging Basket 
* Lotus 30cm Terracotta Plastic Hanging Basket 
* Brunnings 35cm Renaissance Hanging Basket

Here are some suggestions for hanging plants:

* Boston Fern
* String of Pearls
* Petunias 
* Pothos

I've also placed a sample image rendered in AI with the timber tiles installed.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric