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A small backyard shouldn’t deter you from creating the kind of landscape you’ve always dreamed of. Just use these small backyard landscaping ideas to realize those dreams.

Simply because you have a small backyard, doesn’t imply that you cannot create the kind of landscape you wish. With some help and reference, and a little creativity of your own, you can do wonders with your backyard. The options are innumerable, and the effect, each better than the other. Take a look at these small backyard landscaping ideas, that will give you the necessary reference, to create a picturesque landscape design.

Ideas for Small Backyard Landscaping

It is interesting to note, that every new idea, is a culmination of several other ideas. This is a rule that works well for any creative field, that includes these backyard landscaping ideas for small yards.

• Designing any area, open or closed, begins with planning. Planning gives you a chance to explore different options, before finally choosing one that suits you. Step into your backyard, and visualize it, the way you would like it. Refer to a few magazines for some help.
• Ensure that the ideas you have visualized can be maintained well. This depends on the time you have at hand, the kind of weather that prevails in your area, and the kind of small backyard landscaping ideas you have chosen.
• An interesting way to jazz up your backyard, is to create a small pathway, which needn’t necessarily be straight, and lay the pavers or tiles in a diagonal manner. This gives the illusion of spaciousness, and also helps achieve an interesting flooring pattern.
• Try to include a small seating arrangement that can be your perfect getaway at any time you need it. If the space permits, you can even string up a hammock in your backyard. It is not necessary to have the usual tables and chairs for seating. A swing, or a seating created by retaining walls, or a small rock garden is a unique way to fulfill your seating requirements. You may also create an area that is stepped up from the rest of the backyard, and incorporate your seating arrangement there, by throwing some colorful cushions on the floor, and making it a unique seating arrangement. Tempting, isn’t it?
• If you have the space, try to plant trees in the corners of your garden, surrounded by smaller shrubs. This creates an interesting focal point in the garden. Highlight it further by planting flower beds around it, by trying out various flower bed ideas. Your garden could begin in that corner, and spread out into the rest of the space.
• If you have a patio, an interesting way to incorporate plants into the landscape is to have hanging planters at different levels. The variety in levels, along with an interesting mix of plants, creates the ultimate visual appeal for a small backyard. Moreover, break free of the mundane terracotta pots, and try some new materials such as stainless steel or ceramic pots, to enhance the aesthetics of the backyard. You can also experiment with different container shapes, such as long rectangular containers, or round containers.
• Do not clutter your backyard with too many plants or furniture. Also, to create the illusion of space in a small backyard, try to have a small patch of mowed grass, that is untouched by furniture, or flowers, or plants. A patch of green is not only visually appealing, but also soothes the senses.
• Among the small backyard landscaping ideas, the presence of a water feature in the backyard should not be forgotten. Though it is not essential, it adds the perfect finishing touch to your backyard. As is the case with grass, even the presence of a water feature, particularly with running water, calms the mind and appeals to the senses.
• Remember to incorporate appropriate landscape lighting in your backyard landscape design. While the mornings are taken care of, for a relaxing evening, having the right kind of light is necessary. Do not opt for very bright lights, instead place dim lamps along the walls surrounding your backyard for the right effect.
• The final touch to these small backyard landscaping ideas is to include a variety of knick-knacks around the backyard. Small figurines, wind chimes, and other decorative pieces, add to the overall aesthetic appeal of the backyard.

For more small backyard landscaping ideas, you may take a look at:

• Small Backyard Designs
• Backyard Patio Designs

With these small backyard landscaping ideas, you can’t go wrong, in creating your own little getaway, right in your backyard.

A good way of getting maximum yield from a small space is by applying any of the various French intensive gardening methods discussed in this article.

As the name suggests, French intensive gardening was developed in France from where it spread to other parts of Europe and the world. This method is also known as biodynamic agriculture, Marais system and square-foot gardening. The main objective behind this method is to generate maximum yield in least possible space. Although this method defies certain preconceived notions about agriculture and farming, it is highly effective.

What is French Intensive Gardening ?

French intensive gardening is a method invented to maximum possible yield with the help of particular changes in the garden layout and using biodynamic agricultural techniques. Apart from being productive, through this method a huge variety of crops can be produced within the limited space. Planning is extremely important in French intensive gardening as the type of crop and method of planting need to be carefully determined well in advance.

A unique aspect of French intensive gardening is the use of raised beds. The gardening beds are huge which allows people to walk through the entire area in order to maintain the garden. The garden beds are dug up twice which means that the soil below is loose and worked up. Due to this, light and fluffy soil is generated which is them improved by addition of humus and compost, leading to a respectable plant growth with wide and deep roots.

Instead of flattened garden beds, French intensive gardening advocates mounded beds which increase the surface area and thereby facilitate more planting. Establishing these kind of beds takes a lot of effort but people feel it is worth it, as the yield is excellent. To maintain the garden bed, it has to be watered lightly everyday along with regularly adding compost and fertilizers.

Plant spacing is another important feature of French intensive gardening. Plants are grown in close proximity to each other which ensures the soil staying moist and prevents unwanted weed growth. The various French intensive gardening methods are discussed below.

Read more on garden tools and gardening accessories.

French Intensive Gardening Methods

Catch Cropping
As per the climatic conditions, normally it takes a lot of months to harvest a crop in the same place where a crop was previously harvested. During this period, quick maturing or fast growing crops like radish, onions or lettuce can be grown to utilize the idle space.

Inter-cropping
In this method, to utilize all available space in the best possible manner, a fast-maturing crop is planted between rows of crops which grow slowly. Quick maturing crops like onions, lettuce or radish can be planted between (or within) rows of slow maturing plants like cabbage, tomatoes or broccoli.

