I ran out of space above, lol. I should have stated that the above suggestion are for "raised" beds. Raised beds offer great drainage in low-lying areas such as my backyard.

The hardest thing to imagine is a beautiful garden when all the while the mind is screaming work, work, and more back-breaking work. So I thought I would suggest what I did from a practical point of view... ... .lay out the groundwork first, then decide when, where, and what to plant.

It's a starting point only. I'm not a designer - except in my own garden. Since you posted on this forum, I automatically assumed you were a hosta lover; hence, my reference to buying/obtaining hosta first. Lol

I wish you luck and fun with your project! I threw myself into your project and started working immediately in my mind. It's the first time I've experienced such clarity of vision and I am laughing at myself, because I can't seem to achieve it in my own yard so quickly!

I do love hostas and they grow very easy and spread like crazy. My only concern is snakes - I have some hostas in the front and some in this horrible back yard and now have garden snakes - which scare the heck out of me - last year I was pruning a bush, stepped back and just missed stepping onto a snake. I heard swish, swish , swish and saw it go by me. Once part of it was in higher grass it stopped - I also stopped and that was the end of my being in the yard for the entire summer.

how would you do raised beds? I am on a low budget. Also my body does not flex easily any more. I would love raised beds that are about 3 feet off the ground. Carol

That high grass, once cut and/or eliminated, wouldn't provide hides-holes for snakes! Yikes! I don't really like them either but appreciate their beauty at a distance. I petted an Anaconda once, but my sister had it wrapped around her neck and was daring me not to chicken out...lol. It was a quick little touch, eww.

The only thing you'd have to buy is soil. Your paths can remain as bare ground but grass and weeds would grow on it...so if you can spread even a thin layer of bark mulch, it would remain "clean". I use bagged soil almost always...no weeds! I've graduated to Triple Blend and a 4-Mis but it's not necessary. Simple dirt would work.

Three-foot raised beds would be great and easy to tend, but more cost-prohibitive. $$$, lumber/stonework/rr ties, etc.

I've got an idea but will have to get back to you either tonight or tomorrow.

With all the weeds showing, I would start to dig up all the weeds and bring them to the curb. Do not rototill weeds or you will have many more weeds soon. In case you use Roundup, you will have to wait some time before going further.

I would not buy soil. You have some soil and mulch is showing, so I would see if the soil has humus in it. If not then I would add many bags of humus or free leaf mulch to the area where you want to plant. A curved path from the house to the end would add interest. After that you have the basis for a garden and can start thinking about what to plant and where.

Make sure you plant plants which like shade where there is shade. Small trees add shade.

I like the linear space... I would do something interesting starting with the doorway like a deck and then step down to the yard. Create rooms along a pathway...have fun!

If you just are unsure about what to do, you can go to a large garden nursery that offers personalized garden plans. They usually have you map out the size of the garden, existing trees and plants and structures on your property. It is also important to know how much sun/shade is available. The cost to sit down with a landscape planner is very reasonable and then you can do the garden section by section as you like.

If you were to go with this suggestion, you would need know: what your budget is (because a raised garden will be more expensive and more work);and it is good to know what plants you would love to have along with those you definitely do not want.

If you are considering a raised garden, it is important to take into consideration your property's drainage pattern as raised beds can restrict the flow of rain water.

My yard has become a home to garden snakes too, which I was not thrilled about. They have been here for several years now and I am getting used to them. As long as you have plants or shrubs that they can hide under, you will not be able to get rid of them. I did some research online and it was suggested to keep the lawn mowed short and trim up all other plants so they don't touch the ground which is impossible for me so I have decided I will have to live with them since I refuse to get rid of my hostas daylillies and all the other plants I have.

At least they are not rattlesnakes right? and they eat bugs and mice!

Hi Carol,

I have a few questions. How long have you lived there? Do you know what's already planted there? The petals on the ground look like Japanese Magnolia petals. Could you show us another angle of view or is that it? Like you stood by the back fence and took the pic?

