What can I do with this tiny awkward-shaped yard?
Hello there.
I'm in need of some inspiration/advice with what to do with our small outdoor concrete patch. As you can see from the photos attached, it needs a fair bit of work!
It's a long, thin, slightly sloping, concrete triangle and pre-pandemic was used to park a car. Ideally, we'd still like to have the option to park a car here, so we want to do something that makes it more enclosed (that's a busy public walkway the other side of the gates) and more 'garden-like'.
I was thinking of putting gravel down, but the OH is not keen. The only other option is astroturf though, without spending a fortune in levelling/slabbing (there is also an old drain - where the toilet waste exits too - which can be seen in one photo so we need to work around that). The nasty cheap bamboo screening worked on a temporary basis last year, so we weren't like animals in a zoo to the folk walking past, but I hope to make a more permanent/attractive fence. Any idea how I can work with the existing gate and make this happen?
With regards to seating/shade, I'm hoping to fix hammock fittings somewhere, and have a clip-on sail-type shade for the summer months. I'd also really like some planters fixed to the top of the brick wall with some sort of evergreen grass/shrub in (I'm not too fussed on flowers, so easy low-maintenance greenery is the aim!).
I'm aiming to do as much work using reclaimed/second hand materials too - I'm quite happy with power tools and prefer to reuse and recycle than buy new! I would appreciate any inspiration photos/ideas to help me along, as I've never done any work on any garden ever before!
Thank you in advance. X
The wooden fencing at the back of this photo is a gate to next door, and we need to keep this accessible due to an easement on our property deeds.
Comments (10)
hock79
3 years agoI’ve found a before and after photo of a concrete yard replaced with artificial grass.
Also here is a link to an outdoor rug, you can get all sorts, it just adds some interest and I love how they have styled it with the colourful garden furniture.
https://www.audenza.com/green-tropical-palm-outdoor-rug
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christineacy
3 years agoHello syncretin, a challenge, but do-able. And recycling yay!
Can we have some dimensions? also, a photo of the door out. Is it 2 steps down to the area?And a photo looking at the house ? And what direction is the plot?
Is this a sun trap, it looks like it ? Treat it like a small room by taking things off the floor and storage.
Some ideas to start off with:1. If there are steps up and you have drains, pipes etc, then what about recycling pallets to make decking. You can then make sure there is access for any drains... they can be painted any colour.
2. Pallets to make planters.
3. Freecycle is great for garden things and even cut off decking or any garden things.
4. If there is a housing development near by they always have pallets and are relatively clean and all the same shade. They may also have long pieces of wood or a electric cord wheel.
5. Wood to make a trellis, on top of the wall to grow a clematis or a wall garden, but depending on the light add hanging baskets, containers .... Sweetpeas are so easy to grow they have a lovely scent and grow up and trail. Or edibles, veg and fruit.
6. Your local scarp bank would have different outdoor paints or freecycle for some outdoor paint to paint the fence.
7. A fold up table attached to the house wall or fence. (fold up brackets) table made from pallets or an old table.
8. It looks like you need a little bit of storage. So the storage could double as a table. the fold away attached to it. Fold away chairs can hook up on the wall or in the storage box
9. You can get outdoor rugs
10. part of the decking out be interspersed with paving or artificial grass.
Lennox Gardens - Small terrace and lightwell · More Info
Small Gardens · More Info
Your sail with solar lights.
lights...
I hope these help to inspire. Have fun :)
Sonia
3 years agoI love little courtyards. They have so much potential. You say you like a power tool, so would you be up for drilling some planting beds into that concrete? You could then plant some evergreen shrubs in the pockets. Things like Fatsia Japonica, Viburnum tinus and Choisya, or the gorgeous climber Star Jasmine, beautiful fragrance and evergreen. Apart from initial watering they are pretty labour free and much easier than pots which will need daily watering during dry spells.
The gate areas would be better with fence attached for privacy. You could try reed fencing which is brighter and a bit sturdier than what you have. Then an outdoor rug (they can be left out in the rain) and an outdoor sofa or table and chairs. I think if you paint the area at the other end in a colour you love it woukd make it more cohesive. A lovely pale pinky terracotta is lovely and has a Mediterranean feel. I’m not sure how the car would fit in though!
syncretin
3 years agoAmazing suggestions so far, thank you so much!
The house is three stories high at the back, so painting anything out of reach isn't manageable at the moment unfortunately. Also, we're in a deep valley, and the yard is west-facing. In mid-summer it's nice and sunny all day, but in the winter it gets far less sun but a lot of wind! This is partly why bamboo isn't really a long-term option as it won't withstand the great British weather (and why only one of the bamboo'ed gate has survived since last year!). The ivy was attached over the bamboo, because it only cost £10 and provided some 'greenery'. I cable-tied it onto the gate as a short-term measure after the bamboo fell off.
As this is our only outdoor space, and there is no street parking at all (very busy main road at the front of the house), then we do need to keep parking available as we'll be looking to sell and move on in the next few years. I hadn't thought of outdoor rugs though - brilliant idea! Perhaps with a few planters on wheels and rugs, the patchy concrete will be adequately disguised.
After measuring up outside and taking photos, I wondered if a small pergola attached to the house and the brick wall might be an idea? That would also give somewhere to attach a shade too, and a swing seat (thus solving the seating/shade option in one go).
I painted the gates last summer, with hammerite, and it took forever! So, they'll be staying that colour for the foreseeable I think 😆. I'd like to attach something to the inside of the gate that's opaque. Maybe featherboard? What it looks like from the outside is of absolutely no concern to me, as that's not the bit we'll see (nor is it overlooked by any windows/other gardens, so it's only passing walkers who would see it).
Here are a couple more photos - I've been exploring SketchUp, great fun!
syncretin
3 years agochristineacy
3 years agosyncretin
3 years ago
syncretinOriginal Author