Help with doing something in my tiny back yard!

17 years ago

I have a very small urban yard...all of 50' x 100'. Big 2 family house with a 2 car garage in the back yard! I want to close in or fence off my tiny back yard and was wondering if anyone knew of any good websites or books I can get some ideas from? I only have about 4-5 feet in back of the garage. We were thinking of putting in some sort of stone patio(circular) with a focal point in the middle, either a planter or a tasteful water feature(don't squirm..LOL, it won't be bad) with a garden boarder around the edges along the house and whatever we choose to fence or block off the backyard. The yellow/gold house is the disaster in back of mine. Or, maybe you all can give me some input? My neighbor next door is very nice and her driveway and garage are also practically in my back yard and the house directly in back of me is a total disaster that is a rental and the people who live there don't care about doing anything, not even cutting the grass. Here are some pictures. Thanks, Richie

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

jant
17 years ago
Hi,

Since it's a small, enclosed area, try Googling Courtyard Garden. Lots of photos should come up that might get you started.

Personally, I'd start with a fence to block the yellow house and go from there. A fast growing shrub like Hakura Nishiki dappled willow could be "let go" to grow into a small tree against the fence to soften it and also further obscure the view of the house. I let mine grow to about 12'...one is still going. Gorgeous,easy shrub and very available these days.

I have the same umbrella...Big Lots several years ago for $10 lol! Love the way it's a little transparent.
Richard Dollard
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks. The unfortunate thing is I only have about 3 feet off the other side of my garage so I can't run a fence straight across that area in between my garage and my neighbors. The peony you see is my property line! UGH. I asked her last year if I could run the fence straight across and she got all funny on me even though she never uses that area or even sees it, she hardly ever goes out in her yard. You should see what she sees in the backyard of that awful house, a big camper the owner drove home several years ago and just parked there. Everyone has called city hall but they haven't done a thing. The best part is, the owner left and rented to section 8 now! Oh joy!!!
Related Professionals
Montgomery Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Frederick Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Pittsfield Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Canton Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · San Diego Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Salem Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Miami Landscape Contractors · Muncie Landscape Contractors · Toledo Landscape Contractors · Burlington Landscape Contractors · Kenosha Landscape Contractors · Santa Fe Landscape Contractors · Edmonton Landscape Contractors · Portsmouth Tile and Stone Contractors · Sanford Tile and Stone Contractors
jant
17 years ago
Then just plant the willow. In about a year it will create a block! Just plant it to the left side...lol.

We're in the same boat now...weird yard, neighbor's high septic berm that is a weed haven and they're selling. It WON'T sell (you'd have to see this and priced waaay too high) so that means they'll lease...maybe it won't lease either? THEN we can take over the maintenance at least not have to look at this crap!

Some people should just live in condos...period.
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
17 years ago
You don't have much area, but you do have a lot of vertical surfaces. I see you've already trained something on a small trellis - maybe it's time to go crazy with espalier? Either ornamental or fruit trees?

Fine Gardening article with Belgian Fence grown as a screen

More photos of espaliers, mostly fruit trees, some freestanding, some on a wall

Claire
diggerdee zone 6 CT
17 years ago
Sorry Richie, you're not getting your Hakuro Nishiki back, lol!

But maybe jant is right. Just plant something, off to the left. If your neighbor never really looks back there, maybe she won't notice. Or maybe she'll like it. Of course, maybe she won't, but as you told me just the other day "you can always move it!" LOL!

Another option is to plant something all along your property line with your next-door neighbor, and then turn that planting left into your garage at the boundary with the gold house. The problem there is that it will enclose your yard and may make it seem even smaller.

Or wait a minute... maybe that's what you want - to enclose the back yard completely? I went back and re-read your post and I'm not sure now if you want to enclose the whole yard, or are more concerned with blocking out the gold house...

:)
Dee