It doesn't make any difference how big your garden is; I garden on 25 acres, and dream of a French Quarter courtyard where every bromeliad has a name. Mainly you want to spend time out there. Walk around, looking and thinking, which some brilliant member of the forum named WALAT. So especially if the weather is nice, grab your favorite drink and WALAT. Mow the weeds to keep the snakes out of your face.

Use the stuff you already have. Find the best place to put that table so you can sit there with a friend and enjoy a nice evening. You will have to eventually figure out what type of soil you have, try your local extension service or the internet, of course. You could probably put some potting soil in those pots and get something growing, even if you needed to plant seeds because of budgetary reasons. But get something growing. Have a great time!

Kathy

Where is our guy in the UK, who had a long narrow back yard with fantastic hostas and topiary? Unbelieveable what he did with a long narrow yard. They do that a LOT in San Francisco.

Now that we have become Houzz, you can do a search in landscaping to see some pics and get a bunch of ideas. Not just hostas, which give you Zero winter appeal.

-Babka

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/1970538/a-few-pics

Babka, are you thinking of uk-hostaman? Above is a link.

Yup!

-Babka

Here's another shot of UK's yard, before he lost his lollipop shrubs. (They had an unusually cold winter in 2012, I believe.)

bk

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/1963149/good-to-see-spring-in-the-uk?n=3

bkay2000 _ sorry I do not know how to reply directly to you.

Thanks for the link. So beautiful. Takes my breath away. I agree with coralb, I would never go in my house if my garden was this gorgeous. While I am trying to figure out my garden, and thanks to all who have shared great ideas with me, what color do you think would be most pleasing on the fence. I can only paint the left handed side of the fence. (right-hand looking at photo). The slightly falling over fence is my neighbor's and he would have a fit if I painted his property.

Once you paint a fence you are doomed to having to repaint it as the paint wears off. I think you should leave it au natural. Put shrubs in front of it like UK did. Direct the eye elsewhere.

-Babka

The Pantone color of 2015 is Marsala. It would pick up the red that's at the top of that bush. If you've got the energy and $$ to take on a big paint job like that, you'd just as soon paint the shutters and railing to match.

https://www.pantone.com/pages/index.aspx?pg=21163

Kathy

As someone asked above how long have you lived there. West Chester is a nice area!! I grew up in Bucks County not too far away although I now live in New Jersey. I grew up (and once worked at) a nursery call Russell Gardens (Churchville, Pa) that was (maybe still is) great for Hosta....Cliff Russell used to be very involved with the Hosta societies although he unfortunately passed about two years ago. Anyway, surprised you saw a snake....unusual unless there is some woods/creeks near you although of course one could always show up and stay. No harm though and rare event. Your yard certainly has a lot of potential!! Have you gardened before??? No need to overwhelm yourself and you could do section by section over a year or two or three depending on how motivated you are. Start by the house and work back. Amending, loosening the soil and clearing weeds should be priority and can be done with a little muscle/time and little cash. If there is a plant you see somewhere and know you like but seems pricey you may be able to get it cheaper later in the season, or people trade plants too and you may be able to later make a trade of something you have extra of for something you want. In any case have fun with it, look at other folks for ideas and advice and do what YOU like in your space!! Enjoy!!!!

Plants in fall are low priced. For several years I bought hostas and perennials at $1 a pot in late fall at a local chain nursery. The first year I would work on looking at what you got, I see several bushes, clear it of weeds and amend the soil if needed. Local garden/ plant/ hosta societies have plant sales. Our Upstate NY Hosta Society has a plant sale in August, same as Iris and Hemerocallis Societies. I.e. prices at that sale are between $5 and $8 per hosta.

Hi, Carol ...I couldn't find a pic of an idea I had but if you google "ideas for narrow gardens" you will find a lot of inspiring ideas, starting with pictures of lots the shape of yours...some great pics!

Hi, All your great ideas and thoughts are very helpful to me. I have lived in this house since 1977, After we bought the house we realized there were 14 trees in the back yard, now just the Magnolia remains. Realized one little tree was a peach tree - it beared one fruit and then the tree fell over!

When I was young I had tons of tulips blooming, a tree house for my kids, (trees since came down over the years), and no grass because of shade. Then two years ago a neighbor had a very tall tree cut down and now I have a mess of a yard. The magnolia tree is probably 100 + years old as my house was built in 1886.

