How to Make the Most of a Small Yard

My aunt recently moved into a new home. She sold her big house and chose a nice little condo because it would be easier for her to keep up. She doesn't get around very well but enjoys gardening, so the wife and I went to help her get situated. Here are some tips for creating an outdoor paradise in limited space.

Suggestion One:

How big is the yard in question? My aunts yard is twenty by sixty, fully fenced. Decide what you have to have in the space allowed.

Suggestion Two:

Draw a map of what you want the garden to look like once it is completed. Do you want just lawn? Flowers? Vegetables? Trees? My aunt wanted them all! So we drew the map, dividing the yard into small sections, leaving enough room for everything she wanted.

Suggestion Three:

She wanted a flower garden. So we tilled a little spot for one beneath her bedroom window, so she could smell the flowers on summer nights. It's three feet deep and five feet long. At the back, we planted a pink rose tree and a yellow rose tree, with a pink hydrangea bush in the middle. She realized too late that she should have chosen a blue or purple hydrangea for more color. Make sure the colors you select will offer the right variety for you! At the outer edge of the garden area, we planted eight marigolds, ranging in color from yellow to orange to dark red. The contrasts should be stunning (she says) when everything is blooming.

Suggestion Three:

Vegetables? We marked off the far end of her yard to about four feet. In that space she can have peppers and tomatoes to her hearts desire. She ordered some of the high yield tomatoes and peppers from a TV advertisement. The wife will go back and plant them for her when they come. Vegetables don't require a lot of space, unless you want a farm! It only takes a few feet to create a garden that's just the right size.

Suggestion Four:

My aunt loves "Crows Crest" and wanted a few of them in her yard. They're big, beautiful plants with magenta blooms. We took bricks and lines a small area along the fence. Crows Crest can travel if allowed and she only wanted a few plants, not a yard full! We planted the seeds and they tend to grow quickly.

Suggestion Five:

Ivy is another favorite of hers. She wanted to cover the fence with it. Instead of planting ivy along the fence line, we convinced her to just plant a few in selected locations. It will add a lot to the beauty of the yard without becoming a jungle.

Suggestion Six:

Her yard had wooden fencing on the side and one end. The rest is iron grill fencing. She wanted a little more privacy than the see-through fencing allowed, so we bought rolls of screen mesh and covered most of the open areas with it. She'll have ivy in the open areas.

Suggestion Seven:

She has a very small dog and wanted a place for him to play, bask and potty. The lawn that was already in was adequate for her little pooch, but we used turf builder on it, just in case. The garden areas needed to be separated from the lawn, so we bought some inexpensive plastic fencing to keep the dog out.

Suggestion Eight:

Since she'll have to water every day to keep the greenery, etc. growing, we found a spot for her swing that won't get too wet. She can sit in the sunshine (or the shade) and enjoy her garden without being sprinkled. All that's left in the way of accessories are the bird bath she wants and the hummingbird feeder.

You really can have everything you want in a yard with limited space!