Are you in Vancouver?

Wow that looks so much better! Your fence looks great!

Following to see how your project turns out.

Small gardens can look so good.

@westcoast hopeful yes I am from Vancouver

I like my new fence but seeing it without fence for so long now it feels even more smaller. I would love to hear your ideas for plants

Once you get it cleaned up and plants and pavers in, it will seem bigger because your eye will have more to look at.

Do your first plan with some grass and some pavers. Can you afford artificial turf? It’s a small spot and chafer Beatles are brutal in Vancouver. Also less care once in. We don’t stain our fences. Yes they weather over time but who cares.

Grass needs sun to grow, Long solid shadows will be cast by your tall fence on one side and the house on the other. I'd pave as much as possible and concentrate on shade-loving plants. If you use sod, choose a type that has more shade-tolerant grasses.

https://bcinstantlawns.com/what-is-the-best-grass-type-for-a-vancouver-lawn/

https://westcoastgardens.ca/our-resources/perennials-for-shady-spots-in-the-garden

https://vancouversun.com/homes/gardening/brian-minter-the-best-plants-for-shaded-areas

@Partim they list ripped open pavement

Obviously, I know nothing about your climate, but I do know about tiny gardens. Mine is about the same size. I would not recommend grass because, apart from possible shade issues, it will be subject to heavy foot traffic. In summer it will be worn down to hard earth and winter it will be mud. I hate artificial grass so I’d pave it and plant as partim recommends.

floral what a lovely oasis.

People small yards with grass is extremely established in Vancouver. Shady yards too. Small and big yards. The climate here is four distinct seasons with rain in all so my concern would be to ensure that the area has sufficient drainage so water doesn’t pool. Beyond that grass or a similar alternative is awesome for families. OP we hired a landscaped designer to plan our spaces and we loved what she came up with. I can share her name if you like. She’s very creative and comes up with plants and a plan suited to the location specifically

@WestCoast Hopeful I am aware that the OP just ripped up her asphalt. By "pave as much as possible" I was referring to the 2 options that the OP presented about 10 days ago, and suggesting that she go with her first sketch which had more pavers and less grass.

@Westcoast hopeful yes please do share her name. I would definitely like some help with that

Shan Bodie. http://shanbodiegardendesign.com/portfolio

Some suggestions, lawn optional. I like the zig zag idea for making it appear wider.

Here is what i did in my front lawn.

Before

Update pavers going in this week

What did you end up deciding to do for a layout? Looks like a great start.

This is the layout I am following. Still not sure about the plants against the fence instead of cedars

I would do yews not cedars.

Sneak peak 😊

Where is your sod from? A friend is struggling finding any after the floods

We have been waiting for sod for past 3 weeks as well. My landscaper finally went to North Vancouver to get it. I am not sure exactly he got it

The sod issue is real… but it makes me giggle because it sounds like another kind of “deal” and an unknown “source.” 😁

Goodness. You don’t hang around do you? Amazing progress in such a short time. I’d still be dithering...

Another kind of deal? 😳 what does that mean.

Don’t forget to get a permit for extra watering. New sod needs a lot and we are already at once a week restrictions.

I was just being silly, meant no harm. Your project is looking lovely!

Have you finished? I would like to see the pictures when you do.

I still want to do some final touches with the decor and lights but this is how it looks right now. We cant wait for a nice weather to sit outside and enjoy it.

Wow!! What a transformation!

Wow! That’s an amazing Before and After project. You did a beautiful job!

Thank you so much 😊 It’s a huge improvement from what it use to look like

Well done! I hope you can get out and enjoy it every chance you can!

Great job. Enjoy

Lovely!

You expressed concern earlier about your utility pole. In Toronto at least, it says right on the electrical utility's website that it's OK to paint all the utility boxes, conduit etc. as long as it doesn't cover the face of the meter. I painted mine dark brown and it looks so much better than the rusty light gray box and the white conduit pipes. It just disappears against my brick.

Yours might look better a very dark green to blend in with the bushes beside it.

I used a big piece of cardboard to mask the brick, and used an ultra-flat "camo" spray paint that is made to be very non-reflective and fade into the background. This one. I taped a circle of paper over the face of the meter to be sure it didn't get sprayed.

Thats good idea. Do you mind sharing a pic please

All the rain this year is helping your new lawn! I would check on the pole painting if it’s okay. I’ve never seen one painted locally.

Before and after painting.

That looks so much better after painting. Our pole is private so i highly doubt city would have an issue of us painting

Vancouver is notoriously invested in things that don’t matter.

Lol, west coast… I need to use that statement in grievance of my overzealous HOA.

Thanks for sharing and congratulations on your lovely new yard! I'm in the early stages of dreaming of doing something similar in my little 22' x 34' Toronto yard in the next couple of years and this is very inspiring.

I would say do it in stages it will be efficient

Nice job, Tee! I see you decided against a bamboo privacy screening? Or are the plants just young and I can't see them?

Your “before and after” story is truly amazing. You had a terrific ability to visualize, for sure. The end result is fantastic!

@K L: no i decided not to put bambo because of the mess it can create and how fast it can spread out if planted in the ground so i went with cedar

i am excited to add more flowers in the coming spring.

i havent fixed my front lawn though. I really cant come up with the type of flowers and plants that would look nice

@RedRyder thank you 😊😊 i am really happy with how it all came together

@tee share the front lawn. I can give you names of stuff that has lasted for us for four years now and still going strong. The recent snow did a number on my magnolia though and it lost several branches

Thank you 😊 i will share once the snow melts but I wonder how my plants did with all the snow