Landscaping small yards does not mean landscaping with small ideas. If you have a tiny backyard, count your blessings. It simply means you have an opportunity to dazzle your friends—with their larger yards—using much less effort and money. Here's a few landscaping tips to give that small space a big impact.
The first thing you need to do is assess your needs. Decide how much lawn, if any, you want, and determine what you want to accomplish with the area you have. Do you have a pet? Are you single? Married? Children? Do you entertain? Would you like to block out your neighbors? Landscaping small yards can be a challenge! And a vision of the completed job is necessary so that all, or most, of your concerns can be addressed.
For some, the desire for a vegetable garden is insatiable, even when there isn't really room for long rows and fenced-in areas. Don't despair. A smaller tiered garden (left) in a sunny corner may do just fine. Or place your vegetables intermittently throughout the landscaping.
The foliage on vegetables like squash (right), tomato, artichoke and even corn can look absolutely fantastic—although short lived—in the right environment. Great conversation pieces, too, not to mention the ecological element. Search: tiered garden using the Google Search Box (above right) for ideas.
In most cases, your front yard is the first impression people have of your home. The backyard is that "invited only" space in which your friends and family—not salesmen and delivery people—go. Things such as fountains, statuary, outdoor art works or birdbaths carry a lot of visual interest and are best showcased in a small, more private area.
Privacy is a factor when landscaping small yards, as these usually have close neighbors. Consider building a "living privacy fence", made of evergreen trees or shrubs, like juniper or arborvitae. There are several varieties that will give you some privacy now and nearly complete privacy within a few years. This is also a good natural sound barrier, and these varieties will work well to keep soil in place. Search: living fence and privacy hedge.
The best part of landscaping small yards, however, is that your budget gets stretched so much further. When someone offers pass-along plants, take a few and give them a big stage (your small yard) to show off the blooms and the foliage. Smaller water features and other hardscapes are more affordable as well, and your total output is much lower when it comes to weeding, pruning and maintenance. Search:small yard design ideas.
Landscaping small yards can be much more fun, too. You'd be surprised at the difference a few well placed features, plants and a bench or two makes to your smaller space. You may not have the room to throw your frisbee, but the intimacy, affordability and low upkeep will make up for it.
For more information, see the Amazon book carousel below. Mouse over any image to see customer ratings and book price. Click image for details.
to dazzle your friends—with their larger yards—using much less effort and money. Here's a few landscaping tips to give that small space a big impact.
really room for long rows and fenced-in areas. Don't despair. A smaller tiered garden (left) in a sunny corner may do just fine. Or place your vegetables intermittently throughout the 
landscaping. 
Consider building a "living privacy fence", made of evergreen trees or shrubs, like juniper or arborvitae. There are several varieties that will give you some privacy now and nearly complete privacy within a few years. This is also a good natural sound barrier, and these varieties will work well to keep soil in place. Search: living fence and privacy hedge.