Woodnative - yes Buck's is not far away. I have a daughter living in Hatboro - you mentioned a garden center. Think I will google it and take a day trip there. Waterloo was close to me but has closed.

I drive around town looking at back yards for inspiration and so far have only seen one yard that was interesting. I do have hostas, in fact, last year as I opened the back door something was thrashing in a large hosta. I was scared, closed the door and avoided the backyard for as long as possible. Think the thrashing willow tree in Harry Potter.

I am trying to gather my thoughts and get a starting point for the yard. carol

with little or no budget for great changes ... and no heavy physical capacity ... that rules out almost all the answers above ... [i am with you on both things.. so dont take that as a criticism ....]

one might think ... again.. round up the weeds.. and start working in pots ...

with a nice potting bench.. you can do it standing up ... you can grow anything you want ... and move them around to please yourself... if you keep the pots smallish ...

besides the bench .. you would have to invest in a good potting MEDIA .. and pots are usually available in recycle bins.. at nurseries ...

paint once.. paint for life.. i will never do it again .. natural wood gray.. is the perfect color ... besides.. it will clash with the plants.. sooner or later ...

if you are in your garden.. snakes will not be there... they are there.. because.. it is.. basically.. an abandoned field.. so as noted above.. remove the places they hide.. and they wont hide there...

you should also define a nice sitting area .. as the base of the rest of the design ...

ukmans garden.. is sublime ... absolutely no budget [meaning you arent going to replicate it without a big budget] .. and probably 40 to 60 hours a week to GET it in shape ... lol .. and maybe what.. 10 hours a week maintaining it ... but boy.. what a use of that small space ... i think my pole barn is bigger... lol ...

with your space.. you might be better off.. doing something more like babkas tea room .. another small space ... but then again ... the structure cost ... it would hide you from the neighbors though ....

ken

Ken, thanks for the idea. potting benches and pots are a good idea for me. I could even put hostas in pots. I have 4 large pots not visible in the photo filled with hostas that winter over. I never thought of extending pots to the whole yard. It works for my mobility problems and it works for my budget.

Where do I find "babkas tea room" - I never heard of this place.

I see that I need a Master Plan and I need to start small and work from a plan. Only on tv do houses and gardens get redone in 22 minutes.

I will definitely take everyone's advice and not paint the fence. Last year I did paint the gate green to use up the exterior house paint.

*************

Does this sound like a reasonable plan? Advice and comments are helpful.

Next to the house you can see a small side yard. My house telescopes, living and dining room same width, kitchen and back room are 3 ft less in width. The outside area ranges from 4 feet wide to about 8 feet wide.(house to fence).

Last night I was thinking of washing it down then spraying RoundUP to to kill any weeks in the cracks of the narrow sidewalk, etc. In 40 years I have not been able to grow anything in this area except weeds that self sprout. I amended the soil and still have no idea why not. It gets afternoon sun.

• I am thinking of pea gravel or chips of blue stone along the fence line to fill the 6-12 inch gap from sidewalk to fence. I figure gravel stays in place and mulch needs replacing yearly. 30 ft on one side; 60 feet on fence side, Holy Gravel, a calculator says 2.4 tons of chips for 6 inches deep. find some old bricks/stones/rocks and fill up the area; top with small gravel.

• move wrought iron table (in photo) to side of house. chairs

• nice lamp on table with candle (ask for birthday gift) or lamps and shephards hooks?

• use bird feeder for hanging plants; do not feed birds in summer

• on the ground three large flower pots -hostas, ferns, and some planter boxes for herbs.

• Big cost would be gravel, ask for lamps as May birthday gift.

• would like to string lights (the small globe lights on a string) but how to hang them? fence line is on opposite of electric outlet.

Main Yard: this summer somehow get the path widen to four feet wide. Gravel walk? Have the grass cut weekly whether I think it needs to be cut or not. declutter the yard, get rid of plants that do not work.

