When I was planning out my back yard, I found it useful to measure the actual size and then draw it out on paper. Then I sort of drew in circles where each tree and shrub would be, ensuring that if a mature shrub would be six feet wide, I planned for that amount of space. Of course, with some of my trees I sort of crammed then closer than their mature width and should they get tall and wide, I would just trim the bottom branches to be able to sit under them.

If you have a small yard like I do, it's best to stick with columnar type trees or large and small shrubs. There are those grafted standard type of shrubs that look like lolipops on sticks. They give greenery at least up to eye level without taking up a lot of space. Alot of bigger shrubs can be pruned annually to keep within bounds. If you have an extremely small area, sometimes a trellis with a vine adds greenery without much width.

Good Luck, planning is half the fun. You will find that in the first few years you may change a few things around, until you finally get it how you like it. And that's what counts, how you like it, not what others tell you they like.

Glen

Improve your soil! Your building lot will probably have been stripped of any 'good' soil. Keep your compmost, if you can, for the rest of the time in your highrise and take it with you.

Agree with two posters above: plan on paper and improve the soil. My word of advice would be: think about how YOU want to enjoy this garden: in my case, sitting out in the evening, eating supper there whenever possible, viewing the garden from the place where I am sitting. This will help you site the trees, shrubs and flowers in the best way for your own pleasure. Prepare a spot for your table and chairs, maybe your BBQ, and put the garden all around you.

I almost hesitate to bring this up as this is probably too basic to mention. Watch which areas of your garden is shaded. My friend has a postage stamp yard and he has virtually no areas in his yard that gets more than a couple hours of sunlight. He is unfortunately limited to lily of the valley, bleeding heart and hostas etc to plant.

Mitanoff, can you describe your friends yard further? A shade garden needn't be a problem garden. It depends on the degrees of shade. An area with light shade may be suitable for a large range of plants, including some hydrangeas, rhodos and some annuals like cannas, calla lilies, fuschias,etc. An area with deep shade is more troublesome but not necessarily difficult to overcome w/ ferns, columbines and the other plants you have described. In deep shade situation I prefer to ulitize flowers that are of white or light shades.

Ianna

Lots of things will grow in shde - make a woodland garden there.

I would totally irradicate any grass. Cutting grass in those little yards is a nightmare, anyway. Just plan out the entire yard with mulched paths and shrub/perennial beds. You can even put in a tiny pond or fountain and patio area to fill it up.

Small spaces look a lot bigger with curved beds and paths.
Avoid corners and straight edges and add some height and interest with a berm or raised bed somewhere.