Side yard savvy – by Diane Morey Sitton
Glance into most side yards and you’ll see an assortment of eyesores including lawn mowers, garbage cans, worn out grills and broken birdbaths. But often, these neglected passageways between the side of the house and the fence can be transformed from drab catchalls into uniquely individual garden sites.
Start by deciding how you wish to use the area. Do you want to create a secret hideaway, an all-purpose path connecting the front yard to the back yard, or a colorful garden awash with flowers and décor. Measure the site to determine if you have room to include a garden shed, potting bench or bistro table. Don’t forget to allow for the utilitarian items that may need to be stored in the space.
Next, draw a rough sketch. Pencil in garden beds, the pathway, potting area and other elements. As you develop your floor plan, keep in mind the site’s exposure to sun and shade. Where privacy is an issue, allow for trellises or screens. Besides blocking unwanted views and concealing utilitarian items, their height will pull the eye skyward, creating the illusion of more space. Trellises and screens also multiply growing space. Use them to support cucumbers, beans, small gourds, miniature pumpkins, and other vining plants.
The fence itself invites greenery. Use it to support an espaliered fruit tree or a flowering vine. Attach wall planters and hanging baskets. Fill them with a mix of seasonal color and plants that cascade over the sides.
As you design your space, pay special attention to the path itself. Paths constructed of bricks or pavers facilitate wheelbarrows and garden carts. Where foot traffic is prevalent create paths using stepping stones. Make the side yard less tunnel-like by curving the path. Or, elevate part of the path by building a small platform. The change in elevation will add a focal point. To generate intrigue, insure privacy and increase appeal, add a gate or garden door at street side.
Harvest vegetables, pick bouquets, pot up cuttings, relax in a verdant hideaway or camouflage essential lawn and garden items; the addition of plants and garden hardscape transforms side yard passageways into productive and inviting garden spaces.
Let the transformation begin!