Postage-Stamp Gardens

Gardening by the Yard : Episode GBY-808 -- More Projects »

Figure A

Figure B

If your backyard is the size of a postage stamp, and your landscaping budget is even smaller, it’s still possible to create a functional and aesthetically pleasing environment. Master gardener Paul James and landscape designer Michael Glassman transform a small, uninspiring lot (figure A) into a remarkably beautiful living area (figure B) on a limited budget with a few found objects, a little work and some creativity.

The first thing these homeowners see when they look out their living room window is a big blank wall, and it's the same plain view from the bedroom window. Because the wall is the exterior wall of their neighbor's bedroom, building on it is not an option. "I'd love to soften it with plants," says Glassman, "but remember, we're on a budget, so we're going to have to get creative."

Figure C

Glassman suggests starting the aesthetic transformation by building a trellis for climbing vines to add depth and design (figure C). Building your own trellis is much less expensive than buying one pre-made.

The backyard is long but only 14 feet wide. When the homeowners moved into this house, the existing patio was too small to fit even a table and chairs. To convert the space into a comfortable outdoor room, the homeowners poured new concrete, but unfortunately, the old concrete and the new concrete don't match.

Figure D

Figure E

Glassman suggests correcting this issue by laying tile over the concrete, but if you've ever checked out tile, you know that it can be a bit pricey. For an inexpensive solution, Glassman uses free broken tile from a local tile store (figure D)--creating a broken-tile patio and thus transforming trash to treasure.

The backyard also has a wooden privacy fence that needs some attention (figure E). "One of my biggest pet peeves is perimeter/boundary fences," says Glassman. "They always look like an old barn." So to remedy the situation, Glassman recommends painting or staining the fence the color of the house for architectural harmony and flow between the house and garden.

Figure F

Figure G

Figure H

Figure I

Another eyesore is the air conditioner unit. Because the yard is too small to place it somewhere else, Glassman suggests disguising it with planting screens (figure F).

Glassman selects a gorgeous Sonoma gold gravel as the yard's prominent ground cover. He lays and levels enough gravel to accommodate the base of a water feature, which will mask the sounds of the nearby neighbors and traffic. He spreads the gravel with a board (figure G), and places a level on the board to make sure the gravel is even.

Glassman makes his final touches by adding topiary container plants for drama in groupings of two or three (figure H).

Also, a small space can be made to look even bigger by adding instant depth with an inexpensive dime store mirror (figure I).

Guests
Michael Glassman
Landscape Designer
Michael Glassman & Associates
Sacramento, CA
Website: www.michaelglassman.com
Also in this Episode

Gardening by the Yard : Episode GBY-808
•	Vinegar Update
•	Container-Gardening Q&A
•	Postage-Stamp Gardens
•	Driftwood
•	A Build-Your-Own Trellis
•	A Budget Tile Patio

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