Narrow Side Yard Makeover Part 2

comments (0) June 7th, 2009 in gallery

ShirleyBovshow, member

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Creeping Elfin Thyme forms a carpet between steppingstones. Festuca o. Elijah Blue punctuates the cobble edging and the rest of the garden is filled with herbs and perennials.

The key to incorporating fruiting trees in the narrow landscape is to plant dwarf varieties (like this dwarf lemon) in containers and find a sunny corner for them. I have three more fruit trees in this narrow garden!

We even found room for garden art in this cubby area beneath the evergreen Pear tree. Small can be beautiful!

Did I mention the homeowner is a surfer? This metal surfer sculpture and metal chair is fun and reflects the homeowners personality. Even if this chair isnt comfortable to sit on for long periods, you can see that there is plenty of room to substitute it for a more comfy one. Dont tell me you dont have enough room to be creative!

We constructed a simple, recycled wood frame awning to place above the sliding doors and add dimension to the tall, flat wall. The awning is home to a happy potato vine.

Creeping "Elfin Thyme" forms a carpet between steppingstones. Festuca o. "Elijah Blue" punctuates the cobble edging and the rest of the garden is filled with herbs and perennials.

Photo: Shirley Bovshow "EdenMaker"

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I nominate "side yards" as some of the most under-exploited areas in the landscape! What a shame, especially when every square foot of real estate is valuable, even in a down economy. Small, narrow yards can be perplexing to some homeowners who don't know which plants and trees work in a constricted space.

The good news is that not only can you find appropriate plants for small garden areas, you can also design a narrow yard to include walkways, sitting areas, sculpture (or garden art ), water features and fruit trees!

Here's the proof. Check out this "narrow side yard" design I designed for my client in Los Angeles. With sustainable concepts in mind, we used lots of recycled materials.

To see "Before" photos read "Narrow Side Yard Makeover Part 1"

"EdenMaker" Shirley Bovshow's rule of thumb for narrow yards: " When selecting trees for narrow areas, make sure the trunk has a narrow profile and that the lowest limbs are higher than 7 feet" so that the average size person can walk underneath it. Sorry Kobe! You can still create a dynamic garden in small spaces. If you are a rose lover, opt for rose trees as they don't take up bulky horizontal space like the bush form does. Layer your garden with perennials, bulbs, flowering ground covers and vines, or play up contrasting foliage. You don't need a huge variety of plants to make an interesting garden!"