Walls can be clothed with a huge array of climbers- the many clematis (one for almost every season), the lovely Chilean Lapageria rosea, climbing and rambling roses, Pandorea jasminoides 'Lady Di', Thunbergia grandiflora and more. Shady walls are great for the climbing hydrangea, (Hydrangea petiolaris) or vines (check with your plant nursery that the vines will not harm the walls.)
One of the great advantages of a courtyard garden is that your can try plants in your scheme that may not be hardy in a larger garden for a courtyard creates its own microclimate. Try tender gloriosa lilies, lemons and other citrus, and other more tender plants. If your courtyard is sunny all day then try Mediterranean plants. If shade is an issue then there are many plants that demand just these conditions. Our native clematis (Clematis paniculata), renga renga lilies (Arthropodium cirrahtum) and ivy can make a lovely and effective low-maintenance ground cover.
Clivia miniata
Remember that plants with a confined root space, in a planter or pot, or in the rain-shadow of high walls will need more constant watering and care then in a larger, more open garden. Potted plants will need re-potting from time to time as the soil becomes exhausted, and raised planters will need to be topped up with good, well-rotted compost. But these are easy tasks and the not onerous in a small space.
Enjoy your courtyard garden. You can move a potted plant that needs to rest, pull forward another that is looking brilliant, dead-head, remove dead leaves and keep a courtyard far tidier and more pristine than is possible in a larger space. But that is an excuse to potter, an opportunity to admire and to tweak your plantings, not a chore!
Use your plant care time to advantage and really look at you design and your planting scheme. You will need to reassess the planting periodically- a plant may have grown too big and you will need to reduce its bulk or even replace it. A garden is a dynamic thing and changes will be necessary, after all, that's most of the fun of it!
