Hi I'm looking for ideas on what to do with this small sideyard. This is our only "yard" space as we live in a townhome. Any layout ideas?
Wishlist:
Space for a grill
Maybe some seating
Would like to plant some grapes or plants contained in pots.
String lights.
Something where my toddler can kind of "go outside" and play. He does love helping with gardening too.
Thank you so much!! I know its a tall order for such a tiny space but would love to get somw ideas/inspo going.
by Klutzy-Comparison-37
11 Comments
Is there often water near that unit? And what are the white pipes? Those are the first issues to address, you need to make sure slope and drainage is away from the house. After that probably hard scape most or all of it, and then dress it up over time with everything you want
Lean to shed
I just moved into a new build home that had a similar dirt side yard. We got pavers installed with a 1.5 ft flower bed on the fence side. Since this is your whole yard I’d either hardscape with pavers or concrete.
White pipes look like drainage pipes that should be cut shorter and capped. Pooling around the one closer to AC unit should get addressed asap.
This question is asked a lot. You can search within this sub for sideyard and get lots of past ideas.
For my two cents, I’d put some vines along that fence. A tall pot in the corner could grow in both directions.
The fence posts are higher than your house and would need a tall hardscape or bed to help with washout. So I’d put a skinny 12″-18″ garden along the entire length with a bench to break it up. I like chop block edging, but since you have kids, something softer. The fence posts look nice, if it’s treated you may be able to use it as garden edging or make rustic outdoor furniture (benches) to match. You could also use the chop block as edging near the fence to keep the neighbors grass out.
I’d hardscape most of this as it looks lower than the neighbors property. I’m a fan of large tan flagstone and drainage rock, but square patio stone would work too.
Hide the AC unit with a fence or mini trellis. You could make a tall lattice divider next to the AC unit. It would give privacy and a reveal to the sideyard once whomever comes in. Flower pots near your side door.
Have fun!
My parents used brick pavers and installed a fountain along their fence line.
You can put a couple of outdoor chairs and a nice table along with a BBQ pit.
Putting green
Depends on how much direct sunlight it gets per day, but I would say pavers and lots of potted shade plants (hostas, coleus, ferns, begonias. Search for for shade plants that grow in your area or visit the local nursery…not lowes or home depot.)
Find something that grows taller to hide the AC. Put the grill on one side of the space or if your door is in the middle, put it right outside the door to separate “yard” from “patio”
Rye grass grows in shade so you can have a small yard area. Trim it with a weed eater.
Small Japanese garden, with a couple of chairs
8 inch flower bed raised up against the fence and espelier wires on the fence and grow espelier fruit trees
We had a space like that on our last house. We put in a huge raised planter for veggies and put down landscape fabric and pea gravel on the ground around it
Pavers and rock.