Bring Those Sorry Sideway Gardens to Life
If the areas to either side of your house are looking sad and neglected, it's time to turn them into home-enhancing outdoor features
Nearly every standalone home has a narrow sideway or service area that requires some form of landscaping, but designing a garden for such an area can be a real challenge. Why not explore some ideas to enhance these tricky spaces – they have the potential to add something truly special to your home.
The first step is to assess the aesthetic and functional value of any space you have on either side of your house. Often these narrow areas are not visible from key internal vistas. Although there are many great garden concepts that can be applied to narrow spaces, there is sometimes no need to spend a lot of money if you can’t see them from inside your house or from the front or backyard – it will be a waste.
If you have any windows or openings that look onto the space, however, some strategic, clever designing can really pay off.
The best plants for a small garden
The best plants for a small garden
Ground surfaces
If your sideway is purely for services such as clotheslines, heaters, hot water units and air conditioners, then a solid surface such as exposed aggregate concrete can be the perfect solution, as it requires minimal maintenance. You could break up the mass concrete outside the key windows and put in some stepping stones to frame a view, and add some greenery such as dwarf mondo grass.
If your sideway is purely for services such as clotheslines, heaters, hot water units and air conditioners, then a solid surface such as exposed aggregate concrete can be the perfect solution, as it requires minimal maintenance. You could break up the mass concrete outside the key windows and put in some stepping stones to frame a view, and add some greenery such as dwarf mondo grass.
Alternatively, if the area is of more significance, consider laying down pebbles, or a feature stone or paver. If a set of doors opens onto the space you could also add a deck to the area, but make sure you follow the local laws as decks usually need to be a metre from the boundary.
You also have the option of using large-format stepping stones in either a formal shape, random or even a circular format – it’s pretty cost effective and looks great. There is a little more maintenance required with this option, however.
Questions to ask before laying stepping stones
Questions to ask before laying stepping stones
Plant life
If there is residual garden space off your access, or functional hard surface, then there is nothing better than a row of plants along the fence. If you have 600 to 1200 millimetres of space, then a fence-line hedge of Portugal laurel (Prunus lusitanica), dwarf lilly pilly (Acmena smithii Minor), orange jessamine (Murraya paniculata), dwarf bamboo or the like will add a splash of greenery to the space. You can then use uplights outside the key window vistas to create a great effect when the sun goes down.
If there is residual garden space off your access, or functional hard surface, then there is nothing better than a row of plants along the fence. If you have 600 to 1200 millimetres of space, then a fence-line hedge of Portugal laurel (Prunus lusitanica), dwarf lilly pilly (Acmena smithii Minor), orange jessamine (Murraya paniculata), dwarf bamboo or the like will add a splash of greenery to the space. You can then use uplights outside the key window vistas to create a great effect when the sun goes down.
If the garden bed is too narrow for a dense hedge, planting a fence climber such as Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata), Chinese star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides), creeping fig hedge (ficus primula), or even passionfruit, will do the trick.
If your fence is timber rather than brick, it’s best to create an independent screen with steel concrete mesh. Your lush climber will probably outlast the fence and you could lose many years of growth and love and care.
If your fence is timber rather than brick, it’s best to create an independent screen with steel concrete mesh. Your lush climber will probably outlast the fence and you could lose many years of growth and love and care.
Many plants can be manipulated into all shapes and sizes. Espalier pruning, when a plant is trained to grow flat onto a vertical surface, is perfectly suited to narrow garden spaces. This form of pruning can be used for many plants, from camellias and magnolias to lemons and limes, pear trees, apples and even olives.
Sun exposure can often play a part in your decision as to which plant you choose to espalier, as many sideways are dark and shaded. You will also need a structure such as marine cable, lattice or a feature screen for them to grow on.
Sun exposure can often play a part in your decision as to which plant you choose to espalier, as many sideways are dark and shaded. You will also need a structure such as marine cable, lattice or a feature screen for them to grow on.
Feature fences
Boring fences can be very easily improved with a laser-cut steel screen in either rusted Corten or powder-coated steel. There are also screens on the market made from composite materials such as Masonite – the options are broad and easily accessible.
These feature screens can be simply attached to the fence if it is sound or, for the best result, concrete in two posts of matching material and keep the feature independent of the boundary. The screens can then be framed with a star jasmine climber, or you can treat the rest of the fence line with a Boston ivy and trim behind the screen to ensure it stands out.
A simple rendered facade can also be a great, clean backdrop to a narrow space from an internal vista. Add to this some wall-mounted artwork, climbing plants, or an outdoor mirror for added impact. Even a blank, clean wall finished in a coloured concrete render can be enough to create the perfect feature.
Finding the right fence for your home
Boring fences can be very easily improved with a laser-cut steel screen in either rusted Corten or powder-coated steel. There are also screens on the market made from composite materials such as Masonite – the options are broad and easily accessible.
These feature screens can be simply attached to the fence if it is sound or, for the best result, concrete in two posts of matching material and keep the feature independent of the boundary. The screens can then be framed with a star jasmine climber, or you can treat the rest of the fence line with a Boston ivy and trim behind the screen to ensure it stands out.
A simple rendered facade can also be a great, clean backdrop to a narrow space from an internal vista. Add to this some wall-mounted artwork, climbing plants, or an outdoor mirror for added impact. Even a blank, clean wall finished in a coloured concrete render can be enough to create the perfect feature.
Finding the right fence for your home
Garden sculpture/art
There are many forms of garden art – from light boxes through to steel and stone sculptures, terracotta and custom-made glass pieces that don’t take up too much room. These pieces need to be strategically positioned where they will be appreciated most.
I often advise people to build a clean facade for them to stand on, as a busy background can detract from these often expensive garden features. Light boxes are a particular favourite. They can help bring the garden into the home during the evening hours.
There are many forms of garden art – from light boxes through to steel and stone sculptures, terracotta and custom-made glass pieces that don’t take up too much room. These pieces need to be strategically positioned where they will be appreciated most.
I often advise people to build a clean facade for them to stand on, as a busy background can detract from these often expensive garden features. Light boxes are a particular favourite. They can help bring the garden into the home during the evening hours.
Water features
There are many water feature options for a narrow sideway, and as long as your sideway is an integral part of the usable outdoor zones, they can be a great addition. Water walls are the best solutions for narrow spaces as they take up very little room. They are also quieter than a spilling spout, which can generate too much noise in a confined space.
Maximising the impact of your water feature
There are many water feature options for a narrow sideway, and as long as your sideway is an integral part of the usable outdoor zones, they can be a great addition. Water walls are the best solutions for narrow spaces as they take up very little room. They are also quieter than a spilling spout, which can generate too much noise in a confined space.
Maximising the impact of your water feature
In the end, there are many ideas that can be applied to your narrow garden space, some expensive, others more cost effective. Just remember to keep it simple, and don’t over-design the space.
TELL US
Do you have a sideway garden you’d like to share? Post a photo in the Comments – we’d love to see it!
MORE
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TELL US
Do you have a sideway garden you’d like to share? Post a photo in the Comments – we’d love to see it!
MORE
11 Clever Tricks With Side Gardens
Front Garden Makeovers With Mojo
14 Courtyards That Soak Up the Sun