Making the most of it..

We have small backyards but that doesn't mean we have to sacrifice having an awesome yard. Here are some tips on working with a small yard.

If you have a corner unit  you can take advantage by using the side yard as an extension. It can be used to create a sense of arrival to the back yard by adding a path or enclosing it in with the fence. This will give you more private space to use and you can extend the garden from front to back.

Stepping stones make a path to the gate that leads to a backyard.

Another tip is to continue the path idea, in the actual yard by adding a "hidden element"so that the yard appears bigger as you explore down the path.

The seating area at the end of the garden is hidden from the gate so it makes the trip tot he bench more interesting and the yard appear larger.

Another good trick is to divide the yard into different areas, For example, an area for eating, entertaining, an area for planting, an area for lounging and resting, an area for pets to play etc. Adding different levels with a deck and or patio is also a good idea.

In this yard, the deck area functions as a place for dining, cooking, entertainment. The gravel patio works for lounging, drinking and loitering.

Adding multiple functions to the elements in the yard also helps with space. For example these benches work as seating but also are used for storing garden tools and firewood. The potting bench under the window works as a buffet when company is over. Extending the deck to half the yard here, and leaving space for plants softens the hardscape in the yard. If you decide to make the whole yard a deck or patio maybe leaving a couple of feet between the fence and patio for plants is a good idea. 

Using vines such as this grape vine save space because they grow vertically along the fence this softens the fence and also provides the owner with free fruit.

Lastly try to avoid clutter. The more elements your yard has, the tighter it will feel. Try to use built-in seating, incorporate clean lines, avoid bulky furniture and keep plantings under control. Avoid the hodgepodge effect, instead of doing 20 little pots, do five big pots for a more clean look with bigger impact. Pick only two or three styles of planters, two or three colors — it makes it feel less accidental.

Why not grass?

Why not grass indeed... grass is part of the american dream. However it is a costly dream, it is a hassle to keep an impeccable lawn, the amount of water, work and resources we need to keep grass lush and green is not always worth it. Many people today with their busy schedules opt for lawn alternatives that are easier to maintain. There are hundreds of options to choose from, from ground cover plants, to mulch even to artificial turf (which looks a lot better now than it did years ago).

The ground covers

Depending whether or not you wish to walk on your lawn there are different types of plants you can use that require less maintenance than a regular lawn. for example

Clover may be used on its own for a non-traditional lawn with no grass at all. For this purpose, choose white, or Dutch, clover. It can stand up to occasional mowing, doesn’t grow tall, tends to crowd out weeds and is virtually impervious to pet urine. Additional bonus pollinators such as honey bees love clover so you'll be helping them out, which helps us all out. Check out http://honeybeesanctuary.org/home.aspx

Creeping thyme may be used as another draught tolerant groundcover. Popular varieties worthy of consideration are spicy orange thyme and creeping lemon thyme. Neither usually exceeds four inches in height, and both produce pink blossoms that, when crushed underfoot, emit a wonderful smell. If bare feet will be on the lawn, wooly thyme is recommended for its delightful, soft texture. Hardy and undemanding, thyme varieties grow well even in poor soil, so as it’s well-drained and gets good sun. There are options for a garden for example creeping jenny is extremely vigorous ground cover however it is extremely invasive and works better if its planted somewhere where it can be controlled it will smother most other plants, so if its in a garden surrounded by concrete it might be a good idea since you just have to keep it trimmed up to the concrete line.

Mint can also be used as a ground cover but not just any spearmint or peppermint. The lowest-growing of all mints, corsican mint (mentha requienii) prefers dry to moist soil and medium to full sun. It tolerates foot traffic well and when trampled, gives off a pleasant creme de menthe aroma. Corsican mint can even be used to make a tasty peppermint-like tea, just make sure its not with the leaves you stepped on, nobody likes foot tea. another mint that's a good ground cover is penny royal, it grows to about 6 inches. Penny Royal has the benefit also of keeping mosquitoes away.


Some other plants that are not very stepable like lilyturf (Liriope) and ajuga are good options, even put up with dry soil. Once they have settled they will take care of themselves, especially if you use mulch to suppress weeds and retain soil moisture. 

While grass might not tolerate a very shady, damp area, this is the perfect environment for moss to establish; let it spread, don’t walk on it too often, and plant early-flowering bulbs like snowdrops (Galanthus) or lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis). Cyclamen is quite happy growing in the shade cast by trees, providing ground cover and brightening up a shady spot.

Here is a list of native ground covers for northern VA, all of these would be good lawn replacements so you dont have to

• Asarum canadense, Wild Ginger
• Chrysogonum virginianum, Green and Gold
• Eurybia divaricata, White Wood Aster
• Gaultheria procumbens Wintergreen
• Heuchera villosa, Hairy Alumroot
• Iris cristata, Dwarf Crested Iris
• Mitchella repens, Partridgeberry
• Opuntia humifusa, Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus
• Pachysandra procumbens, Allegheny Spurge
• Packera aurea, Golden Ragwort
• Persicaria virginiana, Virginia Knotweed
• Podophyllum peltatum, Mayapple
• Polemonium reptans, Jacob’s Ladder, Greek Valerian
• Rhus aromatica, “Gro-Low” Fragrant Sumac
• Sedum ternatum, Wild Stonecrop
• Tiarella cordifolia, Foamflower

But what about non-plants?

Artificial Turf doesn’t need water, chemicals, or a gas-powered mower; that makes it an unlikely eco-friendly option. There are new versions that aren’t easy to distinguish from the real thing, so its a good option for those among us with the brownest of thumbs. It is virtually no maintenance, no weeding required.

There is always wood mulch, there is a whole mess of mulch out in the world and you pick from them which ones you like best. Usually commercial wood mulch will be dyed so you can get lots of colors ranging from black to almost red, its engineered to tolerate the elements so that the color wont fade as much. there a re a few drawbacks though, wood mulch needs to be refreshed a couple of times a year because it shifts and may leave bare spots. Also it is good for controlling weeds but it is not weed proof. you can always put down  landscape fabric underneath it and this helps a lot with weeds, but you cannot fight nature weeds will grow in the most unlikely places. Mulch works best when there are plantings if you just have a whole yard of mulch there's not much to look at.

Stone Mulch! a personal favorite, stone mulch unlike wood mulch doesn't really need refreshing unless you sure pea gravel but that's gravel not stone! 

There's so many cool stone colors to choose form you can go with riverstone, or crushed marble, or black stones. Some houses around the neighborhood have gone with this look, it helps to put down landscape fabric and plant drought tolerant plants.