Guest Blogger #915, Entry #2146, March 28, 2013
When people are thinking about what they can do to make their yards look more attractive, usually the spaces that come to mind at their front and backyards. However, being that all of us have to walk past our side-yards in order to get from one destination to another, wouldn’t it make sense that some effort should go into coming up with landscaping designs for those areas too? That’s what the focus of this article is all about. It’s to provide you with five ideas on how you can make your side-yard look just as beautiful as the front and the backyard.
What’s the best way to landscape your side yard?
Image via: Romani Landscape Architecture
Design a walkway.
Usually, when people are going from the front yard to the back, they are simply walking through the grass. Therefore, you can make something as simple as walking a few feet a memorable experience by designing your own walkway. You can do this by using recycled cement or homemade concrete molds as your stepping stones and then surrounding it with cactus plants, Bee Balms and Hostas.
Plant an herb garden.
If you’ve been trying to convince yourself each year to go all out and start a garden in your backyard but you’ve never been able to really find the time to do so, why not start out small and go with an herb garden in your side-yard areas? Although it might initially seem just as complicated to do, with the right tips and tools, you can put one together in a few hours over a weekend. MotherEarthNews.com is one website that will show you how. Simply go to the website and put “simple herb garden designs” in the search field.
Plant more grass.
Sometimes, you only have to do subtle little things to make a really big difference. For instance, if you are someone who makes it a point to keep your lawn well-manicured, why not plant some ornamental grass around the side of your house? Some really beautiful ones include Feather Grass, Blue Oatgrass and Japanese Forest Grass.
Helpful tips to beautify your side yard
Image via: Rhodes Architecture + Light
Light your landscaping.
There are some homes that have motion sensor lights around their side-yards simply for security purposes. But, if you want to make your home look like it’s glowing at night, try another kind of light fixture. Luminarias are an absolutely beautiful addition for any time of the year. They are even a nice complement if you want to put them beside your flower beds (Day lilies, Columbines, and Lavender are always a beautiful addition to any home).
Make your own doorway.
Landscaping companies like RTC Landscaping and Stonework are known for doing elaborate work; their yard designs are considered to be a work of art. If you want to make a strong impression with your side-yard, then consider either hiring someone to make a doorway on the side of your home or creating it yourself. You can start by building two vine-clad arbors; one that that is in the front of the side-yard and one that is in the back. In between, you can put down some cobble stepping stones and plant some of your favorite flowers around them. If you do it just right, you might discover that one of the favorite parts of your house will, ironically, be your side-yard.
For more landscaping tips on Stagetecture, click here.
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I like the idea of making a pathway and door into the side yard, since I don’t want to have to mow there. To be honest, the first thing that comes to mind is to build a spot to sit on hot days by making a pergola to cover the path. Would you recommend this?