Succession Planting
This method of French intensive gardening involves planting the same quick-maturing crop over a period of 1 to 4 weeks. Plant one row each of lettuce, radish and spinach and leave some space around the planting which can be used later. After a week, plant one more row each of all the plants and do the same one week later as well. Subsequently, when one row is harvested, the second will be ready and so on. This will ensure a consistent supply of fast maturing vegetables all through the season.

Relay Planting
In relay planting, an altogether different crop is planted in the same space where a crop is just about to mature. This means that as and when the new crop is prepared for harvesting, the crop planted later has got an early beginning advantage. Thus more crops can be planted in the same space all through the year.

Wide Row Planting
A variation of the inter-cropping method, wide row planting involves planting of plants in groups or rows about 1 to 4 feet wide. Although walking space between the rows reduces, this method facilitates economic use of fertilizers and water. Also, it is tougher for weeds to grow in this kind of an arrangement. Make grids so that it becomes easier for marking out sections and enables proper utilization of space.

Read more on various other gardening methods:

• Hydroponic Gardening
• Organic Gardening
• Indoor Gardening

It should be noted that French intensive gardening is not for people who pursue gardening as a hobby. Rather only those people who are hard working and dedicated towards gardening should start it. It involves hard work, especially in the bed preparation and maintenance stage, so only committed gardeners should try this method.

Though very commonly found in the wild, certain beautiful grasses have entered our lawns and gardens as gardening ornamental grasses. Read on to know about the various types, and a few tips that one should keep in mind while choosing them for the garden.

The popularity of gardening ornamental grasses has soared over the last decade, as they are inexpensive and low maintenance plants. They add to the beauty of the garden as additional highlights for flowering plants and also shrubs. They increase the aesthetics of the garden when planted in perennial beds, borders and waterside gardens. And there is a wide variety of texture and size to choose from. Gardening ornamental grasses may be fluffy or slender, broad-leafed and bushy. Select the one that suits your garden the best.

Ornamental Grasses Types

Feather Reed Grass
This grass has more of a reedy texture than being feathery. It bears clumps of slender dark green leaves that have a large number of stiff flower stalks that may grow 5 to 6 feet in height. This plant can grow in full sun or under shade as well. It is not fussy about the soil conditions too. However, its foliage grows in early spring or late winter when the weather is cooler. It bears flowers that bloom in the summers.

Northern Sea Oats
These grasses grow in clumps that are 3 to 4 feet in height. These plants are well-suited for average soil conditions and grow well in partly shady and partly sunny conditions. They bear short and broad leaves that grow at the base whereas clusters of flat seed heads are borne near the top of the grass stalks. The leaves and seeds that are otherwise green in color turn brown during the fall and finally beige during the winters.

Ravenna Grass
This is a giant ornamental grass plant that requires plenty of space to grow. It requires full sun and grows well in average to dry soil. These are sturdy plants with broad arching leaves that grow up to a height of 6 feet. They have stiff stalks that grow up to 10 to 12 feet tall that bear stuffy seed heads. The Ravenna grass wears a rich green color through the summer. However, it turns completely tan during the winter months. They stand tall through the winter winds and even in snow, and hence are preferred ornamental grass for winter gardens.

Miscanthus
Miscanthus grows up to a height of 4 to 5 feet and has a spread of 2 to 3 feet when mature. It grows well in well-drained soil and under full sun, although it can also grow in clayey soil as well. The most important consideration while growing this versatile grass is moisture. It is popular for its orange-red fall color. It bears medium green color blades with a reddish tinge that starts changing into a more reddish hue as the summer approaches. By fall it adorns its orange-red color that gives its common name the ‘flame grass’. With its burgundy foliage and the creamy-white seed plumes that grow well through the winter months, they add a striking feature to a garden during the cold season.

Japanese Forest Grass
Also known as the Hakone grass, the Japanese forest grass is a hardy ornamental grass for the USDA zones 5 to 9. Although it is of the spreading variety of ornamental grasses, it grows slowly and is more restricted in the area that it may spread out to like the clump forming grasses. It grows about 16 to 24 inches tall with a spread of 18 to 24 inches. It has striking variegated golden leaves that tend to droop to one side. It grows well in shaded regions during the summer months and under bright sunlight during the winter months. It requires moist, fertile and humus-rich soil.

All Gold Grass
All gold grass is a dwarf variety of Japanese forest grass. It bears bamboo like leaves that are bright gold in color under full sun. In shade they turn yellowish green. In the cooler days of the autumn season the grass bears striking reddish color inflorescence. When fully mature, it attains a height of 9 to 14 inches with a spread of 18 to 20 inches. It is a grass that grows at moderate rate. It is most suited to moist, well-drained and fertile soil. Its golden foliage that has a metal like shiny quality, makes it stand out in the garden.

A Few Considerations

For easy maintenance, choose clump growing ornamental grasses than those of the spreading varieties. Avoid the running or spreading grasses like the ribbon grass unless you want to use the ornamental grass as ground cover.

Ornamental grasses do not require too much care. Once you have planted them in your garden you may be required to water them for a couple of months till they get established. They do not require fertilizers or pesticides to be added, although some might do good in humus rich soil. However, it is always good to plant them with proper spacing in order to enable their distinctive forms to stand out.

Gardening ornamental grasses can increase the beauty of your garden manifold. Many wild grasses like St. Augustine and Buffalo Grass have made their way into our gardens as ornamental grasses. With a wide variety to choose from and also due to the fact that they require very little care, ornamental plants are becoming an asset for a garden lover.