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Thursday, April 24, 2014

Decorating Challenges: For 'Patio Home' Courtyards

Decorating a small yard of a patio home (also referred to as 'zero lot line' or side yard homes) can be a challenge.  I live in a patio home community where we recently had a Garden Tour showing off the many creative spaces and places of our neighbors yards.  From a nautical theme to a lap pool to stained concrete to water fountains and hot tubs!  It was so fun to see these fabulous, unique displays!

The following are some inspirational photos showing ideas for decorating patio home courtyards.  Checkout the BIG impact that these small courtyards make!

Side Yard Garden -- Asian Design. Just would love to add a fountain to this picture.
An Asian-Inspired Theme
A great garden, all in pots
Container Gardening

waterless stream with bed of rocks keeps water from collecting along your narrow side yard, forces it down the dry stream bed
A river rock walk surrounded by shrubs, grasses and flowers.
nice raised planters/container walls mixed with slate tiles, private
A quaint flagstone courtyard with brick planters
Narrow spaces are popular places to add designed walkways. Here, two sizes of square precast concrete stepping-stones are set on the diagonal to form the base of a corridor through a side yard. Brick edging holds the gravel surrounding the squares in place.
A crushed rock and flagstone lined path surrounded by flowers
"I suggested a boxwood and gravel side garden when grass wouldn't grow there." Loi Thai
A Boxwood Garden....Lovely!

This is similar to my yard... in that it is long and narrow (50x23) with a concrete path right down the middle, brick patio in the forground and raised deck unseen. I am torn between clean and easy (like this) and wild and untamed with little lawn and lots of plants/veg/shrub. Path cannot be easily removed. thoughts?
Great symmetry with the Koi Ponds, grass and boxwoods
Tall Pergola "When building a pergola, consider how the width, height, and depth will work in your overall landscape. This tall pergola in a narrow side yard is in perfect scale with the home and adds an impressive shady resting spot along the path."
Checkout the vertical planting with the wall trellises and climbing vines
Just thinking, maybe I should add a small tree in my small side yard, along the path I'm going to put in. Hmmm.... (add to my "to do" list) : )
Every square inch is layered with color!
love love love this...Give your side yard a distinct feel from the rest of your landscape. With a couple of fences, you can create a lush by rosario
 There is so much interest to this garden with brick, rock, ground cover, shrubs, etc.
In-town alpine escape | Home & Garden | The Register-Guard | Eugene, Oregon
So much variety and personality in this side yard
Beautiful gardens decorate many of the homes located in downtown, Charleston, South Carolina.
A Formal Garden Concept

And, my very own courtyard....




I hope you enjoyed these small, but very quaint yards!  Let your imagination be your guide...the options are limitless!

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