And how to display flower pots/ benches????? in main garden. Again, all advice and thoughts is really appreciated. Carol

My mind is buzzing with all the great ideas Hoping for help with this ugly sideyard. Again, it used to be all shade and with the neighbor's tree down, it is now sun, doesn't grow anything but weeds. And it is UGLY. I am thinking flower pots, a table and a chair. But first I need to do something with the ugliness, something that will still look nice in winter when the flowers are finished for the season. the hose has to be picked up, and some obvious declutter, the gte is painted green. Thoughts?

Depending on the drainage you could work on a year round fragrant alley. Plant things that bloom at different times that smell good and can take shade.

Kathy

Consider vines on the house side of the alley. I'm not sure what will grow well for you, but choose something that doesn't have to be cut back every year. Maybe some kind of jasmine or maybe Carolina Jessamine. If budget is a concern, use purple runner beans. They are an annual, but fill up an area quickly. Rig up some kind of cheap lattice/climbing surface for it to grown on. As long the structure doesn't have much color, the vine will cover the it and hide it. Don't plant anything that will actually grow on the house as it's a mess when you get ready to take it down.

Good luck.

bk

You state that your side yard used to be shaded but is now in the sun. Full sun is 6+ hours. How much sun do you really get? The house and the fence will block the sun at some point. This will help determine what kind of plants you can have.

I see that there are TWO downspouts in this side yard. Is that moss growing there? This side yard would be a moist area and that will also limit the kind of plants you have.

yes that is moss growing there. I sprayed roundup 365 a few days ago and now I am wondering if that was a good idea. maybe what I think is sun, is really only light. It is almost 11am / April 4th - cold and windy with sun. The area has good light but not sun. I don't see shadows. I am mixing up light with sunlight., I see what you mean.

what do you suggest?

What I am saying is that if those downspouts need to be there, then you should make sure that the soil against the house is higher and then gently slows down away from the house. You can do this by adding some soil to what is there now. You always want to make sure that any rain water from downspouts will drain away from your house. The moss tells you that the area stays wet for long periods of time. You mention that a tree was cut down so perhaps this area will be a bit drier than before.

You also need to determine how much sun/shade you have in order to choose appropriate plants. The foundation on which you plant is of utmost importance. The better the soil---the better the plant---the happier the gardener!

You have gotten a lot of good advice from forum members. Have fun and create a garden you will love.

My thoughts would be a decomposed granite walkway with edging of choice. Preferred raised beds staggered and moving the swing to the back. Jo, I am sure that the snake you touched was not an Anaconda. They are vicious and nobody would put one around their neck. I think maybe a Burmese Python? They are usually mellow and hardly ever bite.

Burmese Python

Like this one.

<a href="http://s591.photobucket.com/user/jonnyb023/media/img081_zpst3iafiay.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss351/jonnyb023/img081_zpst3iafiay.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo img081_zpst3iafiay.jpg"/></a>

You may be right, Jon...Python, anaconda...they are all terrifying...I was too terrified...it was around my brave sister's neck...your link doesn't go anywhere when I click on the Python but I'm happy not to dwell on snakes. Your garden plan is very similar to what I had in mind...I also had the side path join the long one from the house. I can't draw like you :-(

oh lordy, glad that link did not open. I freak out even seeing a snake online or on tv. in a few minutes I am getting a quote on power washing the fence, Joe Norley is on his way to my house right n ow. 4/6/15 @10:34am. Joe is a professional painter and a neighbor. His house and grounds are lovely.

I once saw a gardensnake in my garden. It had a comparatively large bump midways, probably just ate a mouse. We need more snakes like that!

I have lots of garden snakes. They don't bother me at all. Now deer - that's a whole different story.

DD

My idea of a plan.

Something was messed up and I couldn't post photos directly. Taken about 12 years ago in Bali. (2) 20 kilo (45#) Burmese pythons. They wanted to put 4-5 on me, but 2 seemed plenty to me.

Today Shasta caught a snake and she has spotted 4-5 lately that I would never have seen without her. She has just played with them for years letting them strike at her and dodging them. This one tried to hide and Shasta evidently felt this wasn't playing fair. They are Garter snakes which are beneficial and harmless and evidently not tasty as she dropped it quickly. I have seen Hog snakes, scary looking, but harmless and one Milk snake which looks similar to a coral snake. 'Orange touches yellow, you're a lucky fellow. Yellow touches black and you'll be on your back'. I'm staying away from anything like either one.

