

Make use of this bonus growing space – if you have enough sunlight – by adding planters, veggie boxes, or vertical gardens. In a more traditional home you might line the path with boxwood, shaped into topiary balls or short hedges, while a more modern home might suit minimalist grasses or bamboo. Emphasize the shape of the path by adding mass plantings of the same plant in groupings. The most enticing side yards are the ones that are landscaped. Lots of Greenery Source: Houston Landscapes Consider the style of your home and garden, and how much privacy or security that you require. Your gate could be placed at the front of the side yard or the back-it depends on the level of mystery that you’d like. Not only does a gate keep small members of the family from wandering off, it adds privacy and a sense of drama. A meandering flagstone path with landscaping makes for a more inviting wander-and prevents the side yard from feeling like a runway or a dog run. If you have the room, consider the shape your pathway will take. Edge your path with a contrasting colour (we love the look of brick-shaped pavers) or plant beds. Pathway materials could include crunchy crushed stone, polished river rock, stately brick, expansive concrete pavers, or natural flagstone. And a clearly marked path helps prevent getting lost in the wilds of the side yard. Many side yards don’t have much room to play with, but you can draw the eye along the length of it with an interesting pathway. If you’ve invested in a beautiful backyard oasis, why not set visitors up for the big reveal with an enjoyable journey to get there? Here are five ideas to help spruce up your side yard.

Either way, besides being a means to an end, the side yard is worthy of being as enticing and useful as other yard spaces. It might not be your typical ‘yard’: it could be a barren narrow pathway between your home and your neighbour’s, or it could be an overgrown bowling alley where retired gardening equipment resides.

The side yard is that overlooked, forgotten space connecting the front yard with the backyard.
