Making a Small Space Work

An Oregon gardener shares how she makes the most of her small city lot

Today ’s photos issue forth from Kate McMillan ’s 50 - foot by 100 - foot city tidy sum in Portland , Oregon .

garden on a small city plenty is definitely challenging when it comes to privacy and how to fit all that you require into a limited place . Here ’s my strategy :

I planted for seclusion and body structure first . Before I cause into the ( often more interesting and beautiful ) details , I establish the privacy screen we wanted with trees and large shrubs . To get the variety I wanted , rather than a continuous hedge of one plant , I used various , primarily evergreen , columniform plant along the fencing line , which act as a howling background for the plantings in front .

I made certain to let in various gathering areas . Even though my back garden is pocket-sized , it has spaces for dining with friends and lounging in the shadowiness . Dividing up the small space has made it feel large and more functional for our needs .

I use ground covering and color to unite all my planting , even though I split the garden into distinct field . Doing this also lease me spring up lots of different plants without everything feeling too jumbled , because there ’s a continuous through - railway line of things like glaucous and majestic foliage . I do n’t desire to be limited to a smaller palette of plants ( despite induce a smaller garden ) , because I fuck plant life too much !

I garden in the front for my biotic community . Despite adding privacy in the back and along the side of the house , I keep thing low and invite in the front garden , and I regularly connect with the neighbors while I ’m out there gardening . I feel like this contribution to the neighborhood , and a better human relationship with my neighbor , give my city garden ( and my home base ) more enjoyable for me , too .

I like Sonoma Coast Achillea millefolium ( Achillea millefolium‘Sonoma Coast ’ , Zones 3–9 ) because it ’s relatively compact for my smaller garden , along with silver foliage fromArtemisia‘Powis Castle’(Zones 4–9 ) .

ThisSedum‘Touchdown Teak ’ ( zone 4–10 ) is just beginning to open up its flowers .

Purple apple - Chuck Berry ( Billardiera longiflora , Zones 8–9 ) with purple fruit shares a trellis withClematis fasciculiflora(Zones 7–9 ) , which flowers in wintertime .

Palmer ’s sedum ( Sedum palmeri , Zones 8–10 ) with ‘ petite Rubies ’ genus Dianthus ( Dianthus gratianopolitanus‘Tiny crimson ’ , Zones 3–9 ) and ‘ Cape Blanco ’ stonecrop ( Sedum spathulifolium‘Cape Blanco ’ , Zones 5–9 ) .

Chocolate cosmos ( Cosmos atrosanguineus , Zones 8–11 ) with a background of Japanese barberry ( Berberis thunbergii‘Crimson Pygmy ’ , Zones 5–9 ) and western brand fern ( Polystichum munitum , Zones 5–9 ) .

Have photos to share ? We ’d love to see your garden , a particular collection of plants you love , or a rattling garden you had the chance to visit !

To submit , send 5 - 10 photos to[email protected]along with some entropy about the plants in the moving picture and where you took the picture . We ’d love to see where you are located , how long you ’ve been garden , successes you are proud of , failures you learned from , hope for the future , favorite plants , or funny stories from your garden .

If you want to send photos in disjoined electronic mail to theGPOD email boxthat is just fine .

Have a mobile phone ? Tag your photos onFacebook , InstagramorTwitterwith # FineGardening !

You do n’t have to be a professional garden photographer – check up on out ourgarden picture taking tip !

Do you receive the GPOD by e-mail yet?Sign up here .

Fine Gardening advocate product

Scotts Cordless Grass - Shear / Shrub - Trimmer Combo

Fine horticulture find a mission for items purchased through links on this site , include Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs .

Pruning simplify : A footstep - by - Step Guide to 50 Popular Trees and shrub

ARS Telescoping Long Reach Pruner

Get our latest tips , how - to articles , and instructional telecasting sent to your inbox .

Signing you up …

A Lot of Garden in a Small Space

Big Garden, Small Space: Part 2

Making a Garden From Scratch

Four Design Ideas for a Small Space

Join Fine horticulture for a detached affiance hot webinar featuring Dr. Janna Beckerman , a noted plant life pathologist as well as professor emerita at Purdue University and the ornamentals technical manager …

When I spotted a particular sand dollar cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few months ago , I knew I was in trouble . With a delightful color pattern …

When we only prioritize plants we require over plant our landscape want , each time of year is filled with a never - ending list of chores : pruning , pinching , watering , treating , amending , and fertilizing , with …

Video

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be careful when you enter the backyard of garden graphic designer Jeff Epping — not because you ’re likely to trip on something , but because you might be dive - bombed by a couple …