I’d love to get rid of grass. Yard is fenced.
Asked on Sep 27, 2017
How can I best transform a small fenced yard into a courtyard?
+4
I want to Be able to sit and enjoy a small mostly maintenance free courtyard with n grass to cut. Can you suggest different stones, pavers,pebbles,perennials,succulents etc? Potential for harsh winters and hot summers as i live on the St Lawrence River in Ontario Canada where summer temps can be 35C to winter temps of -35C
5 answers
-
![Janet Pizaro]()
Janet Pizaro
on Sep 27, 2017
http://www.finegardening.com/seating-areas-made-simple -
![Holly Kinchlea-Brown]()
Holly Kinchlea-Brown
on Sep 27, 2017
Start by laying down cardboard over the area, then approximately 3-4 inches of sand, levelled and tamped down (if you want to avoid weeds in the future use polymeric sand) this will give you a good base on which you can use whatever material you like, pavers, flagstone, coloured rock, river rock etc or any combination thereof. As you are on the St Lawrence, flagstone would be a very natural medium to use. If you choose pavers or flagstone, you will need to brush more sand/polymeric sand over the surface once laid to 'set' the stones. You can determine through your local greenhouse what planting zone you are in and landscape around your courtyard using perrenials and shrubs to suit (I was zone 5 when I lived in Quebec, near Cornwall, Ont) additionally, you could get plants/colour through the use of planters...they would mostly be planted with annuals and planting zone space I said less of an issue, lighting conditions would dictate your choice. Good luck and show pictures once finished! -
![Linda Mason]()
Linda Mason
on Sep 28, 2017
Just remember...no run-off =flooding -
![Lori]()
Lori
on Sep 28, 2017
Used cardboard than put down mulch and stepping stones.this was a mess after sewer pipes were repaired.![]()
-
![Inetia]()
Inetia
on Sep 29, 2017
https://www.google.com/search?q=covered+sheltered+back+yard+sitting+areas&rlz=1C1TSNF_enUS438&tbm=isch&imgil=EHXpmWCk34VHzM%253A%253BXYj-2_xHq1_1SM%253Bhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.pinterest.com%25252Fpin%25252F382876405792674014%25252F&source=iu&pf=m&fir=EHXpmWCk34VHzM%253A%252CXYj-2_xHq1_1SM%252C_&usg=__MYaW4khttLmTPKn1hcJPTFu13aw%3D&biw=1242&bih=580&ved=0ahUKEwj__KDF_8vWAhXplFQKHe9WAbIQyjcIOQ&ei=UxPPWb-HLOmp0gLvrYWQCw#imgrc=EHXpmWCk34VHzM:
Janet Pizaro
on Sep 27, 2017
Holly Kinchlea-Brown
on Sep 27, 2017
Sign Up to Answer