Jon

Awwwwww, look at those friendly fellas! The rhyme I remember, Jon, is "Red (orange) on yellow, it'll kill a fellow; red (orange) on black, poison it will lack." : ) Snakes are cool. Snakes in general don't scare me. BEARS freakin' scare me. MOUNTAIN LIONS freakin' scare me. To each his own, of course.

I guess there are variations of the rhyme. A bear or mountain lion would scare me, for sure. We used to go hunting for snakes all the time as kids, so snakes, at least non-poisonous or not an Anaconda, don't frighten me. These guys had big trunk full of pythons.

And this bird, and a big lizard that I didn't want any part of.

A monkey that grabbed my shorts at the monkey temple....pretty scary deal.

Gorgeous place.

Jon

so far no bears or lions in West Chester, Pa - well, about 10 years about there was a bear about 6 miles from my house. It was relocated. I have seen a coyete walk up the sidewalk, my daughter saw a peacock between the twin houses. I saw one deer bound across the alley, groundhogs, possums, skunks- my beagle was so proud of being skunked. His prize? He won a quick trip to the vet for a bath. caroline

John, Thanks for the plan. I like your idea.

Carol - You're not far from me in Wilmington, DE. Neat photos, Jon!

You're welcome Carol. Thanks DD.

That's funny; just last night, I was out in my driveway getting some fresh air, and a very small, very young skunk came a-walkin' down the sidewalk like he owned the block, tail high in the air. I gave him a very nice, wide berth. He just kept struttin' til he was around the corner. No thank you.

Oh, I remember, Jon.............Jon hates dirty-nasty-ass monkeys. Can't blame you for that, what with your experiences with the little demons! lol : )

DelawareDonna, I'm in the boro. straight down rt 202 gets me to Wilmington.

I used to like monkeys, until the one in the picture attacked me and then others in Mexico tried to defecate and urinate on a co-worker and myself. Now I don't want anything to do with them. I do have some pictures of some that 'visited' me in Malaysia (Kuantan) that I fed the contents of the fruit bowl to when I still liked them. One did hiss at me then though; I should have taken the hint.

Hi All, Before I start the main yard I'm chatting with a contractor about the side yard. There is a narrow cement sidewalk strip ( about 40 ft of walkway), with about 12 inches of dirt on the side. Nothing will grow there, not even shade plants.

1. dig out and reset fence posts (6ft high stockade, 9 years old fence) and reuse the panels and posts?

2. OR Do you advise new posts and fence panels?

3. Has anyone used modified stone?

on the house side is about 4 ft wide area about 20ft feet in length that Joe is suggesting modified stone and then using sand and bricks (have bricks) to make a small patio

I don't have a price yet but Joe and I were discussing - reset the leaning fence posts. He is suggesting new fencing in that area -it is 6 panels long, (4x8 panels). instead of 6ft high I would redo in 4ft high fence panels, the rest of the main yard would remain in 6ft high stockade. On the other side are parked cars, not something I to see.

Thanks, Carol

Monkey Story_ as a teenager my sister had a friend, Susan, who had a monkey. As many know monkeys are messy house pets. For a while Susan , who was an usher as a local movie would bring the monkey to work with her - apparently that did not work out well, and the shoe store next to the movies actually had live monkeys living in the front window! yup, monkey got to be with other monkeys and I assume had a happy monkey life there.

Congratulations, Carol! Excellent start! Thanks for coming back and letting us know how it's going.

Kathy

The paintings look great and brighten up the spot. Good idea!

Oh WOW! Thanks for sharing. Please keep us informed.

bk

Those paintings are precious! The backyard looks cleaner and more usable, and now you have a place to sit. Having an outdoor space is good for the soul. My eye is drawn to your gate in back. I like the shape and color. If you can get a shepherd's hook, more birds will come to your feeder if you enjoy watching them. Thanks for giving an update.