Main forum: Who else gardens in small yards?
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| I have a city lot and I am doing the best to maximize gardens in minimal space. I would love to find others who are facing space issues. |
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| I have a fairly small yard and I would be interested in knowing how other people make the most of their space. |
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| Well let's get the word out and share ideas. I am in the process of replacing these awful hedges that grow between each house. Each neighbor owns the hedges on their right and they are the boundary line. I pulled half of mine up and I am replacing them with roses. On the other side I planted morning glories. The hedges are technically mine on the face so I figured why not. I am pushing the side "path" concept to hubby. We have a weird thing as there is a retaining wall and the neighbors yard is open to ours. We like them so it is not a huge issue but I am trying to grow tall things for privacy. |
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| We've gardened on 1/8th acre here in Cincinnati for over 20 years. Hope we can help you out..... first think 3D..... you need to garden up as well as out. You appear to be Zone 5 (is that right) so most of what you can grow we do too. Are you looking for perennials or annuals, flowers or foliage, or a happy medium? Do you get good snow cover there? Here's a shot from our rooftop Greenhouse taken last weekend of a few spots in our yard. Boardwalk/Shed and Pond Tall plants behind the Shed is Bamboo. Lower right Hosta and Hellebores  Plant on the upper right is actually a Musk Rose growing 20' up a Maple.  Backyard.... 14' deep! lol  The Musk Rose is now on the left.  Gate to the side yard. Our 8' deep front yard is to the left. We're still cleaning up so it looks horrible but it, I hope, gives you some ideas.  “The pain I feel now is the happiness I had before. That's the deal.” C.S. Lewis |
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| That is the look I am going for. It looks so lush and inviting. I love the gateway and that is in the works for next year. I am definately working on vertical and layers but vertical takes time. Every garden is new as this house had nothing but ugly shrubs every where and some horrific iris that was overgrown. Oh and Bishop's weed that I am fighting daily as it pops up. Last year I added beds and moved plants from the old house and this year I am working with a plan (HA!) |
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| Thanks! For 'quick' vertical go w/ a few structures and Morning Glories/Moon Vines. Clematis will give you nice long term vertical but take years to get established. As do climbing roses. If you can find a cheap Mandevilla they will do well too and add 10' or so of height in a season. Don't overlook 'cast offs' in your design. Old ladders make a great, IMHO, addition to the 'vertical'.  Also tall Tropical Plants  Here's a 40 year old English Double Patio Chair and a cast off table umbrella.  Inexpensive reed fence from HD and Bamboo lend height.  Don't forget to use the walls. I collect old medicine cabinets.... and we have dozens of mirrors in the yard.  “The pain I feel now is the happiness I had before. That's the deal.” C.S. Lewis |
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| I did put in a lot of morning glories and sweet peas this year. I sprayed an old fence part bronze and put it out in the back for sweet peas. I have a lot of baby clematis alng the back. I even stuck a WalMart clem in at the base of a tree between large roots (filled it with decent soil and put rcks to hold the soil back) and I was shocked that it is actually looking good this year. I used the bigger broken branches off a maple to make a mini raised bed and sprinkled cosmos, zinnia and bachelor button seeds in. What the squirrels left alone are already coming up. Using quick tall annuals to fill in until the babies grow up a little more. |
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| Sherry we need Photos! LOL! Sounds like you are right on track for a lovely space! Easy and fast tall plant tip.... Jerusalem Artichokes AKA Helianthus tuberosus AKA Sunchokes. Buy a pound or two at the produce store. Plant them about 3" deep and jump back. You'll have 6' tall stalks and flowers by late summer. And their roots are VERY tastey! “The pain I feel now is the happiness I had before. That's the deal.” C.S. Lewis |
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| Wonderful garden. I have a rather large yard but I have a couple of small side yards that I am planing out. There is an area along side the house were we want to put in a somewhat formal garden. It is pretty much a blank slate right now. Life is Great! Holly Please visit me and learn more about My Life on the Water a Personal Journey Thread in the MidAtlanticMusings Cubit. http://cubits.org/MidAtlanticMusings/thread/view/5752/ |
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| Henryr10, I love the way you've used your space, using "up" in small spaces always seems to make them more spacious and complete. It looks very relaxing there. Ric The Amen of nature is always a flower. Oliver Wendell Holmes Thanks to Grandma and the joy flowers brought to her and in turn to me. |
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Glad you guys made it over here.  Henry, I love your garden. It reminds me so much of a courtyard garden that I enjoyed so much years ago when I lived in an old brownstone in Philadelphia. I also had a lovely garden there on the fire escape landings and balconies, probably very much against the fire codes at the time. |
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| Thanks Stormy, Ric and Holly. We've added a few more verticals in the yard this year. I'll get some shots. Ric “The pain I feel now is the happiness I had before. That's the deal.” C.S. Lewis |
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