Narrow and long yard, how to landscape curb appeal?

Pamela
by Pamela

Home sits on corner lot. Back yard is 8FT Wide.... yes i am serious. My back yard is seriously 8 feet wide however it is 150 in length from side street to neighbors fence. Yes i placed a temporary fence up to keep my mothers dog in but i have a 5x5 slab of cement for a porch out side of a set up slider window that steps down 1 inch to another 2x3 slab to go into garage door next to my unit. I need help. I need ideas. I would like one porch unit to entertain but i have no yard. I have no sitting area? what do I do? I would Like a siting area and a Bar-b-Que area as well. Any ideas? pictures. I am all out of Pintrest and websites to look at cause i just think I am the only one who has this type of back yard. Any overhaul help is appreciated.

  5 answers
  • LauraW LauraW on Sep 14, 2018

    You didn't say whether you are renting or you own property. If you own it, I would have someone build decking--same height as the 5X5 slab--to cover the entire length of the yard and make it useable.

    • Pamela Pamela on Sep 14, 2018

      I own my land and I would still need some grass area for moms dog to go potty too.

  • LauraW LauraW on Sep 14, 2018

    This looks like a fun project, I enjoy a challenge. If you want to exchange more ideas, you can email me at lmwalther@gmail.com. A sketch of your yard would help me visualize what kind of space you are working with.

  • Sherri Sherri on Sep 14, 2018

    Do you have access to your back yard? What type of budget do you have? You could build a pergola over an area that covers you back door. About 8' by 20. Under it you could lay patio pavers with sand in the cracks. You could leave one of the "ends" of your yard that attaches to your side yard, grass. The other end could be anything you want. A nice flower garden, vegtable garden, or a pond. Hope this helps, and good luck.

    • Pamela Pamela on Sep 17, 2018

      It is a corner lot. Access from either side, so it is an eye sore currently. No privacy either. I do like your idea.


  • Lisa Lisa on Oct 21, 2018

    Depending on what your budget is.. I would put in a privacy fence around the entire space. That way you can let the dog out with no issues or concerns. The idea of patio pavers or a deck is a good idea. I also have a very narrow back yard (12 ft by 70 feet long) We have an entire privacy fence surrounding it but we have no dogs. We have a small deck which steps down to a small patio which has table and chairs. We have a pond (small) with a bubbler on one end. We also put raised beds against the back of the fence.(not side beds) We have grass in the rest of the back yard area. It works for us and we entertain and get good comments as to the use of space versus the size. Again though we have no dogs or kids living with us. Good Luck. The use of your back yard totally depends on what you like to do too. Husband likes to grill out and I love flowers so it works for everyone.

  • Christierei Christierei on Oct 22, 2018

    Try and find pics of gardens in London. It is very common there to have a long, narrow yard. There is a lot you can do with this shape. You can have a winding path with little secret areas that are not visible from the doorway. I would try and get the gardening shed moved to the back of the property. You could plant shrubs etc in front of it and not see it from the house. That space next to the door is to valuable as BBQ / eating area to waste it on a shed.