This Unused Side Yard Becomes a Backyard Eden

Starting Point

• Underused space
• Zone 5
• Soil pH: 5.5 (Slightly acidic)
• Small Rectangular area
• the east side of the house (Cool shade in the afternoon)
• Thin Grass
• Greedy Roots of Norway Maple
• Walled in (One side a 6 foot fence, the other the house exterior wall
• Budget: $7000

Process

1. Remove Sod
2. Remove overgrown bushes
3. Prune and lift the overgrown Norway Maple
4. Spread several inches of Topsoil, peatmoss, composted manure
5. Plant ornamental trees (pear trees, Japanese maple)
6. Move compost bins
7. Hardscape the patio areaFlagstone pathway and patio (Layer of gravel, stone screenings, fine sandUse a rubber mallet to set the stones securely in the sand
8. Plants shrubs, perennials, vines, groundcovers
9. Build waist height trellis fence
10. Add Rain Barrel

Plant List

Trees & Shrubs

• Cutleaf Japanese Maple (Acer dissectum palmatum 'Seiryu')
• Saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia 'Smokey')
• Boxwood (Buxus 'Green Velvet')
• Pagoda Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)
• Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata 'Unique')
• Mock Orange (Philadelphus sp.)
• Ornamental Pear (Pyrus calleryana 'Chanticleer')
• Arctic Willow (Salix purpurea 'Gracilis')
• Spirea (Spiraea japonica ' Shirobana')
• Yew (Taxus media 'Hicksii')

Vines

• Clematis viticella 'Madame Julia Correvon'
• Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea petiolaris)

Perennials

• Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris)
• Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'Vancouver Jade')
• Dward Goatsbeard (Aruncus aethusifolius)
• Japanese Beech Fern (Thelypteris decursive-pinnata)
• Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis alba)
• Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium fistulosum 'Gateway')
• Coral Bells (Heuchera 'Strawberry Swirl') & (Heuchera 'Chocolate Ruffles')
• Hostas 'Janet', 'Halcyon', 'Sum and Substance', ' Krossa Regal', 'Oriana'
• Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium caeruleum 'Album')
• Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum multiflorum)
• Primulas (Primula denticulata)
• Meadowrue (Thalictrum delavayi 'Album')

Groundcovers

• Bugleweed (Ajuga repens 'Bronze Beauty')
• Irish Moss (Sagina subulata)
• Scotch Moss (S. subulata 'Aurea')
• Thyme (Thymus spp.)